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 > Karisa's Profile
Karisa's family
Karisa
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
58
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($441 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to start livestock rearing, especially dairy farming as a reliable source of income and a steady supply of milk for family consumption. Currently, I am required to purchase milk for tea every day which is costly. Sometimes my kids could not take tea when I lacked finances. In addition, I am planning to sell the excess to our neighbors so as to earn additional income to support other basic needs like educating my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in sending direct cash transfers to poor households in our community. Additionally, the officer conducted the enrollment process in an open and fair manner and every household that qualified was enrolled without discrimination. I can say there is nothing that the organization did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the recent transfer to purchase building materials. I bought 20 iron sheets and bags of cement This was for the construction of a permanent house for my family since the one we had was small, temporary and about to collapse. The poor condition of our shelter was making me to lives in constant worry that it may fall anytime and render us homeless. Also, I spent KES 25000 on paying labors cost for the workers. I bought sufficient food with the remaining amount since we did not have food for the family because of the ongoing famine in our area.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($471 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
While relaxing and storytelling with my elder brother at home, I received a message at around on my phone. I took the initiative of checking immediately since I know how to interpret money messages though I did not go to school. Upon checking, my heart melted in joy and happiness due to the kind of message I had received. This was the first transfer from GiveDirectly. My mind felt a bigger relief since I knew that the plans I had were going to be successful.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that I will be proudly talking about GiveDirectly is that, owning a permanent house was something no where near in my plans. I did not have the capacity to think of something big like a permanent house instead what I was doing was to think on the daily expenditures how my family would servive. Soon, I will be having a beautiful and spacious house and this is because of GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the money, the first thing I thought of was to build a permanent house. But before that, I took KES 4500.00 and paid school fees for my children five primary school children. I also bought some stock of food and 2 goats. Thereafter, I took the initiative of buying some cement and did interlocking blocks for construction. As of now, the construction is underway and the block work is almost complete.
 
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Currently, I stay in the same house with my seven children and two grandchildren and we have no privacy at all. I have always wanted to build a new house with ample space to give us privacy and comfort. I thank God for this financial aid it has come at the best time to accomplish my goals. I will build a three-roomed semi-permanent house where all my children can stay and have ample time to study at night. With the remaining amount, I will buy a water tank of 5000 liters where I can be able to trap rainwater for personal use.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In December we were seeing some Givedirectly staff working in the neighboring village, but stopped coming all of a sudden. We were left with no about of the organization if it will come or not. Yesterday our village elder told us they will come back to our village for enrolment, seeing them in the village today and attending one of the village meetings give me the joy of a better tomorrow.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food has constantly been a problem to us, we farmed maize this season but we did not get anything because of the unreliable rainfall. I have a family of nine feeding them has always been a problem. I had to turn into charcoal burning and firewood cutting which is tiresome with fewer returns of 2000 per month which is insufficient to buy food and pay school fees. I wished I had a better job I could not be in this situation now.