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 > Viola's Profile
Viola's family
Viola
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Carpentry
faceAge:
18
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Viola's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My plan in the next four months is to keep on saving with the merry-go-round towards constructing a house for my family. This way I will be able to provide for my children a good living environment.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have dreamt of owning a cow so that I can get to milk it and save the cost of purchasing milk daily. Before the transfers, I used to do casual work and with the hard-earned money, purchase milk and other foodstuffs this left me with no money to save. But ever since I started receiving transfers, I saved up and bought a cow. Currently, I can get milk from my cow and this has cut down on my daily household budget.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will have started constructing a house for my household members. The one we live in is small and we have outgrown it. This has been made possible thanks to GD's monthly support and the table banking systems we started at the village level. I am certain of the completion of the project.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In four months’ time, my new goal for my life is to build a new house. I must say that the current house that I live in is in poor condition, raining and there is no comfortability. My family is also growing and therefore the need for a new house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is that I currently own a cow which I am rearing. The transfers have really helped me realize this goal which I did not think I would ever achieve. I also hope that once the cow has calved, I will be in a position to have plenty of milk both for family use and for sale. Unlike previously when I used to buy milk from people who had cows, I will be earning from the sale of the commodity that I once bought.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In six months’ time, I expect to have completed building the house which is already mentioned above. I also hope to have fully furnished it with seats and tables. The comfortability that we are currently missing in our current house will be found in the new house. This will also give me the confidence to host guest every time they wish to come around. And for that reason, the shame of not having a good house will not be there anymore.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 in that I no longer do much of the casual jobs. I have devoted much of my time on my own farm and this has led to good production and sufficient food for the family.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal for the next four months is to continue saving the money in the merry go round group to enable me to start a poultry keeping project. This project will be so beneficial because I will be selling the eggs at the market to earn an 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 in the last four months preceding the current transfer is that I have bought a dairy cow. Before I used to buy milk and it was so costly for me. We started a merry go round group in our village and when it was my turn to be given the shares I used all the money to buy a cow. I used to do casual jobs in the village and the amount of money I could get was not enough to meet all the basic needs of my family. Currently, I have devoted my time on my farm because I have the money to meet all the basic needs on time. I'm so grateful for the support because it has changed my living standard. My family has enough milk and I sell the surplus at the market to meet the additional needs and even pay school fees for my children in school.
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 saved enough in merry go round group to enable me to build a good kitchen house for my family.
 
12th 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 has just changed for the better. First, arguing with my husband over financial issues has been a thing of the past. I could often get into arguments with my husband which was almost leading g to separation. These transfers has enabled me to have constructive talks with my husband on how we can improve our own living standards and that of our children. I feel happy about this and proud as well.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months we are planning to buy one dairy cow for the family. It is quite challenging to raise a young family like ours without constant availability of milk. We had to borrow one cow from our neighbor which is currently helping us get this important commodity for our children. We have however been thinking of our getting our own so that we can get enough milk to feed the family and sell the surplus. This will empower us financially and enable us raise an healthy generation. This shall be done when we get the money from our monthly merry go rounds within the next four months.
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 we have lived harmoniously as a family than ever before. Before I started receiving these transfers, my husband and I could often be at loggerheads on issues surrounding lack of money. On several occasions, I felt that he was failing in his responsibility as the head of the household when he always gave excuses on why he did not have money to be used for certain purposes. On some instances, things got out of hand and I would flee to my home. This has since stopped after we started receiving the transfers as I now feel empowered that I have my own income. We often sit together and plan as a family on the things we need to accomplish. GiveDirectly has brought my family together and I am grateful for this.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
After getting a dairy cow, we plan to make another round of merry go round contribution and support my husband in building a new house. We are currently staying in a mud walled house that has a leaking roof top. The house is so uncomfortable and quite an embarrassment to us. We are optimistic that this shall be accomplished within the next six months.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I now have household items that we lacked four months ago. We did not have enough cups, plates and cooking pots. We bought them using GD funds and we are grateful as our lives are better.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, we plan to build a better house. We currently live in a squeezed earthen old hut. We plan to build a wooden semi permanent structure.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Nowadays we are well fed and living healthier lives in terms of nutrition, hygiene and clothing. This is the biggest difference in my daily life. The transfers from GiveDirectly have gradually transformed our lives because we have been able to afford these basic things with time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to start a small business in the next six months. I plan to put up a shop. It will be a source of income for us. There are few shops in our area and I believe it will serve us and we will consistently get customers. It will be easy for me to run it as well because my newborn is a few months old and requires my full attention and care - a shop will therefore be a perfect business-fit for me.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2735 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I have a new goal to start a small business of buying and selling maize and also lease an extra piece of farm so that I may plant my own maize.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am now happy and feeling good that I am among the GD recipients and I am no longer depending on other people to help me as well as the whole family like we used to do before. Right now I can do my own things with my own money.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life and my whole family to have developed economically in the fact that we would have build a new house and at least even take my children to school without forgeting that I am planning to lease some lands so that I may start a better agriculture
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is the fact that I got an Idea of buying a barbed wire so that I may use in fencing the small piece of land I have, this will prevent the hens from tampering with my vegetables hence will also enjoy a better harvest after.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship i have faced in life is when i was sick and i had no money.It was a hardship since i had to run up and down for assistance.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when we have taken our dinner with my family and go to sleep since am tired for the day and now i can relax and sleep.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I will spend my transfer on: 1.poultry farming 2.Start a small business ie open a shop 3.Buy food to feed my family
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The greatest achievement i am proud of is my family.I wanted to get married and now i am.