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 > Mwei's Profile
Mwei's family
Mwei
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
50
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($493 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Paying a large sum of money as school fees for my children had been a struggle not only to me but also to the whole household. I had been working hard to ensure that I raise at least enough money before my children were sent home - a situation that had to stop other sectors from developing. The thought of constructing a better house had been with us for a long time, and it would not have happened were it not for the transfers. I am grateful for the generous aid we received as it really brought a big difference to my household.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, the aid I received as everyone else did in our village is the best thing to ever happened to this community. The approach by GiveDirectly was perfect as the officers visited every household, access the household situation, and made a promise which came to pass in every family. Allowing us to also choose how best we could spend the transfer was a great decision. I am grateful, nothing to complain about, and still hoping that we would get more and more of the same.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Having lived in a small old hut with my family of five for such a long time, I had been in deep thoughts on how best I would keep saving to construct a bigger, and better one. I had been repairing the roof every rainy season which even though I was not good at it, everyone in the household would appreciate it when the leaks were reduced. I would also send my elder son to sleep with the neighbor's sons since I never had an extra room for him. With the first transfer, I was so mean to other needs as the construction of a new house had to come first. I managed to purchase 43 iron sheets - 26 for the main house and 17 used in the construction of a smaller one for my son. I used the remaining amount on paying him school fees that covered all the previous term's areas and the next term. I am glad that I managed all that and grateful to GiveDirectly for making this possible.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was late in the afternoon when I received my transfers, I couldn't wait any longer to go and withdrew the money and buy the building materials. I changed my clothes and went straight to a nearby shopping center to purchase the building materials. I was so excited that I would soon have my dream house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before, I didn't have the courage to invite guests to my home due to the state of our house. It had leaking roof and was not good to live in but we had no other option then. I am now glad that GiveDirectly has changed my story and now I am confident that whenever I got some visitors, they have a comfortable place to stay. Again, I see myself in the same level with my fellow villagers in that I got a ironed roofed house which I couldn't afford to build on my own anytime soon.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When GiveDirectly came to our village to enroll us to the program, I saw it was a new dawn for us. I have been working extra to provide for my family but it was never enough to save to build a better house. When I got my first transfers, I spent KES 45000 on purchasing ironsheets, nails, timber and building posts for house construction. Now I got a two room house which is complete and we recently moved in. We are no longer rained on like it use to be with our previous house which had leaking roof. The remaining portion of approximately KES 9500, I spent on paying school fees for my five children who are in school.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
It means I will build a house for my family, I have 5 children and we live in this small hut together with my wife.It has become very embarrassing to live in the same room with my teenage daughters. So when I get the money from givedirectly I will build another house for my wife and myself.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I have completed my daily duties and accomplished all tusks planned for the day
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship in my life is not been able to support my family financially, I have not been able to build a house for my children, I always struggle to pay their school fees and that has been my priority.