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 > Peninah's Profile
Peninah's family
Peninah
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
20
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($485 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I feel so proud and relieved to have bought goats that are investment for my children's future school fee. Had I not received the transfers, I would not have bought any of them. Instead, I would still be struggling to meet the most basic needs like food and shelter. I do not have a reliable income and meeting the basic needs was a real challenge let alone investing for my children's future school fee.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well in giving money to recipients because this enables them to plan and meet most of their needs. Giving peole money empowers them because they are able to realize what they lack. On the other hand, I have not seen anything that GiveDirectly is not doing well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought 5 goats for rearing with part of the recent transfer. Goats give birth twice a year meaning by the end of the year I will have tripled the number of goats I have currently. I have the plans of selling some of them in the future to raise secondary school fees for my children who will soon join secondary school. If all goes well then my children's secondary school fee will be sorted for me whole period. Part of the money I paid for my children's school fee so as to clear the fee balance they owed the school. I am glad I nolonger owe the school any money.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the house on the day that I received the transfers. I heard a message come into my phone and when I checked the message, it was the Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was very very happy when I saw the money.
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 own cattle. I was able to buy 2 cows that can reproduce in future and bring back to me good profit.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers to purchase two cows and the remaining amount I spent on educational expenses for my two children. I am a housewife, while my husband is employed as a cattle herder, and we have two children. My husband's pay is not a lot and we struggle to make ends meet and also to pay school fees for our children. I was happy when I received the transfers and I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
It is always my wish to see a happy and healthy family that is why I work hard each day to add value in my family. Livestock keeping has been my dream goal since I am assured of milk to add diet in my daily meals, source of extra income through milk sales and offspring which to me are financial security. Receiving this money to me means I live my dream life. I will invest part of it on livestock which will be added assets in my family. I will have milk for both household consumption and sales.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We rely on both casual jobs and farming in our family to meet our goals. Most of the days my husband spend his time grazing neighbor's herd of cattle outside our home compound while I practice farming at home. In my family, the best time we come together and share our experience as we plan our family go ahead is in the evening and this is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been born and raised up in an humble family, to us, even education was a luxury. Lack of resources has been my biggest hardship I have ever faced my life. I was forced to drop out of school and later got married at an early age looking for a green pasture and to date it is not forthcoming.