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 > Rusi's Profile
Rusi's family
Rusi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
60
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($442 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do not have any new goals since I am planning on paying out the balances for the land before. I paid KES 14,000 from the second transfer and I have some amount pending yet to complete the payment to own the land fully. I do not have any stable source of income to pay. We will save the small amount that we get from the casual jobs in the village.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well in that they did the training so well and did the enrollment process without any biases. Most of the people spent their transfer well, some on building a better house and purchasing dairy cows among others. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 12,000 on purchasing an ox. My main intention on this is to keep it and sell it in the future at a higher price to buy a dairy cow. I spent KES 14,000 on paying part of the balance for the land that I bought from my neighbor. I am planning on saving some money from my casual jobs to pay the remaining balances. I spent KES 5,700 on purchasing two mattresses and sofa set seats for my family. The remaining amount of money I spent on food and household items. We are so grateful because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard to be much better than before.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($488 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home that morning with my spouse when I received a message notification from GiveDirectly. I managed to open the message but could not quite comprehend the content just like my husband after I passed the phone to him. I had to call my child who managed to read and confirm the account balance to ascertain that the information on the text was true. The news was so exciting as we had been expecting the transfer to hit the account anytime that week. The plans on expenditure were still one at that moment and we had to send the child to collect from the shopping center where we later made purchases to initiate our first project.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the purchase of a sheep and a cow - an investment that has just been a dream but finally came true. I am thankful to GiveDirectly that the hope I was almost losing is now rejuvenated and working hard to ensure that they grow to produce the best I ever wished for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the first transfer, I spent KES 30000 on buying a cow with the hope to soon enjoy the milk production after many years of buying milk for my family. I also secured a good sheep breed at KES 4000 that I am currently rearing in my field. The two livestock are not only important in milk production but also serve as assets that will always come in handy in case of an emergency. Together with my husband, we also visited the nearest market where we bought ourselves new clothes worth KES 5000, obtained a piece of new furniture to fill the space in our living room at KES 2000, spent KES 3300 on a sack of maize that we are currently using as foodstuff, and also purchased other kitchenware that was still missing in our household. I am glad that after spending on all I had planned, I managed to save some amount that I am still using in checking the household consumables.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been working hard to own cattle (A dairy cow and two goats), with this money I see my dreams coming through. I will set aside KES 50000 to purchase cattle. I will also budget KES 30000 to buy food and clothing for ourselves, now that we are old I will save the remaining KES 20000 to enable us but basic needs and avoid working on heavy work to earn a linving.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The evening hours are my happiest part of the day, this is the time I am usually done with my daily duties. I would relax with my grandchildren and make sisal ropes.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been struggling with food shortages and starvation for quite some time now that my family is also not stable financially. Perennial drought and poor production of maize in our area has also made us struggle to put something on the table, we sometimes use less preferred food or even skip meals.