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 > Varney's Profile
Varney's family
Varney
landscapeCountry:
liberia
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
39
workCampaign
Liberia Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD ($280 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes I have a new goal which I didn't have before receiving this transfer. My new goal is to build a house in Brewesville [Monrovia] for my children who are attending High School in Monrovia. I am currently renting room in Redlight [Monrovia] for them at the monthly cost of US$20 (LD$3000). I initially did not have this goal as I didn't even have a land In Monrovia. However, with the four transfers from GD, I bought half lot of land in Monrovia. I've now set a new goal to build 3 bedroom house for my kids on the land.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GD does well in raising ordinary people from poverty. For instance, prior to the coming of GD to Boe town, any thought of ever buying land in Monrovia was like a daydream. Today, through GD, I now own a land in Monrovia. Many other people in this town have started new lives with the money from GD. Some currently own businesses; others improved their houses; while others are sending their children to school, etc. One thing GD does not do well is that they do not send prior notice to us before visiting our village. Even the date of their revisit are usually unknown. As a result, people are often not in the town when GD enter. Some people could not get enrolled since they were always not present during GD's revisit.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my entire transfer to buy land in Monrovia. My kids are currently attending high school in Monrovia. They currently live in a renters house I pay a monthly rent of UD$20 (L$3000). When I got enrolled on the GD program, I made a decision to use all my transfer to buy land in Monrovia so that I can one day construct a house there for my children. So I kept my four transfers and when I received the fourth transfer, I withdrew all and used it to buy half lot of land in Brewesville [Monrovia].
 
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD ($299 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes, I have decided to buy my own land in Monrovia with my balance transfer.. I have lots of children going to school in Monrovia and I want to move to there in the future to care for them, so I want to build a house while I'm here.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my mind, GiveDirectly has done great things for me and my family. GiveDirectly has reduced my financial burdens and I'm happy to be part of the program. We the people of Suehn Mecca are feeling the positive impact on us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have not spent my money yet, I'm waiting on the last transfer to add to the one I have to buy my land in Monrovia. Buying a land is one of the major things on my agenda.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
40375 LRD ($273 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt very happy when I received this money. I was worrying about my children tuition for this academy year and luckily for me I received this money. So I was over happy. I have just negotiated with my neighbor about a loan to pay my children school fees, within in the course of a day, I received message that GiveDirectly have helped me with this money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
This money has brought great difference in my life. It has reduced my financial stress and have solved lots of problems for me. Now my children school fees have been paid and my wife is doing a little business that we can depend on in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer on school fees. I paid my two children school fees with 70% of my money and I bought new goods for my wife to start a new business.
 
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am an operation patient and because of that I don't do anymore hardwork. I lay baskets in the St. Paul River to catch crayfish. I wake up very early, daily, to go to the river and set my baskets. I have to lay many baskets so that I can catch more crayfish and sell it during the weekend. I am always in the water, from morning to evening. It is from the sale of the crayfish that I sponsor my children in school. When I get this transfer, I will use it to send my children to school and my burden to wake up early and get in the river will reduce. If the money will be much, after paying my children's school fees, I will give the remaining amount to my wife to start a business, which will also reduce my burden as it relates to providing food for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
What brought me joy recently was when I got the progress report of my children. I was informed that they got promoted to the next class. This made me really happy because I felt proud and it has encouraged me to do more in supporting my children. At the end of each academic year, when the news of children making a pass reaches me, I can be so glad and proud.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Since I was operated upon, I have to go once a year to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Monrovia for check-up. Going to the hospital for the check-up also intends using a lot of money. Another challenge that I am faced with is with the food that I eat since I did my operation. I now eat soft rice because of the operation. It gives my wife a hard time to prepare my kind of food I eat because mine can be very separately. This issue is a major challenge for me because I provide separate money for my food, as compared to what I used to provide before my operation.