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 > Charo's Profile
Charo's family
Charo
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Charo's next check-in.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Looking forward, my goal is to acquire two bulls for plowing. Having bulls during the planting season is advantageous because they can cover a larger area than manual weeding with a hoe. This season, I had to hire bulls, which was expensive. I aim to have my bulls for future planting seasons. To accomplish this, I hope to channel most of the cash transfers towards acquiring the animals.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used $34 from the cash transfers to contribute towards a traditional memorial occasion for a relative who passed away two years ago. During this event, our family typically gathers and prepares to remember the life of the deceased and hold a communal feast. I am grateful that the cash transfers helped me to contribute to the occasion. I am delighted that this year's rainy season brought a bountiful harvest, providing my family with food to last for the coming few months. Consequently, this made it possible for me to channel $25 from the cash transfers towards the purchase of a goat. My goal is to establish a strong financial foundation for my three children through livestock keeping so that even when I'm no longer around, they will have something to support them. I also faced health challenges due to a chronic and recurring case of Tuberculosis. During this period, I had not visited the hospital for a long time and had to temporarily pause my job as a gardener due to my condition. I am grateful that the cash transfers allowed me to access medication, leading to my recovery. I am happy that I have since resumed work.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Unfortunately, my house was destroyed by the ongoing rains, which forced my wife and me to seek shelter in my grandson's house, where we have been staying since then. I feel like we are inconveniencing his space, which prompts me to build another house. Thankfully, I have been able to spend my savings from previous transfers to acquire building materials for the new structure. The remaining task is to secure funds for labor compensation. My goal is to build a two-room house with mud walls and an iron sheet roof, which will provide a more stable and comfortable living environment for my wife and me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the cash transfer, I was struggling with chest complications that had been troubling me for several weeks. These complications were a result of being diagnosed with Tuberculosis two years ago. This condition has prevented me from being able to work and earn an income. Fortunately, the cash transfers have been crucial in assisting me with covering my medical expenses. Recently, I used $5.50 to settle my hospital bill. Since I had to travel to a hospital far from my home to receive the treatment, I had saved the remaining funds to cover the cost of transportation back home. Besides, I am confident that these savings will also enable me to acquire additional prescriptions. Without the cash transfers, am uncertain if I would have been able to cover my hospital expenses since I had no money. I am extremely grateful to Give Directly for their support during this challenging time.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I want to buy myself a few farm animals, ideally goats, with a significant amount of the transfers I will receive. In the future, if I have financial difficulties, I hope that my investment in a few goats will be able to assist me. As a result of the bad harvest brought on by the drought, I also want to spend the money for food because it is a constant issue for us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had the opportunity to take the money out of my phone right away. I then went ahead and spent KES 2,500 on a goat. When the program inevitably ends, I hope that this will have been a wise investment in my future. After deducting KES 500 for two packets of maize flour and sugar, I had a balance of KES 400, which I used to pay school tuition for my two grandkids as they had been dismissed from their  school.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Givedirectly did well in sending cash transfers directly to our mobile phones. Moreover, giving us the opportunity to choose how to use it to better our living standards is something that I appreciated the organization for. In my opinion, I feel everything went well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $10 of the most recent transfers to educate my 3 children who are still in primary school. The transfer was of great help since they were about to be sent home for fees something which was bothering me a lot. Moreover, I boosted my poultry farming by purchasing two more chickens for $ 8. This is an investment that will support me financially in the future when I have an emergency like sickness, I will be able to sell one to cater for such. Lastly, I spent the remaining amount to purchase food for the family of 5 members and to complete the payment of a goat that I had bought with the first transfer but I owe the seller $12.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home with my wife, discussing ways to earn some money to cover my children's school expenses. When my phone rang loudly and I checked, I was speechless to learn that I had received my first transfer. I exclaimed loudly while jumping up and down. My wife and I grinned as I showed her the text. I said a brief prayer in prayer, giving thanks to the Lord for the transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I had utterly failed in my duty as a responsible father to provide for the needs of my kids. I had trouble sleeping as a result of this, and I felt anxious. I put all of my eggs in one basket, and the outcome was frightening because the farm yielded no harvest. I'd want to express my sincere gratitude to the organization for assisting me in paying off the outstanding school fees for my kids so that they could resume their studies.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My three primary school children are in classes 3, 4, and 5 respectively. The head teacher insisted that I pay off all outstanding school fee balances, despite my best attempts to keep them in school. My kids did not attend school for a full month and instead stayed home. When my crops dried up as a result of the ongoing drought, I suffered enormous losses. After receiving moderate showers, I was certain that I would have a bountiful yield, but after two weeks, the rain stopped. I found it difficult to support my family after losing everything. When I got my first transfer, I was as ecstatic as a baby gnawing on his favorite food with the new teeth. My children were re-admitted to school after I paid the school's outstanding tuition debt.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will help me a lot in my medication. I was diagnosed with Tuberculosis a few months ago and I am yet to fully recover. My plan is therefore to spend 2,000 KES of the transfer to buy medicine. For my long term plans, I plan to start rearing chicken to help me with little expenses at home such as buying food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the health challenges that I have , I am glad that I have been able to get a little food for me and my family in the recent months. This has helped make my health condition better.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest challenge is getting income to sustain me and my family. It is a challenge because I can no longer do physical jobs that earn me income like farming. I am less active especially because I suffered from Tuberculosis a few months ago. I am not fully recovered. I have a family of 8 children and it is really tough catering for their needs. I am sometimes forced to seek help from my relatives.