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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Completed
Newsfeed > Mary's Profile
Mary's family
Mary
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
39
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Mary's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My children now have better clothes and no longer have to wear torn or patched clothes because these transfers have made it possible for me to buy them new ones frequently. Being a single mother without any stable source of income, it has always been tough balancing all my family's needs and sometimes, other parts have to suffer. Feeding and educating my children have always been my priority as compared to other needs which saw me not even realize how much they needed new clothes and shoes. Since the moment I started receiving the transfers, I have tried to buy them new school uniforms and home clothes and it feels great to see them not wearing patched or tarted clothes as before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a thatched kitchen where I cook, but it is currently leaking a lot because it has been tough getting grass to re-roof it within our area. I would like to re-roof the house using iron sheets for durability and easy maintenance which is why I have been buying the roofing sheets. I do not have enough yet, so I will keep buying them untill I have enough hence no new goals at the moment.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The transfers I have been receiving have always ensured that my family feeds well and we never go hungry as before. I mostly depend on casual jobs for income which takes a lot of my time leaving me less time to work on my farms. When I was not receiving the transfers, I used to have a hard time balancing my time between working to earn money for daily needs and working on my farms. This mostly did not work out well for me as I could not get a good harvest from my farms and would always struggle to earn money for cereals, especially maize among other household requirements. With the assurance of receiving the monthly transfers, I was more comfortable working more on my farm this past farming season and spending less time on casual jobs because I knew I would still get enough money to take care of my family's needs. This gave a positive result as I managed to harvest five bags of maize from my farm which I know will last us more than a year.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life has changed a lot since I started receiving these transfers, but that does not mean that I am satisfied. I still have a lot that I would love to accomplish, but, unfortunately, the project is soon coming to an end. Before this happens though, I would like to ensure that the leaking thatched kitchen I have is fully renovated into an iron-roofed one so that I will have a comfortable place to cook and not worry about where to get grass which has become almost as expensive as roofing sheets.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that I am able to put food on my table daily. Back then, skipping a meal was easy as we could not afford all the three. My children are also in school, full time. They are not sent home for school fees frequently like it was then. With these sorted, I feel I am at peace with myself as I am able to provide for my family with at least the basics.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to purchase iron sheets and put up an iron-roofed kitchen. My current one is grass thatched and to make matters worse, it is leaking. Besides, it weak and I am scared it can collapse any time which poses a risk to us given that we are still using it. I want to have a modern, nice, strong kitchen that will last longer and will not need repairs all the time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am able to pay school fees for my children at the right time. They are able to stay in school and attend to all the school’s activities and routine without being sent home for fees like it was before. I am hoping to see improved grades because most of their time now is spent at school and not home. Thanks to GiveDirectly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Currently, I am preparing my meals outside the house. This is because I do not have a kitchen when I can cook from, and in the next six months, I expect to have constructed one and I will be cooking from a clean enclosed area that is safe.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago because l am able to pay school fee for my children who difficulties, l am also eating very well with my family.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have any additional or new goal a part from paying school fee for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that, my spouse died long time ago leaving me with a lot of responsibilities of bringing up our children, so when l get this money mostly l always have easy time paying for them school fee and also they can always get something to eat, not as before when if l do not sell charcoal they would go without food.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have cleared the next term school fee for my children.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I am now in a position to buy food for my children with utmost ease unlike how I used to struggle before. Not long ago when I had not yet started receiving money from the organization, I used to work so hard engaging in the casual jobs so as to earn some little income to keep my family going.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I want to build a new sleeping room for my kids who have to squeeze with me inside the small house that we live in today. Living in such a small house is so inconveniencing for the large family. I think my kids have really grown and it is not advisable for me to squeeze them in this small structure that we live in today.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Getting money from the organisation has helped me in paying school fees for my children who are now staying at school most of the times as opposed to how they were being sent away when they had fees arrears. In addition to that I find it easy buying them new school uniforms.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My main aim right now is to be able to pay school fees for my children so that they concentrate on their studies rather than spending most of the time staying at home when they are sent away because of not paying their fees. I really want to give them the best education I can because I know that education is the best gift that I can give to them.
 
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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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 have less stress because I have hope that I have monthly income, I buy food for my children without begging from neighbors unlike before.I am a widow and life is not easy without support.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I would have started small fish(omena) business to enable me have a sustainable source of income hence I will be in a position to support my family.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I can pay school fees for my children with a lot of ease, they are not sent home for fee like before when I had not started receiving the transfer.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to build a kitchen because I do not have one where my children can sleep because my main house is too small to accommodate all my children.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship that I have faced in my life was the struggle I faced with my children after the death of my husband. I have never been employed, a factor that makes it difficult for me to generate a stable income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the morning when I wake up with no much worries about what the rest of the day will bring.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Charcoal selling business
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is the small business of selling dagaa fish that I started operating after the death of my husband in 2012.