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
attach_money
 
Transfers
check
Completed
Newsfeed > George's Profile
George's family
George
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Raising livestock
faceAge:
75
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($306 USD)
access_time 6 months ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the upcoming year, my primary goal is to focus more on farming to ensure an adequate food supply at home. Given the uncertainty of my finances, I intend to acquire seeds from my neighbors and well-wishers. I plan to cultivate crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes, and maize to enhance our food security.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The assistance offered by GiveDirectly has deeply and positively impacted our quality of life, leading to a substantial transformation. The program's unconditional approach empowered us to utilize the funds based on our individual needs, without any constraints, and we are incredibly thankful for the positive influence it has had on our lives. Personally, I have not identified any shortcomings in the program's implementation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Knowing that I would receive funds from GiveDirectly filled me with hope. It meant that I could finally build a decent house, a dream that had been out of reach for years due to financial constraints and the responsibilities of school fees. My livelihood relies on random casual jobs, which aren't always available. I am married and have five children. With my third transfer of $450, I chose to spend the entire amount towards constructing a new house to replace our old grass-thatched one. This marks the realization of a long-awaited dream and a significant relief for me, as I can now afford a decent home. I am deeply grateful to the organization for their generous support.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($316 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
attach_money
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to establish a substantial herd of goats, enabling me to engage in a large-scale livestock business. I am actively devising strategies and plans to ensure the successful realization of this ambition. By achieving this objective, I hope to generate a steady income that will alleviate any financial burden when it comes to paying my grandchildren's school fees in the near future. This will be a significant improvement compared to the current situation where I am facing struggles to even provide enough food for them.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
After having a heartfelt discussion with my family members, we made significant changes and improvements in our living situation. One of the main priorities was to provide a safe and comfortable place for my grandchildren to sleep, as they used to face the hardship of searching for a place to rest after their meals. As a result of our collective efforts, we have come a long way, and our living conditions have greatly improved. Having resolved the problem of inadequate sleeping arrangements, we now have a more harmonious and comfortable family life. This positive change has given us hope for a better future. We are determined to keep moving forward, united as a family, and striving for even better living conditions and opportunities. We are grateful to GiveDirectly for making this happen in a ceremonious way . Together, we will continue to support and uplift one another, building a life that we can all be proud of.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used $110 to purchase two goats, adding to the ones I already had in my small-scale livestock rearing business. This investment will potentially bring in additional income through breeding and sales, providing a source of financial stability for my family. Moreover, I allocated $340 to build a new home. The previous house was small, and with five grandchildren staying with me, I wanted to ensure they had a good and comfortable place to sleep. The GiveDirectly transfers made it possible for me to build this home swiftly and secure a better living environment for my grandchildren. My small-scale livestock rearing business, though important, would not have enabled me to build the new home at the same speed and with the same level of comfort as the assistance provided by GiveDirectly. I am grateful for the opportunities given to me to invest in my family's future.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($143 USD)
access_time 10 months ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was so happy when my daughter confirmed that the message that I had received was a notification that money from Givedirectly had been sent to me!
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest change in my life since the transfer is that we are no longer so much concerned with where and how we will get our next meal. At my age, I might not be able to do much other than sell my goats to make enough money to support my family. I'm happy because, in addition to not selling my livestock, I also added three more goats to my herd, and that my family had food to eat!
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
To cover all of our needs, we largely rely on livestock, particularly goats in our area. I therefore thought it wise to add three more goats, each costing $30, to my livestock. This is essentially an investment in the future for me, so if the need comes, I may sell one or two, depending on the situation. I then spent $35 to prepare my farm for planting and spent the remainder of the money on food and other home necessities for my family of nine and treatment of my young son who gotten a small injury after falling a tree.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Goat keeping does well in our area, it is our mainstay economic activity and a source of livelihood. To create wealth and have disposable income we intend to purchase some additional goats, at least 10 more, this will enable us to meet our needs from the sale of them in the future. The availability of enough vegetation and water makes it ideal and timely to engage in it, especially at this time. We used to have quite a number but we sold them when we were overwhelmed by the ever-unending needs that we have to satisfy. It is from the foregoing that we arrived at a decision to use $400 of the transfers for their purchase. We are so elated about GiveDirectly transfers, it is life-changing and an enabler of dreams . We will also use part of the transfers to purchase foodstuffs to last for sometime.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Recently, we received adequate showers of rainfall that have renewed our hope of a better life in the coming days. The vegetation that had dried up has now started sprouting again and that means our livestock will get enough pasture and be productive. They had borne the brunt of it and some have since died from the effects of drought. We have also been trekking for long distances to look for water but since it started raining it has made our lives easy since we can now get plenty of water for household use. We have planted millet and sorghum too to leverage the rainfall. We are so happy and looking forward to better days ahead.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We are a family 9 and we depend solely on charcoal burning to survive. It is a hard task to access the market because we live in an interior part of Marigat where the transport network is poor and so sometimes we sell at a throwaway price just to get a little money to purchase food. Food insecurity has been so severe due to prolonged drought that ravaged the vegetation and affected the productivity of our livestock. The situation has been further worsened by the ever-increasing cost of living that has made life unbearable. We struggle so hard to afford a Kg of maize flour that retails at $0.9 up from $0.4 which is double the initial price.