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.
Jane's family
access_time 2 years ago
Jane received a $482 initial payment.
"For a long time, my daughter has been suffering from epilepsy. But I was unable to buy her the required medicine due to lack of money. But with the transfer, her health has improved. I believe that the overall health of my children will also improve since we have enough milk in the house, unlike before where we used to buy them daily. I am so grateful for the transfer that brought so much hope to our lives."
Mary's family
access_time 2 years ago
Mary received a $277 fourth payment.
"Since I started receiving transfer from GiveDirectly, my life as a physically challenged woman had been changing for the better. For the passed two years, Since my husband who's the bread winner of our home got seriously ill, life had never been easy for my family and I. Helpfully, GiveDirectly came to our rescue with their financial assistance. Therefore, my first two transfers were all spent on my children's school and treatment for their father. Moreover, my third transfer was used to start a little business that is now serving as a source of income for my family. Now with my recent transfer, my new goal is to plaster my house. With that said, I used a portion of the money and bought ten bags of cement and a load of sand. Furthermore, a portion was also used as workmanship. Finally, I used the balance money to buy additional medicine for my husband."
Pamela's family
access_time 2 years ago
Pamela received a $27 fifth payment.
"I currently run a tailoring business which helps me meet my daily needs. Upon receiving my transfer, I bought zips, lining materials and sewing threads, all at a cost of KSH 500 to add to my business. I then spent KSH 800 to buy 5 packets of maize flour, 1 packet of porridge flour, some fruits and vegetables for my son. My son fell ill few days after receiving the money and I spent KSH 300 to buy some medicine from the pharmacy for him to get well. His health condition has really improved and getting better each day. Being a believer in Christianity, I always spend 10% of the transfer, which is KSH 300, as a tithe to the church. Besides the tithe, I also sent KSH 100 as offerings during the Sunday service. I saved the remaining KSH 1000 in a chama to earn interest and expanding my business in the future."
Kiptesot's family
access_time 2 years ago
Kiptesot enrolled.
"I have not been feeling well for the past three weeks. We are both getting old too, we cannot work or farm, we depend on our children to help us meet our daily needs. We have been to several hospitals for medication, the main challenge being money for transport, medicines as well as hospital bills. The main challenge is insufficient finances."
Juma's family
access_time 2 years ago
Juma received a $27 fifth payment.
"Few days after receiving the money I fell ill. I had severe chest pains which made me weak and I visited the hospital to get medical attention. I spent KSH 600 in buying medicine and paying for the medical bill in the hospital. Because of the current drought conditions, I no longer work on my farm and I have to buy all the food from the shops and at very high prices. Finding water is very hard and we have to buy it from water vendors at very high prices. Because of these challenges, I spent KSH 1400 in buying both food and water. To crown it all, I started a kiosk business that has made me self-employed and I am happy that from it I earn a living."
Borbor's family
access_time 2 years ago
Borbor received a $276 fourth payment.
"First transfer was used for two bundles of Zinc, nails with part of the money and spent the balance money for my wife medical expensive. Second transfer transfer was used for additional construction materials, paid contractors to saw my roofing plant and kept the balance money for food.The third transfer was used to buy enough medicine for my wife and bought additional materials to compete the house.The last money was used to paid the contractors for the building and bought enough food for my family."
Mercy's family
access_time 2 years ago
Mercy received a $482 initial payment.
"A few days after receiving my transfers, I was admitted to hospital to give birth and I spent KES 20000 to settle the bill and KES 3000 to buy baby stuff. I'm happy that I was able to access the best medicine services in my location and both my new born and I are doing well. I spent the remaining KES 30000 buy farming inputs and pay workers who were helping in weeding. I'm hopeful that I will have some good harvest because previously, I wasn't able to afford fertilizer and pesticide."
Edwin's family
access_time 2 years ago
Edwin received a $482 initial payment.
"We spent KES 30000 of the recent transfer on buying two calves. The calves are a form of saving money. We plan to sell the calves when they will have matured so that we can get a better sum of money that we will use in starting an agro vet business. I studied veterinary medicine back in college and it has always been my desire to start such kind of business since I have wide knowledge about it. I in the meanwhile usually do my work as a veterinarian to get money for buying food for my family. Other than the calves, we also bought iron sheets at a total cost of approximately KES 11000. We bought the iron sheets because we have a plan to build a kitchen house. We do not have one. We only have one house that we use as a kitchen and for sleeping in it. With the remaining transfer money, we used it in buying clothes for ourselves and the children. We are so much grateful to GiveDirectly for their support."
Esther's family
access_time 2 years ago
Esther enrolled.
"Living with a terminal illness is challenging as you have to be on medication all through. With finances being a shortfall, one can abscond medication hence putting the life at risk. I am glad that In February 2022, I had enough medicines to last me the entire month thus I had no worry about my health."
Zawadi's family
access_time 2 years ago
Zawadi enrolled.
"My children are often getting sick. I have tried to use traditional herbs to treat them but unfortunately, this has not worked. Lack of money has made me prefer traditional medicine because they are cheap. I am worried if I do not get cash to get them good treatment things might worsen. The challenge that I currently face in my life is, therefore lack of finances to even seek medication for my children."
medicine