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 > Fatuma's Profile
Fatuma's family
Fatuma
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
23
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($453 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?
I have a new goal which is to start a business (selling clothes and cereals) in my village. I am currently jobless and I feel that this is the only kind of business which is lucrative according to the research that I made. I believe that once I will be able to start this business, I will be able to help my spouse to fend for our family without struggling. Also through this business, I trust that I will achieve some other goals in future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, I do not see anything that GiveDirectly did not do well in the entire region. This is because the officers made sure that they visited all the households and enrolled us fairly. Additionally, they educated us on how to secure our money once we received it and how best we could utilise the cash without wasting even a single coin. These teachings inspired most of us since it was our first time receiving such a huge amount of money in our lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying building materials such as iron sheets, nails, threads, and timber, which cost almost $120. This was for the construction of a new house since the initial one was not in a good state at all. Besides, it could hardly accommodate all my family members which forced two of them to be seeking shelter from neighbours every evening. As a parent, this situation has been frustrating me for a while but I did not have any alternatives. I was even hopeless considering that my spouse has been the breadwinner of the family which has never been easy for him as well. It now feels like a dream for seeing all the positive courtesy of GiveDirectly. I also settled a debt of $200 to a friend who owns a shop and I now have peace of mind. To add on that, I bought a bed and a mattress at $50 so that I can replace the traditional beddings that I have been using for years. With the remaining amount, I bought sufficient food for the family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($459 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was exactly 5 in the evening when I was heading to the shop when I realized that there was a new message on my phone. I decided to check where it was coming from and to my surprise, I discovered that it was the long-awaited message from GiveDirectly. I had finally received my first cash transfer from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy for being sure that I will finally purchase the piece of land.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now have a piece of land where I am planning to build a new rental house. It has been my dream to start this project but because of insufficient funds, I couldn't afford to fulfil it. I however opted for this piece of land because I already had the building materials but I lacked the needed cash to buy the land. Therefore I am so thankful because GiveDirectly has made it possible. I am optimistic that once it is complete I will be collecting rent which will be my source of income. My spouse being the family breadwinner has been tough on his side. I, therefore, believe that I will be helping him with some of the responsibilities. Raising our two children will no longer be a struggle like before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a piece of land worthy of KES 27000. I had the idea of constructing a rental house within the village since I already had some building materials but I did not have the appropriate place to build the stalls. I am now seeing this dream being achieved. Once it is complete I will have a source of income since I have been jobless for the last three years. Also, I trust that I will be able to cater for the family's needs without straining like when I used to depend on my spouse for all our needs. Also, I bought five chairs at KES 2000. It is now a relief because I will no longer have to borrow those of my friends as I used to do. Apart from that, I bought a television at KEs 7000 and I am now well updated for I have been able to watch the news and some other programs. Additionally, I bought new clothes and shoes for my two children. With the remaining amount of money, I have been buying foodstuffs for my family.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My house is leaking and every rain season I have to put a basin in the areas where it's leaking, something which has frustrated me for 3 years now. My husband is a casual labourer doing construction jobs but the wages he earns cannot sustain the daily expenditures of the house plus saving some little money to buy new iron sheets. Receiving this money means i will renovate my house so that I be relieved the problem of having a leaking roof. I will also buy 4 she-goats to keep as family wealth and 2oxen for ploughing my farm to increase food security for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The past Christmas was a good one. I prepared rice and chicken- food which is eaten seasonally in my house. This brought joy and happiness in my house because my family celebrated the Christmas. We enjoyed rice with chicken and it is on this day when my children got new clothes too
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the biggest challenge in my house. My husband depends on casual labour. If there is no one building a house within the areas means he will not have a job to do hence will not have money to buy food in the house . His daily wages cannot meet the household needs and have a balance saved for other needs. I buy food for the house every day.