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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Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Grace's Profile
Grace's family
Grace
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
28
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
check
 
Follow to be updated on Grace's next check-in.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($338 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home with my husband and mother-in-law, busy burning charcoal to sell and provide for our family. Amidst our work, my child ran towards me with my phone, indicating it had rung. Upon checking, I found a message notification, revealing a mobile money transfer from GiveDirectly. Excitedly, I shared the news with my husband and mother-in-law. Since she was also enrolled, she asked me to check her phone to confirm if she had received money as well. Indeed, she had. We hugged each other with immense joy, as this unexpected blessing uplifted us. We reside in a leaking one-roomed house with my husband and 4 children, insufficient for all of us. Consequently, 3 of my children sleep at their grandmother's house, while I sleep with the youngest, who still breastfeeds. Sleeping together as a family under one roof has always been my wish, but due to space constraints and their growing age, it's been challenging. I work as a waiter in a small food kiosk, earning $1 a day, while my husband works as a casual laborer in the market, with no daily guarantee of work. Our combined earnings barely cover family needs, school fees, and the desire to build a house. My first priority was constructing a home where we can all sleep comfortably together as a family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
GiveDirectly has transformed our lives entirely. The construction of our house is underway, which is a beautiful and remarkable development for us. We never imagined achieving this milestone so quickly. Our family is thrilled because we anticipate that soon we will all be sleeping under one roof, which is truly incredible. With the house construction underway and the children's school fees paid, I can now allocate a portion of my earnings to savings, which was previously impossible. This will be beneficial for future needs, while my husband attends to our daily expenses.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We live in a leaky one-roomed house with my husband and 4 children, which is not enough for all of us. Consequently, 4 of my children sleep at their grandmother's house, while I share a space with the youngest, who still breastfeeds. My long-held wish has been for us to sleep together under one roof as a family, but due to space constraints and the children's growing age, it has been challenging. Therefore, I allocated $500 of the transfer towards building a two-bedroom house, fulfilling my dream of having us all together under one roof. Building this house marks a significant achievement for me, and this makes me so proud and confident even when I engage with my fellow parents in the village. Additionally, I used $30 to cover my children's school fees. With schools reopening in January and insufficient savings from the December holidays, this payment was crucial. Now that the fees are settled, I can redirect my earnings towards savings for future needs. As the funds arrived during the holiday season, I designated $20 for buying food and clothing for my children to enjoy Christmas and the New Year. Having new clothes for these occasions is a cherished desire for every child, and it brought them immense joy, lighting up their faces with beautiful smiles.
 
Enrolled
access_time 11 months ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My house was brought down by heavy fire last year and left me with nothing. I made a one room structure just to cover the family. My husband and I do casual jobs earning very little income which caters for food and school fees for the children . I lack the capacity to build a spacious house for the family. I have four children where two seek shelter from another household in the same compound. I will use $400 to build a two room house for the family . I will also use $400 to start a grocery business at the shopping center. The market is good and I intend to make approximately $15 per day. This will help me sustain the family in terms of food and school fees for the children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My family has suffered from famine for almost two years due to lack of rain to do crop farming . My husband and I also have no reliable source of income thus most of time the family has gone without food. However, in June this year we had good harvest that resulted from heavily rains that we received in April and planted maize on my two piece of land. I got three bags of maize each 90kg and have sustained the family for the past four months. The harvest brought happiness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I do casual jobs together with my husband earning very little income which caters for food only. I have children who are schooling and mostly of the time they are out of school due to lack of school fees. This has affected their performance. Lack of reliable source of income is the challenge I am currently facing in life.