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:
31
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Mercy's next check-in.
 
26th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($21 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
22nd 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?
Being independent, I currently do not have any livestock in my household because of financial constraints. All along, I have been spending a lot to purchase milk for my household considering it's a must-have in the house. This has really been a struggle for me as I only depend on casual labour for income. My plan in the next four months is to purchase a heifer. This will not only cut down my household budget but also I expect to be earning some income through the sale of milk
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
After accomplishing my goal of constructing a new house, I managed to purchase some furniture. This is one of the biggest difference in my life for the last four months. I am so happy because I now not only have a comfortable place to relax after a heavy day's work but also a decent place to welcome my guests.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I believe in the next six months my life will have completely changed. I expect to have managed to fully furnish my house. as well as Improve my farming by cultivating a bigger chunk of land with improved seeds. I also believe that I will rarely be doing casual labour as I will now concentrate more on my farm. Besides, My expectation is that I will have managed to purchase the heifer and in as much as it will have not started producing milk, it will be an asset to my family
 
19th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
There is really a great difference currently in my life compared to how it was in the past four months. I have improved in a lot of sectors among them is agricultural production where I have successfully planted a half an acre of beans. The fact that I am also living comfortably with my family members in a new house is a big difference which has occurred within the last four months. Everyone in our household is feeling the impact of the transfers we are receiving and we are so grateful for it.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
After the completion of the construction of the new house, I have an additional goal to buy start livestock farming. I have a plan to buy a goat and some chickens so that I can start rearing. This goal is coming in since I am planning to purchase a cow in the future. It will act as a saving plan since I would breed the goats and on regeneration I could sell and add up to my savings to purchase a cow.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Living in an old hut for a very long time was a great problem not only to me but also to all members of my household. My kids would shiver the whole night due to lots of cold and leaking water from the crevices on the roof. Since we started receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly, we had been saving part of the transfer purposely for the purchase of the construction materials. we have now completed the construction and we are now comfortably living in a new structure. To me and all the members of my household, this is the biggest difference in our daily life. Living in a warm house with no leakages like the previous one is a real blessing. We are so grateful to GiveDirectly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I have a lot of expectations but a priority is to ensure that I start livestock farming. This to me is the start of a new era since I would be working hard to raise them and keep them healthy as it is a stepping stone towards the purchase of a cow. We have been buying milk for a long time and in most cases, we have been taking black tea whenever we can not afford to obtain a packet of milk from the shop. We are now working towards producing our own from our cows as it will be a bit economical to us.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life has greatly improved ever since I started receiving transfers from Give Directly. I used part of the money to hire a ploughing machine for the farm. Previously, I used to manually do the ploughing on my farm since I did not have any money to hire the tractor. I am glad because my farm's produce will now increase because I will be able to cultivate a larger area of land and the land would be well tilled. I will also be able to plant on time since a machine works faster compared to when it is done manually
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to buy my own dairy cow for rearing. Currently, I am keeping my mother in laws cow and it has really come handy for us because we do not have to spend any money on milk. We at times sell a few liters in order to get money. Since the cow is not mine it is difficult to entirely be in control of the cow and how to manage the profits from selling milk. I want to have my own now that I can control as my own and have a better plan of maximizing and keeping the income that I will receive from selling the extra milk. This will also improve my dairy farming skills I would strive to maximize on keeping the cow for maximum yields.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life is that I live in my own house. Initially, I used to stay with my mother in law. She has always been kind to me and we get along very well but I feel as a woman, I need to have my own home. I needed the privacy and comfort that comes with having one's own house and a home. I started saving my monthly transfers immediately Give Directly started sending us the aid. I am glad that I can now enjoy the freedom and power of making things happen as the woman of the house and being the decision maker of my house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My future goal is to start a business. Once I buy a dairy cow in the next few months, I will be saving the profits I get from selling the cow's milk. I thought that dairy keeping it may not entirely support me and my children as a source of income considering that I am doing it on a low scale. Therefore, I thought of having another source of income and right now I am still thinking of the best business that I can run that will be efficient in our local market. Meanwhile, I will continue saving whatever I can to ensure I have enough capital to start a business.
 
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 is currently different from how it was four months ago because we have our own house, enjoy more food and increased income. Earlier on, we used to share a house with my mother-in-law because our initial house had fallen down and I had no capacity of building a new one. Following the demise of my husband, I could only struggle to feed and buy cloths for my six kids. Fortunately, GiveDirectly's transfers have enabled me to build my own house. As a result I enjoy more freedom and a sense of resposibility. Besides, I have afforded to plant some crops, especially maize, for consumption by my family. Earlier on, I used to lease out most of my farm because I had no funds for preparing it or buying seeds. When GiveDirectly gave me these transfers, I gained the capacity to plant my own maize and beans. Currently, we enjoy a substantial amount of food in my family.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new or additional goal for your life for the next four month is to buy furniture for my new house. Since I am a member of a certain table banking group, I am waiting for my turn in two months time so as to buy the furniture.
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 enjoy more freedom and a sense of responsibility. Earlier on, we use to share a house with my mother-in-law because I could not afford to build my own house. My husband passed on about a year ago before building us a house. As a widow, I could only struggle to feed my kids and buy them clothes using proceeds from my casual work of weeding for my neighbors. When GiveDirectly gave us this money, I prioritized on building my own house. I saved the transfers through table banking and built the house. Since relocating to our own house, I now enjoy more personal space and freedom. Besides, I feel that my children and the entire society treat me as a responsible parent.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to drastically change in my favor in the next six months. By that time, I shall have installed all the furniture. Moreover, we shall be having more food for consumption and even some surplus for sale to fetch additional income. Subsequently, I shall afford to buy more clothes and diversified food items for my children. Besides, I will have fully recovered from the loss of my husband. Hence, I shall be leading a happier and more promising life. A capacity to sufficiently provide for my children means a lot to me. For instance, they will feed well and attain quality education which translates to a better future.
 
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My current life has changed from house it used to be.I have been able to buy furniture for my house.I also have managed to buy chicken to keep in my farm.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to start a grains business.I will be selling maize in nearby markets and even at home.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have been empowered to farm.Before I started to receive this transfers I used to lack inputs to cultivate crops.I now work on my farm daily and this tells me that am now a better person than before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months because I will have built a house.I will also have enough food from my farm that I have already planted.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($4 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is the passing on of my husband which led to hard life in raising my six children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I find my family members all have woken up in good health.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer to build a house and get households materials.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement am proudest of is my small scale potatoe farming which has given me enough food for my family.