GDLive Newsfeed
We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time. Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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Enrollment
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Completed
Newsfeed > John's Profile
John's family
John
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
59
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($469 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to start a business of buying and selling cows. I want to start the business so that it can help me in getting money for paying university fees for my son. I choose the business because there is a friend of mine who is doing it and he is making good money out of it. I have thus developed an interest in it. I plan to accompany him to learn how it is done. I do not have money at the moment to start the business but I plan to borrow a loan from the people who usually do the business of lending money in my village. School fee has always been my biggest challenge. I am a retiree and the money that I usually earn as pension most of it usually goes to the payment of school fees for my two children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is doing well in the way they conduct their work. Their staff is very friendly and they politely talk to people. I however would like to recommend to GiveDirectly to reconsider giving a chance to everyone to receive the transfers. This is because some people were left out yet they are in need.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my second transfer on completing the construction of the house that I had started building with the first transfer. I spent more than KES 30000 on doing so. I have always wanted to construct another house but I decided instead to struggle first with the payment of school fees for my two children. One who is in the university and the other who recently completed his studies in college. So when we got the promised transfer from GiveDirectly, I saw an opportunity to fulfill my hearty desire. The house that I used to live in was grass-thatched and the roof used to leak whenever it rained. I wanted to construct another one that is modern and roofed with iron sheets. We are so much grateful to GiveDirectly because we were able to achieve and we now live in a nice house that is free from leakage.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 10am. I was fencing my farm, then I heard a message tone from my phone. When I checked it out I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a message confirming that I have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I stopped whatever I was doing to celebrate. I immediately inform my family members and the all celebrated with joy. I knew I would be able to pay school fees for my children in college. GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have build a better and spacious house for my family. We used to live in a small house which could not host all my family members comfortably. I depend on casual jobs in the village and small scale farming. The amount of money that I get through this is so small and was only for household basic needs and school fees for my children. I had no extra money to save so that I can buy the building materials. This is because I had two children in the University and I had to pay their fees and at the same time pay for food and rent. When I received the money from GiveDirectly I felt so happy because I knew I would be in a position to build a better and spacious house for my family. Currently I have a house and my children have spacious rooms. They have their privacy and whenever I have visitors or relative the have a place to sleep. I no longer get worried on when I have people in my home .GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the money I received from GiveDirectly on paying university fees for my two children in the University. This gave me peace of mind to do other activities at home. My children were able to study well without being disturbed. I build a spacious house for my family. We used to live in a small house which could not host all my heart comfortably. I plough my farm ready for planting beans. The rest of the money I paid medical bills for my daughter who was not feeling well and bought good for the family.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means my children will get quality education. My son is joining university this year 2021 and my daughter is in polytechnic pursuing a certificate course. I went on retrenchment 5 years ago and it has not been easy raising enough money to pay for school fees. I am a subsistence farmer and due to the unpredictable rain patterns here we hardly harvest enough to sell from what we plant. This makes me strain alot as my family solely depends on me. The total fee for both of them is Ksh 80,000 per year. When I get this money, I will clear the fees in arrears of Ksh 20,000 and pay also for the whole academic year.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when we have something to eat. I usually wake up to take my two cows to graze in the fields,and later go and fend for my family. Coming back home in the evening after a tiresome day is what I always look forward to.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Living in a semi arid has been a challenge. For a person who depends on farming like me its difficult because we hardly have a good harvest. Sometimes I can get only 50 kgs of maize from an acre. This is not enough for my family consumption and I have to buy food at a cost of Ksh 50 per kilogram. I find it much expensive considering I do not have a stable source of income.