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 > Lorna's Profile
Lorna's family
Lorna
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Teaching
faceAge:
32
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($430 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As our economic backbone, I am currently providing strong support to farming in order to ensure the mass production of short-season crops such as beans, vegetables, and Irish potatoes. These are not only for our own consumption, but we will also sell the surplus to generate income. In the long run, I believe the savings from farming activities will be useful in purchasing a lactating cow to provide an immediate solution to my family of four's high milk costs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Since GiveDirectly arrived in our village, a lot has changed. Previously, many people lived in old structures with mud walls and grass roofs. Since then, housing conditions have improved, and every household now has a better house roofed with iron sheets. No one had a water tank, and we all spent a lot of time walking to the river to get water, but after the transfers, more than 80% of the population purchased water tanks and are now collecting clean rainwater from their newly constructed roofs. Most of our children, who had stayed at home due to a lack of school fees, are now back in school, along with other diverse spending patterns in every household since they gave us the freedom to choose our spending. The approach was flawlessly executed by the friendly field officers, who made certain that we understood everything from the beginning by explaining in a language that both the young and the elderly could understand.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the second transfer, I used a large portion of it to improve my farming activities, which had always been our primary source of income. With my four children, I believe that improved farming will ensure food security while also providing a source of income from surplus produce. I spent $200 on farm inputs such as certified bean seeds, fertilizers, and herbicides, as well as labor charges for farm operations leading up to planting. I am relieved that we've made progress and that weeding has begun, as we anticipate a better harvest at the end of the season. I also spent $120 of the remaining funds on food for my family of four and $10 on new clothing. In addition, I spent $80 on a heifer to add to the existing heifer. I had been purchasing milk, and hopefully, as they mature, I will be able to reduce my purchasing costs and instead produce enough to sell the surplus.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($473 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 8:30 Am I was doing the dishes. I had left my phone in the house when I went back to check there was a message confirming that I have received some money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money. It was one of the happiest days of my life. When I informed my family members everyone was so happy and we celebrated. I stayed for two days before I went to withdraw the money. I knew I would fulfill my dream of owning a water tank. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our standard of living.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
purchasing a water tank is the biggest difference in my daily life. This is because I used to go for quite a long distance to collect the clean water for my household uses. I have always wished to own a water tank but I did not have the money to purchase one. I depend majorly on small-scale horticulture farming and small businesses selling cereals. This earns me some small income and I was not in the position to save. We are no longer being exposed to water-related diseases by drinking dirty water. I will use the borehole water that I have drilled in irrigating my farm and start to major in horticulture farming. I will be selling the farm produce to earn an income to meet household items and even purchase pesticides. I am so grateful because I have saved time that I could have used in collecting the water to do other activities at home, I am so grateful because currently, I have enough time to bond with my family at home.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend KES 21,000 on purchasing a water tank for storing clean water for household uses. We used to go for a long distance to collect clean water and this was so tiresome and time-consuming. Part of the money I used in wiring the house and I was later successful connected the electricity and I am so happy about this because now we have lights. For the rest of the money, I bought some pesticides for spraying my groups and bought food for the family.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When I completed my education 4 years ago as a teacher, I ventured into farming. I have planted both tomatoes and tissue cultured bananas. Since our area has been dry for most of the days, we have been doing the irrigation by fetching water in a nearby river and doing the irrigation. It is tedious to us as we do it ourselves, especially when fetching water. Receiving this money will make my work easier as I intend to purchase a money maker machine at a cost of KES.60,000. This will also improve the yields on the farm as we plan to expand the farm for bananas. The remaining amount will boost in buying the seedlings and also hire people to assist planting.
What is the happiest part of your day?
For the past five months, I was able to harvest tomatoes and managed to earn a profit of KES.30,000. This amount that I got helped me to pay for my school fees balance of KES35000. The school released my certificate that was however held due to the accrued school fees balance. I was able to restore my ambition of being a teacher.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The main challenge that I currently face, is financial constraints. I have ideas for venturing in farming but I cannot manage to execute them. We stay in a place where there is a flowing river, and I have been thinking to purchase a generator that will aid in pumping water for irrigation. I usually get so tired when I carry water throughout the day. Today I am excited that these transfers will aid me in purchasing this generator that I have thought about for a long.