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 > Paul's Profile
Paul's family
Paul
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
44
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My wife has been a house wife for the longest time now. I will be saving money gotten from selling milk to start a small business for her. Although She is not learned, I am hopeful that She will do well since It is her passion. I will start up a business of selling second hand clothes. We decided on this as a family since it has high demand in our community. Most of the community members prefer buying second hands clothes as they are highly affordable. The profits from the business will be taking care of basic needs like food, clothing and education for our sons.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, what GiveDirectly does well in this program is that we receive the transfers in lumpsum amounts. This helps in planning as one is in a position to do something huge as compared to when the transfers are given in small instalments. Another thing that GiveDirectly does well is that the unlearned recipients are taught how to use mpesa. This has reduced the number of theft cases in the community as most of us managed to change our pins to a more secure code. What needs to be done differently is enrolling all the individuals in the household to avoid household conflict. During enrollment, those individuals who did not have responsibilities by then were left out of the program yet these are the same people who steal from their old and vulnerable parents. Another thing that needs to be done differently is enrolling all the communities in a specific village for uniformity purposes and this will prevent too many complaints coming from the communities that are left out during the registration to the programs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a father of three sons who are in Primary school. They are in class three, five and seven. Currently I do not have a stable job since I was retrenched due to the Pandemic that hit our country recently. Paying school fees has been the greatest challenge in my family. I used the transfers to clear my sons fee balances of kshs 20,000. I used a balance of kshs 30,000 to buy two cows, this will later assist me in farming while the female one will produce milk for consumption and sale. When milk will be in excess, I will sell to take care of the family needs like food and clothing as well as paying school fees for the sons.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
After the field officers from GiveDirectly left our home, we were hopeful that we would receive the unconditional transfer from the organization because we participated willingly and gave out the consent and our details to them just the way they had requested. The day I received my initial transfer, I had already retired to bed when I was woken up by a message tone. On checking the message I realised that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I immediately jumped out of the bed with happiness, It was the best thing that had happened to me, thus I was grateful to God for the support that brought hope into my life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Buying a dairy cow for my family is the biggest difference in my daily life because I am optimistic that I would be able to save up on the money that I used on purchasing milk daily. Secondly, it is a big relief because I am hopeful that we would be having sufficient milk daily. Additionally, I was able to purchase maize and also repair parts of the house that needed renovation. I am forever grateful for the support that uplifted my life amazingly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I depend on available casual jobs in earning an income, I am married and blessed with five children. Receiving money from GiveDirectly has been the best thing that happened to my life because I knew that I would be able to purchase a healthy dairy cow. I have been buying milk daily at KES 50 per litre which is very expensive yet my job is not stable. Therefore, I used KES 40,000 on purchasing a cow. Secondly, I used the remaining amount in renovating my house and also buy maize and other foodstuffs for my family. I am forever grateful for the support that made me realise my goal in a short period.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Poverty has been our daily song in our family. For my family to have a meal I have to look for casual jobs weeding people's farms which are not consistent also. My earnings are not sufficient to meet all my household needs and sometimes we are forced to have one meal in a day which is worrying since I have a wife who delivered not long ago. In a day, I am paid KES 200 which I spend on food items. So when I receive this transfer I will spend KES 30000 to purchase a dairy cow that will be our source of milk and income when we sell the surplus. I usually purchase milk from vendors who sell at KES 50 per litre and to get this money is also a challenge.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Less than a month ago my wife gave birth to twins baby girl and a boy. This brought joy and happiness into our lives since children are a blessing from God. I am even more motivated to fend for them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is food insecurity. My family feed from hand to mouth since I do casual jobs around the village and the little money I earn I spend on purchasing food. Food price inflation has made the situation worse and this has been disheartening since I have a wife who delivered twins 2 months ago and needs proper feeding.