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 > Tharu's Profile
Tharu's family
Tharu
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
32
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($517 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My child was joining high school and I did a shopping for the requirements on reporting including paying for his starting fee. I would have struggled a lot to raise the money for him. I also have a new house that I am currently living which I managed to build with this transfer. I thank GiveDirectly because I now have a good house to live with my family. I also have some goats that I didn't have before the coming of GiveDirectly. These are a saving for the future of my children's education.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well in giving us the transfer and giving us the r freedom to plan for ourselves. As beneficiaries of their program, we can attest that our lives have taken a new shape since we can now access to better shelter and also we have some assets in form of livestock that we can readily depend on to curb our financial needs. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on buying building materials that include iron sheets, timber, building poles and nails in order to construct a new decent house since the one I was initially sheltering on was in a bad condition. I also KES 8000 on paying for the labor cost incurred in constructing my new house. I also paid school fees for my children at KES 10000 for them to comfortably continue with their studies without any interruptions. Lastly, I spent the amount that remained on shopping for my household basic needs such as foodstuffs and other basic needs.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I feel empowered. I managed to start a business of selling dagaa and fresh vegetables. Previously, I did not have any source of income because I was badly injured from my previous job and I could no longer work anywhere. This was a tough period for me because I fully depended on my husband for everything. Today, I am a happy woman who is self-employed. I feel worthy because I can also help my husband in catering for some of the daily needs.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very happy to learn that I had received my transfer. I could not sleep early that day as I normally do. I knew that money was to be sent during that week according to what they had promised us, but I had a feeling that it would be sent on that particular day, and true to my words, the money was sent at around 4:00 am in the morning. Being that I was unable to read, I woke up my child who read the message and told me that the money was sent. I just could not hide my joy. I remember smiling happily and actually stayed on my bed just to rest as I think of the blessing that I had received.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I had been living in a small house made of less than ten iron sheet. This is where the seven of us called home. My husband lives in a different location where he is working but the main problem was that when he came home my children had to go and sleep at their grandmother's place. This had been a routine for a long time due to lack of money to build a decent house. When I received my transfer the first project was to build a house. Although it is not complete, I know that my family will be sleeping under one roof very soon. Apart from that, I also bought three goats. I plan to sell their offsprings and buy cows which I do not own right now. Part of the money was also spent on paying school fees for my four children who had huge fee arrears. I also managed to pay for a driving course just for my son some skills which will, later on, help him in terms of getting a job. The remaining amount was spent on starting a business. I have been staying at home after an injury that I had gotten from my previous job but I am glad that, I get income from the business that I recently started. I feel empowered because I can easily take care of my daily needs.
 
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My greatest desire is to educate my children upto university level. To accomplish this, I plan to start supplying vegetables during Bamba market days sourced from Kongowea market in Mombasa. This is because I noticed vegetables are currently hard to come by due to the dry weather. I will use the rest of the cash to build a decent two bedroomed thatched house for my family because my current one is too small and is almost collapsing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Nothing makes me happier than coming home in the evening to see my children doing their homework. Seeing the hardwork they put into their studies encourages me that one day my labor will not be in vain.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I believe in educating my girls, a mission that has seen me lose a husband I dearly love gradually. Unlike me, he believes its a waste of resources and that marrying them off is much more beneficial because he will get dowry in form of cows and cash. Now he rarely comes home and has completely abandoned his responsibilities as a father leaving me to struggle on my own to provide food, education and other basic needs of the family. This has been very difficult given that I work as a casual labourer at a small hotel cooking and waiting on tables with a maximum pay of 1 dollar a day.