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
attach_money
 
Transfers
check
Completed
Newsfeed > Mercy's Profile
Mercy's family
Mercy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
31
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($465 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After spending my first and second transfer in all the plans I had written down, I have a new goal of buying an additional dairy cow. I am glad the one I bought has already given birth and am selling milk and saving towards buying another cow.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did well by improving our poor living standards.Every household in my village got a chance to achieve things we never knew we would ever get.I don't any complaints since all the procedures were adhered to.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
On receiving the second transfer, I prioritized on purchasing a dairy cow at a cost of Kshs. 45,000.For the longest time, we had been buying milk at a costly price. I am happy that the dairy cow has recently calved and I get seven litres of milk per day and we consume three litres and sell the remaining to get income. I also took Kshs. 4,300 as a tithe to church just to appreciate the doing of the Lord. With the remaining amount, I used in buying food for my household members.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was washing the utensils when I heard my phone ring. Upon checking to know who had sent me an SMS at that time, my heart was filled with joy due to the content of the message. I immediately went inside, sang a hymn, and whispered a word of prayer to thank God for answering my prayers. I knew that I would finally be able to start a poultry-keeping project as it had been my goal.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Being able to start a poultry project is the biggest difference in my daily life. This had been my goal for a very long time but I had not been able to achieve it due to lack of finances and I am grateful to GiveDirectly for making this possible. I believe that they will start laying eggs in the next two to three weeks and after this, I will be an independent person whom I will not be requesting money from my spouse every now and then rather, I will be able to help him in providing for some of our basic needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had plans that I had laid down and prayed to God to open ways for me to be able to fulfill them. One of these goals was to start a poultry-keeping project and when I received my transfer, I spent KES 30500 to build a chicken coop, purchase thirty chicks, and catered for the transport. This will be my main source of income and I am happy that I will be able to help my spouse in settling some of our bills and grateful to Givedirectly for enabling me to achieve this. In addition to this, I spent KES 10000 to construct a powerhouse in preparation for the electricity last-mile installation. I decided on this since my house is 700m far from the transformer and the required distance is usually 600m or less. Also, I spent KES 2500 to pay school fees for my children who had been sent back home and used the remaining amount on food and clothes for my family.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wanted to engage myself in business of buying and selling school uniform to the nearby schools. Growing up I used to see my mother engaging up in the same business,once in a while I used to help her in the business. I feel I will get enough returns to enable me to back to school ,I am from a poor background,my mother is a single parent and she used to struggle to pay school fees for me and my siblings. She managed to school me up to form four ,I did not want to burden her anymore. Iam passionate about education,my aspiration has been to do a course leading to a diploma in security studies ,which given a chance I will not hesitate to take it up. I feel that getting good education for a woman like me will empower me and even encourage my children to work hard in life and to be better people in future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening ,around 5:30 pm when the children have arrived from school .It makes me happy when they call me "mum".I feel good . I am lonely when they have gone to school because I am left alone as my husband is away .
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have previously faced major setback of staying with a single mother .I have never had a father .I always feel if I had a father my life could have been better ,who knows I could have become a better person in society with a good job as opposed of being a house wife. My mother has underwent a lot trying to raise us and better us. We did get good quality life like other kids . It still bothers me to date .