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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Completed
Newsfeed > Zaddy's Profile
Zaddy's family
Zaddy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
50
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($472 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?
I have a plan to buy a water tank and to construct another kitchen. I had planned to construct the kitchen after I was done with the main house but I was not able to since the money was not enough. I wish to build another kitchen because the one that I have is old and grass-thatched. Also, with having constructed a permanent main house, I would like to have a nice kitchen too that is also roofed with iron sheets hence bringing a good picture of the compound. Having constructed a new house that is roofed with iron sheets, I would like to have a water tank for collecting the rain water. This way I will no longer have to make long trips to the river to fetch water. I plan to get money from my grocery business and the self-help groups that I have joined to accomplish these plans.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly uplifted the lives of many people and hence they are no longer the same as before. Most of them were able to upgrade to building houses that are roofed with iron sheets and hence it is rare to still find grass-thatched houses. Others bought livestock, paid school fees, and medical expenses. As for me, I was able to construct my dream house. I would however ask GiveDirectly to reconsider helping girls who have given birth to children and are still living at home. This is because most of them are in dire need and they fend for their children on their own.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my second transfer on finishing the construction of the main house that I had started building with the first transfer. I had wanted to build another house for a long time but I was not in a position to because I was still struggling with the payment of school fees for my children. Most of them were still in school but I am glad that most of them have finished their studies. I am only remaining with one that is in college. I have a grocery business where I sell vegetables and maize. I have also joined some self-help groups where we usually make merry-go-round contributions. The business and the groups are where I used to get money to pay for these children's school fees. I hence didn't have money to make other developments such as building another house. I am therefore so much grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me achieve my dream.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remembered it was 9:20am. When I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I was at home doing my morning chores. When I check it out I felt so happy, it was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I have never received such amount of money that. I immediately inform my family members and they were so happy. I knew I would be able to build a better house for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have build a better house for my family. We used to live in a small mud house which could not host all the family comfortably. I depend on small scale farming to earn an income. I sell the farm produce to earn an income.The amount of money that I get through this is so small and only for other basic household needs. I was able to buy bricks and iron sheets before from the savings that I had. When I received the transfer I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to start the construction process. I used the money to buy cement and paid the workers. The construction is on going now. I am so happy because I know we will have a spacious and better house. We will no longer be exposed to dust. Whenever I have visitors they will have enough space to sleep. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard to be much better than before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfer to build a store. This is where I will be storing my farm produce. I had always wished to build one before. I have started to build a better house, I had bought bricks and iron sheets before and I used part of the GiveDirectly transfer on building process. The rest of the money I bought food and clothes for my children. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always desired to have a really good business to get a good income. To do this, I needed to expand my grains business. I have been running a small grocery that could expand and earn me more than I do currently. I have not been able to expand it because I fear taking any loan for this. I also desire to improve my home and build a house for my sons who have to sleep in the kitchen. We were forced to relocate my boys from their former house when one of my daughters returned from her marriage. I plan to spend about Kes 30,000 to buy maize grains for my business. I will then spend about Kes 80,000 to extend a room in my house, build a new one and buy a water tank to store harvest water for domestic use.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I have completed my day's work. My job is hard. I have to go to vegetables markets, and to struggle to find enough goods to sell in my grocery. After closing,my business, I take a good rest and enjoy the fact that I have made some money for my family to spent on our food requirements. This is why I am happy in the evenings.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I face in my life is having two grown sons who do not have a room of their own to sleep in. They spent their nights in the kitchen which is uncomfortable for me. I find it hard to have to wake them up so that I can prepare morning meals before I leave for my business.