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 > Caren's Profile
Caren's family
Caren
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Motorcycle or bicycle taxi
faceAge:
33
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53010 KES ($373 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the upcoming year and beyond, my main goal is to grow my egg-selling business by acquiring additional layers. To achieve this ambition, I plan to utilize the funds accumulated from the merry-go-round savings in our village, where we all contribute a small amount every month. Though it might require some patience, I am optimistic that with perseverance, I will ultimately accomplish this objective.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The support offered by GiveDirectly has been the most priceless blessing in our lives, granting us financial independence. Their team members were exceptional in clarifying the program details, guiding us through the necessary steps, and fostering an environment where we could freely share our thoughts. We were treated with utmost respect and without any bias during the informative sessions. Moreover, they equipped us with valuable security information to safeguard our funds. In summary, I firmly believe that the program's execution is flawless, leaving no room for any concerns that require attention.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My aspiration was to buy a motorcycle to provide my husband with a reliable source of income. He used to rely on a rented motorcycle, which often left us with little earnings due to the tough economic times we faced. However, financial constraints made it challenging to realize this dream, as I earned a living by selling eggs while he worked as a motorcycle rider. Fortunately, my situation improved when I received a second transfer. With this money, I was able to purchase a second-hand motorcycle worth $420, which brought us hope for a more stable income. In addition to the motorcycle, I used a portion of the funds to pay off a $40 debt that had been lingering. This brought some relief to our financial burden. The remaining amount was wisely used to buy essential food supplies for our family. The positive impact of the transfer from GiveDirectly on my standard of living cannot be overstated. As a married individual blessed with two children, I am overjoyed and deeply grateful for the significant improvement it has brought to our lives. The motorcycle has allowed my husband to break free from the cycle of dependence on rented vehicles, and it has given us the opportunity to work towards a more prosperous future.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($419 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
While I was heading to the shop, I heard the news of receiving the first transfer within my neighborhood. After quickly completing my shopping, I excitedly rushed back home to check my phone for any related information since I had left it in the house. I arrived home and discovered a message confirming the receipt of $550 from Segovia Technology. As I was alone at the time, I had to contain my excitement and wait until my husband returned home later that evening to share the news with him.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Since I started receiving payments from GiveDirectly, the biggest changes in my daily life have been the improvements to my livestock management and the upgrade of my chicken coop. With the financial support received, I was able to fence around my fields, using partitions to control the movement of my cows. This has made it easier to confine the animals and move them to the next partition when they have exhausted the available grass. Additionally, I was able to purchase a new chain-link fence for the chicken coop, along with iron sheets to improve its durability. These changes have made it possible for me to manage my livestock and poultry more efficiently and have had a significant impact on the overall productivity of my farm.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving the first transfer, I had many plans and was optimistic that I could accomplish them since my husband and I had put everything in writing. One of the challenges I had been facing was managing the movement of my livestock within my field. Fortunately, the money I received presented an opportunity to fence the field with partitions to control the movement of the cows. I spent $160 on buying barbed wire and fencing poles, which were sufficient to enclose the field. I am pleased that I can now confine the animals in one area and move them to the next when they have depleted the available grass. Additionally, I upgraded the chicken coop by purchasing a new chain link fence for $30 and iron sheets worth $20. Other things that required attention included my seating arrangements, which needed new cushions. I spent $20 on new cushions and $60 on clothes for my two children. Furthermore, I used $30 to purchase food for my family of four. The remaining funds were saved for future use in paying other household bills.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
To better our lives we have had a sit-down and we have agreed to venture into poultry farming to assist us to get a sustainable source of income. We yearn to have a better life and to improve our living standards, the quality of life we have at the moment is poor and deplorable, it is not the life we desire, we live by the mercies of God. We have lived a life of struggle, pain, misery, and destitution. We have always wanted to start an income-generating project but it has remained to be a mere dream because of lack of capital. We are halfway glad that the unexpected help from GiveDirectly is here with us. Nothing beats the joy we have about the transfers. We plan to use $ 100 to start a poultry project that will produce eggs for sale and to get disposable income out of it.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We have a merry-go-round amongst our women's group that we pool resources together every week. Each member contributes $2, last month was my turn and I was able to get $20 which assisted me a great deal. I used to do a small business of buying eggs in the village and selling them at Kapkwen market every Tuesday. The business had suffered a major challenge after I used the capital to purchase maize for our consumption and so when I got the money I revived the business which is now up and running, I was so elated that at last, I was able to be in my feet again in my business. It has made our living standard better since I can afford to buy some household goods albeit in a small way.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Life is hard and has so many struggles. We are faced with a myriad of unsurmountable challenges. Day after day we live from hand to mouth. I am a casual laborer who tends on other people's farms for a meager wage while my husband does motorcycle business for someone who pays him at an agreed price of $4.50 per day, then any other amount above that is his take-home. It is a very ambitious target and sometimes he cannot meet and that means he has to come home empty-handed after laboring out there. It is such a bad state of things. Food insecurity is what has pushed us to untold suffering. We have a small piece of land that can hardly sustain any meaningful agricultural produce and as such we have to purchase maize at the nearby Kapkwen market. The cost of the commodity has gone up as a result of the increased cost of living. A 2 kg packet of maize goes at $1.70 which is high for the people of little means like us. Sometimes we go to bed hungry when we are not able to afford it, at such circumstances my children bear the brunt of it all and it worries us a lot.