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 > Jeniffer's Profile
Jeniffer's family
Jeniffer
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
37
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Jeniffer's next check-in.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($336 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming year, my main goal is to ensure that all my five children across all levels of education have their school fees cleared. I am determined to put in the necessary effort to improve our farming practices on our pieces of land, which will help us produce more crops for both domestic consumption and for sale. To further increase our income, I plan to sell the mangoes from our trees to earn additional revenue. Additionally, I aim to work hard on the casual labor opportunities that come my way to earn more income and support my family's needs. I believe that achieving these goals will help me provide a better life for my family and ensure that my children have access to quality education and a brighter future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The impact of GiveDirectly's work in our village leaves me at a loss for words. We have undergone an incredible transformation, from a state of deprivation to a place where we have regular meals without fail. With the unconditional cash transfer, I have been able to achieve a lot. The staff who came to enroll us were very helpful and made us feel at ease while answering our questions, which improved our comprehension. I appreciate their generosity and wish that other villages could also benefit from GiveDirectly's kindness.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For a long time, I faced numerous challenges in meeting my household responsibilities and paying my children's school fees. Due to the unavailability of steady income sources from the scarce casual labor and the unfavorable weather that destroyed all my crops, my son was unable to continue with his Form 2 studies and dropped out of school a year ago. However, receiving the recent transfer provided relief for my son, as he was able to enroll in a vocational training program where he acquires masonry skills. I used $50 to purchase the required masonry equipment and paid his $120 tuition fees. Additionally, my younger children required new school bags, which I purchased for $26, making them happy to keep their books safe and organized at home. The remaining amount was used to purchase $88 worth of food, $50 worth of cushions for my old seats, and to pay for my children's remedial and examination fees. I am grateful for the positive impact that the support has had in my household and in others in the village.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
18010 KES ($145 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I saw a message from GiveDirectly around 5:30 p.m., I was ecstatic. When I checked the balance in my Mpesa account, I discovered that there was an additional $180. I informed my husband, who works as a chef at a nearby high school. He came home excited, and because all of our plans were in aligned, we picked up the entire transfer the next day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The availability of foodstuffs that we purchased after receiving the first transfer is the most noticeable difference in my daily life. Even though we have nothing on our farms right now except mangoes and newly planted bananas, I am confident that the food we purchased will feed my family of seven for the next month until we receive the second transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We were purchasing food for my family of seven with the proceeds from the casual labor that my husband and I were doing in the village. My husband works as a chef at a nearby secondary school, while I work on people's farms in the village, where I am paid only after the job is completed. Even though job availability has never been consistent, getting at least one a week would supplement my husband's earnings and allow me to feed my five children. Receiving the first transfer was a relief, especially since a large portion of the money had been spent on food. I paid $55 for a sack of maize and $28 for 20 kilograms of beans, which we are still using to date. I also spent $20 on new clothes and other household items for my five children. We were previously reliant on mango sales from our farm, and we are now establishing a banana venture that will provide food for my children. I paid $8 for 8 banana tubers that I just planted and hope to plant more in the future. I am grateful for GiveDirectly's assistance, and I am looking forward to doing a lot more in the coming weeks when we receive the second and third transfers.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Education is indeed the key to a good life for that is what I desire for my six children. Having not had the chance to go to school, I want my children to have quality education and thereafter pursue careers of their choice. I struggle a lot financially because we rely on casual jobs to earn a living and the $ 120 we earn an average of one month is hardly enough to pay for school fees for our two children in secondary school. We sold all our livestock to pay for education ( fees, school uniforms and books). They are often sent home to collect the money in arrears making them waste a lot of school time and it affects their performance. Receiving this money means they will study full-time at school since I will use the transfers to clear all the arrears. The rest of the money will go into buying goats and one cow. I am thankful to Givedirect for changing my life and that of my family for the better.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Generally speaking, life has a lot of challenges, especially with the high cost of living. Despite being unable to live comfortably for a lack of basic needs such as food for my family I am still happy that we are in good health and we are thankful to God for it. When I wake up every day I pray to God for his protection. This is what has been giving me joy for the past six months.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Not being able to provide all the needs ( education, food, clothing, medication) of my family of seven saddens me. My husband is a cook at a nearby secondary school but he earns $60 only in a month. This is enough for food only hence we are forced to borrow loans to educate our children. I do casual jobs to supplement our family's income and repay the loans which take us years to complete. If we had a better source of income, we would live a better life than now.