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 > Faith's Profile
Faith's family
Faith
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
29
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($442 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My next goal is for me to be able to initiate a poultry project for sustainability. Therefore, l plan on achieving this goal through savings from my business and also from our village savings groups. I am so happy that the aid lifted our living standards amazingly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The support from GiveDirectly was of great significance in my life. This is because I was able to see my daughter to a good school and also boosted my business. The organisation gave us an opportunity for us to transform our lives without any conditions attached to it. Throughout my interactions with the GiveDirectly staff, I have not witnessed any inefficiencies.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving money from GiveDirectly gave us financial freedom. This is because I opted to use KES 45,000 on paying school fees for my daughter who was joining a national school in Kericho. The transfer came as a big relief because I was able to enrol her successfully without any financial constraints. I am a mother of three children and a businesswoman. Lastly, I used the remaining amount on household items. It gives me contentment to see my daughter in school without having to worry about how I would raise money for her school fees. Thus I am grateful for the great support that came my way.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($479 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was almost 6 pm and I was on my way back home from the market when suddenly I heard my phone which was in the pocket vibrating. I stopped to check what it was all about. I saw that I had a new message and on opening it, I could not believe what I read. The SMS was saying that I had received KES 55000 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and thanked God for it. I could not wait to get home so that I could share the good news with my children who were so happy too when they learned about what had happened.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that the transfer has brought into my life and that of my family is that my business has improved a lot after I invested part of the transfer money in it. I am glad that I did not have to resort to borrowing a loan to invest in the business. I would be now struggling to repay the loan with the money that I could be making from the business instead of saving it.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20000 on my recent transfer and I invested it in my business of selling clothes. I bought more clothes for sale with it. I decided to do so because schools are closed at the moment for the holidays and it is usually the students that buy from me the most. This business plus that of rearing chickens is what usually helps me to earn income for sustaining my family of four since I am a single mother. The money that I get from my income-generating activities is what I usually use in paying for the merry-go-round group contributions, buying essential household items, and paying school fees for my two children. The merry-go-round groups' money has been of great help to me since I have managed to buy land where I have settled with children with it. Other than that, I also took KES 20000 and I saved it in my bank account. I did so because my child who recently completed her primary education is set to join a secondary school in May 2022. A lot of money will be needed for paying school fees and for buying the necessary school items. The bank account is where I am also saving the profits that I am getting from my business. With the remaining transfer, I used it in buying clothes, shoes for the children, and food for our consumption. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for supporting us.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means improved business. I am a business person selling second-hand clothes during market days around my village. During the rainy season, it is a challenge because I do not have a shade and my clothes are rained on and since the motorcycle is my means of transport this has exposed me to communicable diseases like flu. So when I get this transfer I will use it to rent a shop where I will be using it to sell them. This will reduce transport costs and chances of getting flu.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a business person, I have tried different businesses but have not gotten a satisfying one. Besides my business of selling clothes, 3 months ago I decided to venture into farming. I hired a tea plantation and added fertilizer and last week I was able to harvest 20 kilograms of tea leaves. This brought joy and happiness into my life and I am hopeful that the yield will increase and so to my income.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is nonreassuring business income. Sometimes I travel to far markets where I spend KES 300 for transportation but end up coming back with KES 80. This has been demoralizing to an extent I contemplated changing my business to selling maize however I got exploited by Brokers. I have a desire to have a shop near my home where I will be selling clothes to cut down on transportation and exposure to common colds but this has been futile due to lack of money.