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 > Mercy's Profile
Mercy's family
Mercy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
29
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Mercy's next check-in.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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?
With the savings, which have been making through merry-go-round, I am thinking of using it to lease a piece of land. I am planning to expand the area of land under cultivation. Since I don't own a large area of land, leasing my neighbours land will help me accomplish my goal. I hope all will go well and I will able to harvest several bags that I plan to sell in our nearby market
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In the last four months, I had invested part of my transfer to plant maize and beans on our small portion of land. The crops are doing well so far and am looking forward to getting a good harvest this season. Before I could not afford to purchase farm inputs or carry out other farm practices on time. This would result in poor yields. The produce would get depleted before next harvest season which would force us to spend much money on buying food.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I believe that in the next six months I will have leased land and successfully planted my crops. I opted to do this to add more space for farming since the land which we have currently is too small to rear dairy cows and at the same time crop production. I am planning to plant maize because it does so well in this area. I am hopeful that I will get a good harvest and I will store some for consumption at home and sell the surplus. This would save us the money which we currently spend on buying maize flour. I will instead channel this money to start other meaningful projects.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 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 ago in that I have been able to lease a farm which I recently planted maize in large scale. Due to this, I am expecting my produce to increase this year hence we will have enough food to last us till the next harvesting season. With this, I will be having enough time to work on my own farm instead of moving around the village looking for some casual work to do which majorly included plucking tea leaves at peoples farms.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goal for my life in the next four months is to buy a water tank to store water that I shall be harvesting from the rainfall to use during the dry season. This will save me the time I would use in going to fetch water at the river. I am planning to use my savings from our merry go round group to achieve this.
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 my family do no lack food despite the fact that last year's harvest was not enough since our maize plantation was invested by armyworm. I have been able to achieve this by using part of my transfers and the money I am paid after plucking tea leaves for my neighbors to buy food.
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 bought a water tank. Therefore, I will no longer make several trips walking for a long distance to the water source to collect water.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 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 in that I have bought a water container for storing clean water for domestic use. Before we could walk for a long distance to fetch water and this was so tedious and time-consuming. My children now have clean water for use and we save enough time to do other chores at home.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I would have harvested some beans from the farm that I have planted. This will earn me an extra income to pay school fees for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that I have leased a piece of land for farming. I used to farm in a small piece of land and this could not yield me enough to feed my family and even get the surplus to sell to earn an extra income. The biggest difference now is that I have leased a big farm and the produce I will get after the harvest is enough to feed the family and even sell the surplus to pay school fees for my children and to buy other household basic needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would have started to save some money through the merry-go-round group that we have started in our village. This saving culture will enable me to have money to invest in other activities or even start a business. My cow will have given birth and i will have enough milk for the family and even sale the surplus to earn some money.
 
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different because I easily pay for my children to attend school.They are happy because they are not sent home hence they are learning without any disruption.Another difference is that I also have food .My family is currently well fed since I can afford basics like cooking fat and a nutritious balanced diet
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goals are to accumulate savings.I have joined a table banking group so that these money will pooled to me in four months time to buy me a cow.A dairy cow will provide me milk milk.This will be an excellent income source and food source.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life is that I have land to till this year.I leased a piece of land that I planted maize in.It is almost ready for harvesting.This means that I will not have the burden of buying maize for food for most of the year.This makes me feels secure and gives me the ability to grow economically.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in that I will have a dairy cow in the next six months..I will be having milk that will give me an income.I will have a calf which means a substantive economic growth to me.I am also hopeful that I will have began to work towards buying a piece of land in my vilage.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goals that i dint have before receiving this transfer is to buy a heifer and buy land to plant tea.I plan to buy land in the next three years so that i can also grow tea.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
my life is currently different from how it would have been had i never received the transfer as i now have land to till.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months since i will have bought a cow .I will have planted maize in my leased farm and for the first time,i will be accumulating savings in order to buy apiece of land.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life since i stated receiving this money fro GiveDirectly is that i have leased a piece of land to farm.i now have work every day as i till the land.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is absence of a dairy cow. I rely on purchased milk, hence we cannot take milk or tea when there is no money.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is at the afternoon when I am resting after gaining some income from casual work. I rely significantly on money from my casual work to sustain my family.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend the transfer on improving my farming activities. Increase in income from my farming means betterment of my family. We shall have enough money to buy food and fund other family needs.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement that I am proudest of is that my first business of trading on tea leaves was successful. I attain good profits and took my three kids to good schools. I believe they will excel and pursue their dreams.