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 > Vincent's Profile
Vincent's family
Vincent
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Carpentry
faceAge:
21
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($492 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 life is different than how it would have been had I not received the transfer. This is because I have been able to open a small carpentry shop in our nearest shopping centre. Due to this, my income has increased compared to when I was still working for my employer. Because of this, I am now able to meet our daily needs on time unlike before.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion, GiveDirectly does well by helping everyone without any discrimination and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent KES 45,000 to purchase a piece of land so as to increase the land under farming. I am now glad because there will be an increase in income derived from the sale of farm proceeds this year compared to that of previous years. Using the remaining amount, I purchased a goat worth KES 3000 and food for my family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($498 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
This was the day I went without lunch after receiving a confirmation message that I had received money from GiveDirectly. As soon as I read it, I was overwhelmed with joy and I went out celebrating with the good news. I was so thankful for the financial assistance I had just received.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I operate a workshop in my village which is doing well with the little I have invested in. The business is a source of income to me and despite the challenges, my desire has been to boost it to enjoy higher profits thus when I received my first transfer, I took KES15000 to buy better carpentry tools that have enabled me to operate my business without any difficulties. This to me is an investment from which I am expecting a good income that will enable me to meet my financial needs. I am now happy that my business is doing better, which makes it be the biggest difference in my daily life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES30000 to buy a piece of land from a neighbor to allow me to expand my farming. I am happy that I can invest more in farming now to have better yields in the coming months. I took another KES10000 to build an extension room to my house so that it can allow me to have a good place to host my visitors whenever I have them around. I operate a carpentry shop that so far been my main source of income and since I do not have enough tools, I decided to put in KES15000 from transfers to fully equip it. I feel having my new tools now I can operate my workshop freely and independently thus increasing my profits. I used the remaining amount of money used on my family's basic needs and household items.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receive this money mean increased income for my family. I am a carpenter within the village and on a normal day, I earn approximately Ksh 500 a day. I have been aspiring to open a bigger workshop in the nearby town and thus increasing my income. My intention is to use Ksh 30,000 of my transfer to start me off and my projection is to earn Ksh 2,000 per day since I am the only doing carpentry in the village. This will mark a stepping stone to my financial stability and thus improving the living standards of my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. This is because I normally spend the whole day working in the village as a carpenter when I get job to do. But when I don't have any job to do, I work in my small piece of land of 0.1 of an acre where I have grown maize until late in the evening. Reuniting with my young family and having time to relax in the evening rejuvenates my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of capital to start a business has been the biggest hardship I have faced in life. Getting lump sum money or saving some cash from my small business has become an uphill task. On a normal day, I get an income of approximately Ksh 500 per day. Keeping in mind the hard economic time we are facing, this amount is hardly enough to cater for the family and save some. Give Directly's entry into this village is timely since I will soon buy some materials to start me off.