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 > Irene's Profile
Irene's family
Irene
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
66
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Irene'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 the next four months, I am planning to complete constructing a latrine which I constructed halfway. The money which I had set aside for it got depleted before I completed the construction. I am looking forward to completing it in the next few months.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The greatest difference in my daily life in the last four months is that I have empowered to do farming. Now having this money I would spend on buying inputs since I got the capacity to buy materials and also pay for labour.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will have harvested the maize which I am yet to plant in the next few days. This would be guaranteed that I will not be spending much on buying food for the family.
 
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?
In the next four months, I would have harvested beans. I will keep some for food and sell the surplus which will earn me some cash that will enable me to buy other farm inputs for planting maize. This will not only save me money that I would have used to buy food but also earn more money when I harvest the maize and sell the extra bags
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
When I started getting help from Give Directly, I got the courage to start doing farming. I felt I could now afford to buy the necessary inputs and even hire labour. In the next few months, I would be spending my next transfer on weeding my beans. This will ensure they grow healthy and in plenty. I believe in the next four months from now I would have harvested the crop and I am planning to sell the surplus in order to earn money for planting maize in the next season.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The greatest difference in my life ever since I started receiving help from Give Directly is that now I can afford to have most of the basic things that I need. Right now I do not have to depend on my children to buy me some shopping. Initially, I would call them to provide for everything including food which was hectic at times. I always felt like a burden but I didn't have a choice since I am old and I can't work. But I thank God for the help He sent to me through Give Directly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would like to save my next transfer to enable me to build a better house. The current one is old and is almost collapsing. I don't have a reliable source of income and I mostly depend on my children in order to meet my daily needs. I know they would be willing to build me another house but since they are also overwhelmed by their family needs I will also have to chip in and find other means to build the house. My plan at the moment is to save for a few months and maybe ask them to top up the remaining tools that I will not have bought. I thank Give Directly for coming to my rescue because I was really suffering.
 
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?
Four months a go I had a lot of difficulties meeting all my daily household needs. I can always face any unforeseen emergencies now that I am assured of a monthly income. Emergencies such as diseases within the family can always be sorted out by borrowing money from a neighbor to be repaid at a later date. It is much more easier for me to borrow money from friends than it was four months a go. Four months a go I was unable to meet most of the household needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am currently an active member of a merry go round group that was formed within the village once we started getting our transfers. My additional goals are tied to this merry go round as I plan to use the money to improve our home. In the next four months, my turn shall have come and I will use the money collected to improve my grass thatched house to a iron sheets roof. I also have intentions of buying a goat to increase the number of assets that I own. This, I know will enable me be more self reliant in the days to come.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The last four months has been characterized by increased food production within the household. I attribute this to improved farming methods that was brought about by the arrival of monthly income transfers from GiveDirectly. Before we got the transfers, we used to plant local seeds in our farms. It is after getting the transfers that we were able to plant hybrid seeds that has equally resulted in improved yields in our household. The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now able to plant hybrid maize seeds. The hybrid seeds has doubled our farm produce giving us plenty of food to eat and the remainder for selling to meet other family needs. This has been the biggest difference in our daily lives.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to be staying happily with my family in our newly improved home. I also expect to have had sustainable food production within the household that will help keep my family strong and healthy.
 
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 life is currently different because these transfers have enabled me to access food and eat more healthy.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to buy maize seeds and fertilizer.
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 these transfers have enabled me to cultivate a bigger piece and buy farm inputs and household items.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to start building a new house because the current one is old.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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?
The new goal that I have is to build a house since what I have is too old,not fit for living since its leaking and might fall down anytime.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently better and I have a certain confidence even when strolling in my village. These is because I am debt free since I am able to buy foodstuffs and other basic commodities at home unlike before I was incurring more debts due to lack of funds.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months and become much better than before.I will be able to start a poultry keeping for income generation and hence have a continuous flow of cash hence no more debts and have a contented family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference now is that I am able to get food easily with the transfers unlike before it was very hard for me since I don't have continuous cash flow am most times we slept hungry. Also being old its very hard to compete with youngsters for jobs so its hard to get any casual job come my way.Since we started receiving these payments my grandchildren and I are the happiest since our stomachs are full and no more hunger pangs at night.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I am facing at the moment loss of property. In the last five days, the rental shops that I owned burnt down. This is hard because my source of income has been destroyed and this is where I always depend on to cater for my basic needs and those of my grandchildren that I live with.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning. This is when I wake up to plan my daily activities and we take a good breakfast with my grandchildren before they can go to school. I am also happy I still have energy to do my work unlike the rest of the day.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer to pay school fees for my grandchildren whose parents separated. I take care of them in my house. I will also spend it on their basic needs because they entirely depend on me.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The biggest achievement that I was proud of is when my daughter constructed rental shops for me 5 years ago at a nearby shopping centre. I was happy because I could now get monthly income that would help me cater for my needs.