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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Newsfeed > Mercy's Profile
Mercy's family
Mercy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
21
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Mercy's next check-in.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In my family, we spend so much money purchasing milk for consumption and so, most of the profits that I generate from my business is spent on milk. Thinking of a long-term solution, purchasing a dairy cow is a great decision because besides getting sufficient for consumption, I can also sell the surplus for income. So far, I have started saving some cash which I believe by the end of the year, It will have accumulated to an amount enough to purchase
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Four months ago, my business was still new and I only had some little stock. when i look at it now, It has really grown and this has enabled generate more income to sustain my family. This is a great step in my life
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life in the next six months will be better because, at that time, I will have cut down the milk expenses since I will now have a dairy cow. My business will have also expanded because most of the profits will be rolled over and so it means I will have more income to sustain my family needs
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
It had been hard for us putting a meal on the table on a daily basis even though we are a young family that can actively do casual jobs to earning a living but its unavailability on a regular basis made it hard for us. I had lived with a lot of stress of hard work with little pay hence ever suffering family. My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that I am an empowered woman, I have started a grocery business that has enabled me to provide for my family. I currently enjoy a daily meal, enough rest in the nigh and peaceful mind now that our access to basic household needs has been made easier by my business. I am happy I have a healthy and smart family that I always spent time with unlike before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Since I started a grocery business, I have been generating better returns than when I used to do casual jobs and I have learned more on running a small business. In the next four month, a new goal that I have for my life is to build a kiosk that will help me expand my business hence will have a better income for family needs and other goals.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My family and I live in a small piece of land that can only accommodate a small house hence farming are never done meaning I am always forced to spend money on household daily needs. I had lived a stressful life and always tired of hard low paying casual jobs that I used to engage in to make ends meet in our family. I had spent my past entire life darkness not knowing when will be the end of my hard life until GiveDirectly came to our village. The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four preceding my current transfer is the grocery business that I started using part of my monthly transfers. I am a happy empowered woman that I can provide for my life through the little profits I make from my business. I am currently relaxed since I do not go for casual jobs, have a good time to spend with my little children and a peaceful mind now that we easily get our daily meals unlike before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have built a kiosk in the next six months hence will be earning more income hence providing for my family will be cheaper and easier. I will be in a better position to save little money that will use in the future to improve my family living standards by buying a piece of land that will help us do farming for both household consumption and sales.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life currently is different from how it was four months ago since I have been able to open a grocery business unlike before where I could only depend on the transfers. This has made me not to depend too much on my transfers since I use the little profits I get from this business to gather for my family needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a passion for teaching and I was not able to join a Teachers Training Institute immediately after my high school studies. I am now planning to start saving some money so that I will use it to pay my school fees when joining the college in order to fulfill my heart's desire.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is that I have been able to start a grocery business. This has enabled me to meet all my family needs on time. Before starting this business, I used to pluck tea the whole day but my routine has now changed as I only do this work during the morning hours and open my business in the afternoon. It has also given me time to relax since I no longer strain myself a lot and I give all thanks to GiveDirectly for making this possible.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that I will have joined a college in order to further my studies. With this, I will be sure that my life will change since when I will have completed my studies, I have confidence that I will secure a well-paying job. This will enable me to gather for all my family needs.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My current life is now different because I have an income from my grocery business. I now meet my basic needs such as food and clothes. I used to have to do casual jobs in tea picking in order to survive. I am so happy that GD came to rescue me.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have new goals to start a course in education.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that I have a grocery business. This business gives me an income to meet my daily needs. Before this transfer came, I used to suffer a lot with hunger.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in that I will be in college training to be a teacher.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($4 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
my new Goal is to expand my grocery and increase the amount of milk i sell.I also want to introduce onions in the business.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
my life is currently good because i have work to do all day.when i received GiveDirectly's money, i restarted a grocery business that had failed.Initially i used to work for only one hour a day.i increased the stock in my grocery and i now work from 10:00 am to 6:30 in the evening.This therefore means i get a lot more profit from the business than before GiveDirectly came.I am currently able to feed the whole family by my own efforts.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months i will have build a shop and introduced some other household items like sugar and the other food ingredients. This will give me greater returns as i will also keep doing my grocery business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is that i am able to provide for the family from the profits i get from grocery business i restarted running.I restarted the business when i received my first transfer.I no longer have to borrow household items.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship in my life is failing to join college due to financial constraints, I was forced to drop out so as to allow my sister to complete her studies.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning because in the morning I have all the energy to do my duties .
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to use my transfer to restart business, selling fruits and tomatoes.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
Starting fruits business is the biggest achievement I'm always proud of, I used to get enough money to feed my family