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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Newsfeed > Monicah's Profile
Monicah's family
Monicah
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
69
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Monicah's next check-in.
 
20th 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 life is different from how it would have been four months ago in that I have livestock in my compound. I did not have any before the transfers because my income could not support me in doing that. It only remained to be a dream in my life. After paying all my debts, I thought of something to do with the transfer to remember GD and livestock came to my mind. I started saving which I used to buy two sheep. This is the first step in ensuring I have a herd of cattle in my life. Thanks to GD.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a new goal of plastering my whole house. I am tired of smearing the house on a monthly basis because it is time-consuming and costly. I would want to plaster the house so that I can also mop my floor just like my neighbours.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have always had the medicine ready and before time. I am suffering from pressure and getting medicine on a monthly basis is very costly. Since I do not have a stable income, I have always struggled to get the medicine. I have always had to borrow and be in debt which has taken me time to payback. GD transfers have been very helpful because I always use part of it to buy the medicine. My health is improving and I am no longer in debt.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will change in the next six months because I will have plastered my house. I want to save part of my monthly transfers so that I buy building materials such as cement, sand and ballast. These materials will help me achieve my plan for plastering my house.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 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 because I now have something that I can selling and spend the money to pay school fee for my grandchildren, as compared to before when I would beg from one relative to another. I am now staying in a nice plastered house as much I have not completed plastering it.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal is to complete plastering my house which I had started plastering and I could not complete because of lack of money, being that I do not have any source of income.
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 l manage to save money in merry go round and spent the savings to plaster my house, since the house was too dust and this was not good for my health. The house is also to big that repairing it using cow dang is not easy being that I am now also too old. I also started poultry keeping where by I have so many chicken that when i have emergency or I want to pay fee for my grandchildren I can always sell them.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have completed plastering my house and staying in a nice plastered house like other people. I am also planning to have more chicken and this will improve my source of income in the next six months.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I have always suffered from high blood pressure. With casual work of washing for others their clothes to raise money, I have not been able to raise enough money to buy the needed drugs to sustain my life. As a result, I have always had to borrow money which has caused me a lot of debts. Am glad because with the GD transfers, I have been able to pay the debts and buy drugs without having to borrow money from my neighbours.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to hire labour for ploughing my farm. I believe if I plough in time, I will be able to get a good harvest which will help me sustain my family needs and even sell the rest to raise money for school fees.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving this transfer is that I have plastered my house. I have always wanted to have a permanent house but due to my low income, I have not been able to have one. I have been saving part of my transfers to buy cement which I used in plastering my house. Right now, I feel very happy that my house has been plastered. It looks presentable and durable which gives a different picture of me and my poverty.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I want to buy a goat. This will help me to raise money for other emergencies by selling it and when it reproduces, I will have a good number. They will be my investment.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 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 do not buy maize everyday because I got a good harvest after buying seeds using the transfer. I also bought medicine hence no longer borrow from people to have them in stalk.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to start poultry farming since I believe that from the sell, I would be able to buy a cow for milk production hence will no longer buy milk.
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 have harvested five sacks of maize and bought more hens with the money that I have been saving in the merry-go-round, this happened in that as the first person in our group I was given the share out which greatly helped me.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that, I will have cemented my house so as to look decent.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
The new goal that I have that I never had before is to buy 1 goat and begin straight farming and it will always be as a remembrance in future. I can even sell the products and get money in exchange.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different unlike before, I no longer get sick all the time for I am able to get my blood pressure drugs, without bothering anyone to loan me.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months for I will be able to have my own business, to sustain us financially.
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 am now able to pay school fees for my grandchildren, unlike before I would spend most of the time with them at home wondering where to get money.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is managing high blood pressure.Due to lack of income,I have been forced to undertake activities that makes the situation worse.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is usually late in the afternoon when I have completed my household chores.During this time,I chat with my neighbours and forget about my stressful situations.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Am planning to spend my transfer on restarting my cereals business which collapsed last year due to school fees burden.I will also purchase some goats.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement am that am most proud of is having started cereals business.Even though it collapsed,but it enabled me to educate my children long after the demise of my husband.