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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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Dama's Profile
Dama's family
Dama
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
68
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($387 USD)
access_time 9 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to buy goats, as they can serve as valuable assets and sources of income in my community. By acquiring them in the next few months, I hope to kickstart my investment journey, as I currently have none. With careful management and dedication, I aim to grow my goat herd and generate additional income through sales and breeding. This endeavor represents not only a step towards personal growth but also a means to support my family and improve our livelihoods.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has worked wonders in my life. Thanks to their unconditional money transfer, I can now sleep well at night, knowing that I have a house of my own. The financial support they provided allowed me to finally build a home, a place where my family can feel safe and secure. Before their intervention, I struggled with the uncertainty of not having a permanent residence, but now I am filled with gratitude for the transformation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the money opened up a world of possibilities for me as an old widow. I had long dreamed of having a house of my own, and now, with $290, I could finally make it a reality. I invested a significant portion of the transfer in buying the remaining building materials, such as poles, threads, and labor charges, to construct a new house. For years, I had been living in dire conditions after my own house collapsed, leaving me homeless. Although my son had a house of his own, cultural norms prohibited me from staying with him. This new home would not only provide me with a comfortable and secure shelter but also a place where I could maintain my independence and dignity as a widow. Understanding the importance of proper nutrition, I used the remaining amount from the cash transfer to buy food for myself and one other family member. As an elderly individual battling high blood pressure, my health was a constant concern, and I relied on my children for support. This cash transfer allowed me to ease the burden on my family and ensure that we had enough sustenance to maintain our well-being. Grateful for the assistance, I felt empowered to face life's challenges with renewed strength and a sense of dignity.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($396 USD)
access_time 10 months ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Around 11:00 in the morning, as I was having breakfast, my daughter-in-law informed me that I had just received my first transfer. I was overjoyed to be able to fulfil my long-term ambition of building a new house. All of my family members, including my children, who weren't at home at the time, had to be called. They were all unable to maintain their calmness. This will certainly go down as one of my happiest days ever.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I've never had it so easy in my life, despite the awful housing conditions. Old age caused my house to crumble, leaving me without a place to live. It was especially difficult because all of my dependent children weren't financially secure. As a result, I was made to stay in their homes, which was against our culture. In addition, their homes were too small for their family and quite sooty. Due to my inability to manage my finances and my senior age, I was forced to leave this matter in God's hands. On the other hand, even though they never brought it up, I was worried that I had violated my son's privacy. In this case, The biggest difference in my life has, therefore, been the construction of the new building that I now call home. I am currently sheltering in my one-bedroom house, which is spacious enough to accommodate all my grandchildren. I feel that the organization has helped me regain my happiness and confidence. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for providing my family with an unconditional cash transfer and eliminating the poverty that had befallen us. May God keep blessing the entire organization.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since my spouse passed away eleven years ago, life has been incredibly unfair to me. Due to the never-ending pain, I have been sobbing nonstop. Since my house collapsed a few years ago, I used to spend almost all of my days at my son's place, both at night and during the day. Due to their unstable sources of income, my children were also unable to acquire the materials needed to erect one. Oh! It was an uncomfortable and stressful scenario. As a result, I spent over $250 on iron, sheets, poles, and other materials after receiving my first cash transfer. I am so glad and overjoyed to be the proud owner of a respectable two-bedroom house. After that was done, I paid the $60 in school fees for my three grandchildren, who attend the neighbourhood primary school. I've always wanted to see them succeed in life as they grow into decent individuals. However, given that I have health issues (hypertension) and am jobless, this was quite a challenge for me. We are grateful to GiveDirectly for giving them fresh beginnings and hope. I bought enough food with the remaining money. Now that I don't have to go without food or drink porridge to call it a day, I feel relieved. I am now healthier since I need to eat a balanced diet considering that I depend on medicines to survive every day.
 
Enrolled
access_time 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
What a great relief to me to have received GiveDirectly to my home! Over the last 7 years, I have been seeking refuge from my son's house because he mostly stays away from home. This has been a period of shifting to my kitchen when they visit us with his wife. Culturally, this is not allowed and I have always felt breaking our "Giriama" norms. Since I have desired to have a separate house, I am now a happy person to be part of the potential beneficiaries. The money will help me to construct a 1-roomed iron-roofed house for myself, which will restore the dignity that I have lost for a long time. This project will cost me utmost $600. The remaining amount will help me to buy food and medicine. Thus, this is generally what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Over the past 8 years, I have been on medication because of my health condition. Although this is a stressful life, I am grateful to God for his mercy. In the whole month of December last year, I was able to get free medicines from our nearby health center. This was a great relief to me since I did not spend money from my pocket to buy medicine. For this reason, I was relieved from the stress of missing medicine due to lack of money. I, therefore, consider this relief as what brought joy to my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Eight years now! This has been a period of hardship in my life since I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Our area's main economic activity being charcoal burning, I find it tough for me to engage in this work because of my condition. This means I have to depend on my son to provide me with food and other basic needs. Since he has a family to take care of, sometimes getting his full support is a challenge and in some cases, I forfeit meals. Skipping meals has worsened my condition since I am still on medication. This situation has robbed away my joy because I am always in stress. What a life!