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 > Lucy's Profile
Lucy's family
Lucy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
attach_money
 
Follow to be updated on Lucy's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 23 days ago
attach_money
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My main focus is to secure quality education for my children. Since nine of them are still in primary school, there is a long road ahead until they finish secondary education. I have dedicated all my transfers towards this goal and plan to reserve a portion of my future transfers to handle any remaining school fees or unexpected costs. I firmly believe that education is the pathway to success and by empowering them, they will be able to attain good jobs and become self-reliant in future. Moreover, they will also be in a position to support me in my old age. I am sincerely thankful for this opportunity to positively impact my children's lives and look forward to a brighter tomorrow.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I support my family of twelve through farming and livestock rearing, while my husband works as a trader. Our lives were incredibly challenging before, as I struggled to afford school fees for my children, and we faced food scarcity due to prolonged drought. However, since we started receiving assistance from GiveDirectly, our situation has significantly improved. I am now able to provide education for my children and ensure an adequate food supply for my family, while also benefiting from a stable monthly income from the transfers. I allocated the entire amount of $102 towards settling outstanding school fees for my children, prioritizing their education as I believe it is crucial for securing better opportunities in the future. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity to transform my children's lives through education, made possible by the support we have received.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 months ago
attach_money
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Looking forward to the beginning of next year, my goal is to initiate a defined savings project for the education of my nine children. Given that most of them are still in primary school, there is a long journey until they complete their secondary education. I aim to set aside a portion of the cash transfers to cover any outstanding school balances or unforeseen expenses. Additionally, I aspire to start a venture in poultry and goat rearing. Currently, I have only one chicken, as financial constraints, such as school fees, hindered me from acquiring more. With the school holidays underway, I see an opportunity to expand my poultry and goat holdings.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband and I have nine children, all of whom are still in school. The daily task of providing for their needs, especially school fees, has been a challenging responsibility that the cash transfers have somewhat alleviated. My husband's business in buying and selling livestock has proven to be unreliable, as he operates mainly on market days. When our children recently closed school, three of them had outstanding tuition balances that needed settling before the next academic term. I used $30 to reduce these debts. Additionally, one of our children fell seriously ill with a severe fever, and $22 was spent on medical bills. Thankfully, he is now recovering well. With the onset of the short rains, I allocated $34 to plow an acre of land and purchase maize seeds for planting. The remaining funds were utilized to purchase essential food items. The cash aid has proven invaluable, preventing my son from suffering due to lack of medical attention and enabling me to engage in agricultural activities.
 
9th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 10 months ago
attach_money
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As a mother of ten children, I am determined to improve our lives by buying and selling goats. Although I currently have only one goat and faced the loss of another, I refuse to give up. My plan is to cultivate crops, sell the surplus produce, and gradually grow our livestock. With unwavering determination, I am committed to providing a brighter future for my family through hard work and perseverance.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As the raindrops gently fell, an opportunity for kindness presented itself. Feeling compelled to lend a hand, I graciously gave $20 to someone who owed a cow. In return, they willingly joined me in the noble task of tilling the land. Inspired by this unexpected bond, I set forth with a purposeful intent to purchase seeds, investing $10 in the hope of a prosperous harvest. Remaining mindful of my responsibilities, I carefully allocated the remaining $4 to fulfill a sacred obligation: paying my beloved child's school fees. My little one, a first-grader, deserved nothing less than a solid foundation for their educational journey. With unwavering determination, I ensured that their path to knowledge and endless possibilities was paved with care and commitment.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
attach_money
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Having no alternative sources of income sufficient for my children's educational expenses, I resolved to divert all my transfers to paying school fees. I, therefore, hope to ensure that all my children have ample time. As the year progresses, I will be sacrificing all my transfers to offset their fee arrears to limit the possibility of them being sent back home. Consequently, they will experience positive academic progress, courtesy of the monthly transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of ten children, and we have been living in extreme poverty. Both my husband nor I do not have regular sources of income hence paying school fees has been a tall order for us. Our children are school-going but are always at home due to the lack of school fees. My husband and I did not have money for school uniforms for my two sons in Junior Secondary School. When I got my latest transfer, I spent it all on the school uniform. I am always glad to see them going to school when they are well-dressed and presentable. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for the timely help.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
attach_money
 
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
According to me, sending unconditional transfers is what Give Directly does best. Given that I do not have a source income, the cash transfers support the most crucial need my family could ever have; food. I am eternally grateful and content with the effort the organization puts in. I pray that Give Directly never lacks so that they can continue supporting needy people like myself. 
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I remember rushing to the shop to buy maize flour worth $22 after I saw the transfer notification that evening. My family of twelve (ten children and two parents) had not eaten anything the entire day and sleeping hungry would not have been an option had it not been for Give Directly. As our sole provider, my husband had not earned anything from his business of buying and selling cattle. Gladly, the transfers proved so useful that we consumed decent meals for an entire week. Besides, I restocked the maize flour before it was fully depleted, which lasted us another half a week. To say I am grateful would be an understatement. God bless Give Directly!
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was in the evening around 5.30 pm and I was busy at home, ready to prepare our evening meal. As soon as I walked to my kitchen, had a notification of a message in my phone as I turned to locate where I had placed my phone. The light from my screen drew me and saw a message from Mpesa. I was so eager to read the message and Alas! The message confirmed I had $30. I was delighted and ululated, jumping up and down. My neighbor came running into my house looking alarmed and worried, but joined me in celebration when she saw the message. She ran back to her place to check if she had received her share because they enrolled her in the program. I could hear her singing as well and that was enough sign to know she received her share as well. As the night crawled in, my family was happy and my husband agreed with my idea of spending the cash.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is having the bicycle repaired, which has made things easier to fetch water. My son would struggle to bring enough water for the family without the bicycle because of the distance. I am also grateful because, before the funds, food has been a major challenge for my family, but the funds reduced the number of days would have slept without food. I am pleased to be in this program.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am married with ten children, but one of them got married. The other seven are in lower primary school and two of them are twins who are not of age to be enrolled in school. My husband works as a livestock trader and that’s the main source of our income. It is difficult with the current economy to provide for such a big family. Besides the financial issues, water has been a major problem because of the drought which has caused most of the nearby rivers and wells to dry up. As soon as I received my funds, I used $26 to buy food for the family for a whole week and the remaining cash was used to repair a bicycle that would help my sons to fetch water. We normally fetch water during weekends because of the distance. It takes 6 hours to be home with four 20 liters of plastic Jerrican, which is hardly enough for the family
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I'm a mother of ten living with my husband and nine of my children because one is already married. My husband sells livestock for a living while personally I'm a housewife. It's a little too hard to raise school fees for our four children who're in grade school paying levies of around 2500 KES each per academic term. This is because my husband's income is always fluctuating with some months being too low that we can only afford food from it. Therefore getting this money will enable me to supplement that income by starting a business selling foodstuff as those are fast moving. I'll need 10000 KES that I can save up for three months to acquire the goods.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I normally feel happy when my husband manage to get good sales from his business and to get a significant profit margin. When this happens I always get to pay school fees for my children in time to keep them in school, and at the same time I also manage to get enough of family supplies. The last time I experience this was a month ago and I couldn't be more happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I'm struggling with lack of income owing to the fact that I'm currently economically involved. As a family we depend on my husband's income from his business selling livestock to be able to get our needs. This line of business is normally affected by climatic conditions such during droughts prices are low. Sadly it's like always draught over here and that has been reducing family income a lot.