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.
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Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Esther's Profile
Esther's family
Esther
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
68
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($473 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have no new goals that I have thought about. I had planned to use the money in constructing another house and to buy a cow and a calf. I had also planned to till the land and to buy some furniture which I didn't have before. With the remaining money, I bought food with it and some household items such as sugar, soap, etc. My current plan is to continue looking after the cows that I bought. I believe that the cows are going to be of great benefit to me when they calve. This is because I will get milk that I can sell and consume. This way, I will no longer have to incur the cost of buying milk. Looking after the cows needs some money because I have to buy salt and some supplementary feeds for them. I am a small-scale farmer and I at times grow and sell vegetables. I plan to use the money that I will be getting from the sale of the vegetables in taking care of the cows.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well because they changed the lives of the people in the community. The transfer that GiveDirectly sent to the people enabled them to do the things that they have always wanted to do but they were not in a position to due to lack of money. They built houses, bought livestock, paid school fees, bought furniture, water tanks, and many more. We are therefore so much grateful to GiveDirectly for what they have done to us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the money that I got in the second transfer on buying a cow. This is what I had always wanted the most because I do not have my source of milk. I hence usually incur the cost of buying milk where I buy a cup of milk every day and I pay at the end of the month. Getting money to pay for the milk has been quite a challenge for me since I am old and I do not have a stable source of income. I grow a few vegetables in a small piece of land. I depend on the money that I get from the sale of the vegetables to earn a living, that is to buy food. At times during the dry season there are no vegetables to sell and hence I depend on my children to provide for me. I am so much grateful to GiveDirectly because I was able to achieve my dream of owning a cow. I will hence no longer have to incur the cost of buying milk when the cow calves.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 9am. When I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I called my son to check it for me since I do not know how to read. It was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and overwhelmed with joy. I knew I would be in a position to build a better house. We went to withdrew the money the same day and planned on purchasing the building material.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have build a better house for my family. I live in a small grass thatched house. Whenever I have visitors there is no room for me to host them comfortably. This is so demoralizing and stressful. I depend on small scale farming and I have no other source of income. I have always wished to own a better house but this was not possible before. Currently the construction of a new house is on going. When the house is completely I will move in with my family members. We will no longer shy off to welcome visitors to our home. When my relative comes to visit me they will have a room to sleep. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard. It has enabled me to fulfilled my dreams of owning a better house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the money I received from GiveDirectly on purchasing building materials and started to build a better house for my family. The construction is still on going. I used to live in a small grass thatched house which was almost falling apart. I bought an ox at a cost of KES 20,00. I will sell to buy a dairy cow. The rest of the money I bought household items as food for the family.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a better housing for me and my family. My current grass thatched house that doubles up as kitchen and bedroom, is too small. It also gets smoky and really hot especially when making meals which makes us uncomfortable. I would like to build an iron sheet house that will act as my bedroom, visitors room and sitting room. This will cost me about Ksh30,000. The remaining amount I'll purchase a dairy cow, since I currently do not have one. I buy milk at ksh 1000 per monthly which is quite costly considering we're peasant farmers with no other income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I have completed my day's farm activities. At this time I get to rest and spend time with my husband talking and making plans. The biggest part of my typical day is spent at my small farm tending to my small scale crops.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Long ago I used to own several cows which came handy in milk production and selling them to pay school fees for my 12 children. With time they began dying of mysterious disease with lack of proper treatment, due to finances, until I was left with none. It's been years now living without a cow, forcing me to purchase milk which is quite costly. This also meant I lost a source of income. I, therefore, have to work extra hard or just survive. The biggest hardship is getting finances to start up again and being able to take care of them well.