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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Nicholas's Profile
Nicholas's family
Nicholas
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
34
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53075 KES ($515 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
To be sincere, my life has really changed a great deal. I have improved in many sectors not to mention livestock farming, subsistence farming or even in my business. Initially, I had no cow but now I am milking from my livestock, my business was dying down but now rejuvenated and earning me a good profit enough to support my family. I thank God that GiveDirectly came into our lives since we would still be wallowing in poverty.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Give Directly really changed a lot of things in my life and in the lives of other villagers. It really changed the outlook of the village from the old traditional grass-thatched huts to the current modern corrugated iron-sheet-roofed houses. Not only is the outlook that the money transformed but also in every household, the recipients were able to purchase other accessories and home appliances which have really been of importance in their day to day lives. Many are now owning milk-producing cows unlike before when they were much into buying. After somehow getting used to receiving the transfers which really triggered the generation of ideas, we still feel that GiveDIrectly would have continued with the same spirit over time to see us fully developed over time
What did you spend your second transfer on?
Receiving the transfer from GiveDIrectly really brought me great joy. We have been living in great poverty and this to us was a call to rise up and improve our living standard. The house we had been living in was really pathetic and we could not decide otherwise on the use of money but to start by constructing a new house. The project cost us a total of 3400 KES of the second transfer. This had to be very expensive since we had to source everything right from the iron sheets, woods, cement, and even labor. We also considered reviving our business which was growing weak every other time. We updated our inventory and make the business running actively as it used to be. We spent the remaining amount on buying foodstuff and other household goods.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($538 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Nowadays, my family is living happily as we have been able to build a bigger house which is more secure compared to the previous one. This makes me happy as my children do not ask me when I will build them another house where they will not live in fear.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was almost 3 am when my phone vibrated indicating that I had received a message. I decided not to read the message but to continue sleeping but when I received the second message, something prompted me to check the content of the message. Upon checking it, I could not believe my eyes and I decided to check my Mpesa balance to clear my doubt and I found out that indeed I had received money from GD. This made me so happy as I have never handled such amount of money in my entire life. When I Informed my wife in the morning, she was overjoyed and we decided to celebrate for the blessings God had given unto us on that day by buying bread to take with tea.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my transfers in building a house for my family. I decided to build a house since I used to live in a small grass thatched house which was also old and it was almost collapsing as termites had started investing on the foundation woods on the back side of the house. This was always a threat in our lives as I knew that it would collapse anytime. I also bought some seats since I did not have any and it would also be embarrassing having a living room with no seats. I used the remaaining amount of my transfers in buying a cow since I did not have any and I have been buying milk on a daily basis which is so costly.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will be able to expand my business of baking cakes.This is what I have been longing for.I feel very excited.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening.It is at this time that my business activities have come to an end and I assess my day's returns.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life was what I went through when I was a drunkard.I spent most of my time drinking and lived a miserable life.The little I earned from casual labour all drowned to alcohol.This brought conflict with my parents and relatives at home.We did not have enough food to eat and we sometimes slept hungry.I really regret this time of my life since I feel that I wasted it.I am however glad that I am now a changed man and I have my own family.