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 > Carren's Profile
Carren's family
Carren
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
33
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($462 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Even though I had been able to purchase a piece of land after receiving the first and the second transfer, I still feel the urge of initiating another saving plan towards my new goal of adding another piece for my family of nine. This will be instrumental in increasing farm productivity that will, in turn, raise enough resources for my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am happy with the great transformation that I am currently seeing after the receipt of the transfer. Many invested their money on all they needed when they were given the transfers and I am glad that I also got a chance to spend on all that I had needed most. In my opinion, GiveDirectly is doing a great job, and I would encourage them to keep doing their best in other villages that they are yet to visit.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving the first transfer, I am glad that I was able to do all I had planned. The second transfer too marked the climax in that the small amount I had saved added to the receipt transfers facilitated the purchase of a fifth of an acre at KES 70000. For a long time, I had been living on a small piece of land that could not allow any diversified venture in farming. My strive to lease a piece of land that would have been the source of an additional income has never been easy since my attention has been torn between investing in farming and the provision of the daily meal. At the moment, I feel relieved in that at the onset of rains and the planting season, I will be one of those who will be getting down to the investment in subsistence farming.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 9am. When I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I was dong my daily cause jobs. I decided to check it out. I could not believe my eyes, it was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and stopped whatever I was doing and rushed home. I inform my family members and they celebrated with lots of joy. I knew I would be able to buy a dairy cow. I went and withdrew the money the same day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought two heifers. I buy milk everyday and it's so costly for me. I spent KES 80 ans above per day. This is so expensive since I do not have a continuous source of income. I depend on casual jobs in the village. The amount of money that I get through this casual jobs is so small. It's only for basic household needs including paying school fees for our children. I had always wished to own a dairy cow. Currently I have two heifers and it has given me hope to work even harder. I know in the next few months I will cut this cost. I will sell the extra milk to earn an income. I have devoted much of my time nowdays to look after my cows.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 37,000 to purchased who heifers. I will get enough milk for my family when it reproduced in the next few months. I will cut the daily cost of buying milk daily which is so expensive. I bought a goat as an investment. Goats reproduce twice per year and it really helps whenever there is an emergency. I bought clothes, bedding table and one sack of maize. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means better nutrition for my family. Currently I do not own any cow , I buy milk for my 8 young children costing me approximately ksh 300 per week. My casual labour job is not stable, I earn ksh 300 which cannot meet my daily family needs. This cow will cost me ksh 40000. I haven't been able to buy one because of financial constraints owing to my children's poor health which took a lot from us financially.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I get to rest from a hard days work. At this time, I would've accomplished the days work or earned some money from the casual job hence rest assured knowing I can provide for my family that day. My mornings are usually spent on the farm or casual jobs which gets me very tired.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is my children's poor health.The place I used to live was quite cold, which made my children diagnosed with pneumonia hence frequenting hospital on and off for a span of 5 years. This made me sell most of my assets to pay for hospital bills. Over the years I wasn't able to save or improve my family's livelihood as a result of this.