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 > Dama's Profile
Dama's family
Dama
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
69
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($483 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?
My new goal is to start a small grocery business of selling vegetables like kales, tomatoes, and fruits. This will be my reliable source for my family since my husband is old and jobless. He depended on me as the breadwinner. With this business, I will be able to earn income that will help me feed the family without much struggle.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well for targeting the extremely poor households in society. In addition, every household was enrolled and was able to receive the cash transfer directly on their mobile phones. I feel that there is nothing that it does not do well, I wished it would extend the aid to other less privileged households.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was worried about the education of my 6 children since I was jobless and they had a huge fee balance. Their education was frequently suspended due to lack of school fees. I spent most of my recent transfer which amounted to KES 33,000 to clear the fees arrears. I used KES 18,000 to pay fees for my firstborn who is in college and the remaining for the other 5 kids who are in primary. I also upgraded the livestock rearing by purchasing 5 more goats. In addition, I bought a mattress at KES 6,000 this is because I was using a small, old one which was uncomfortable. With the remaining part, I acquired sufficient foodstuffs for the family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home preparing breakfast when my phone started to ring constantly. I was so nervous because I was not expecting to hear from anyone. But since my children were very hungry I had to focus on what I was doing. After I was done, I asked my helper to check the notifications from my mobile phone. I was so excited after telling me that I had received my cash transfers from GiveDirectly. I immediately opted to share the news with my family members and I remember saying a special prayer for this miraculous gift from this organization.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that the transfer has enabled me to buy some goats which I am currently keeping in my homestead. I have been yearning to own them for quite some time but I couldn't have afforded to buy any at my own cost. I settle to purchase them because they are valuable assets that one can rely on in case of any financial difficulty. Also, they do survive well in my region and I am certain in regard to that they will reproduce and multiply within a short period of time. I will be in a position to sell the offspring and cater for my four children's school fees and since my spouse is very old and jobless the goats will be of help. In addition, I will be able to meet my family's needs without much struggle like before courtesy of GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a wooden bed and a mattress at KES 9000. Life used to be tough during the periods that I had to sleep on the floor. I was always attacked by some jiggers and some other harmful insects. In addition to that, I bought five goats KES 17500, I have been longing to at least own one but they were too expensive and I couldn't afford them. I later cleared school fees of KES 20000 and bought new school uniforms for my four children. With the remaining amount of money, I am currently using it to buy foodstuffs for my family.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have desired to invest in livestock because is the only way I can save my money to earn a profit when I sell them after they multiply. Therefore I intend to spend the entire amount of my first transfer to buy 2 ingenious dairy cows and 10 goats. With the send transfer, I plan to spend $300 to clear the school fees balance of my kid at Mitangani Secondary school. I will use the remaining amount to buy a new bed and mattress for my kids because they are now sleeping on the floor.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. Waking up healthy with my children is something that gives me joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial instability is the hardship that I have ever faced. I am a housewife who majorly depends on my husband who is a charcoal vendor. His job is tiresome and the earning is very little such that it cannot sustain all the basic needs of the family. We sometimes skip meals or borrow from relatives something that ashames me.