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.
Evaline's family
access_time 2 years ago
Evaline received a $468 second payment.
"I spent a total of KES 33,000 from my most recent transfer on building a new iron roofed house. The previous one was an old grass thatched house that was almost collapsing. I am happy that with the help of GD transfer, nowadays living in a better house, what I could imagine I could have at the moment. I also spent KES 13,000 on buying a water tank that helps me in harvesting rain water. As a result I do not need to go to the stream to fetch water so frequently."
Caroline's family
access_time 2 years ago
Caroline received a $468 second payment.
"The house that we currently live in is made of mud and it was built on the water pathway. During the rainy season like at the moment, our house has become dumpy and we've had to move most of our belongings and beddings to the kitchen. It is my wish to build a more permanent house where I will not have to worry about anything during the rainy season. I do not have the finances to achieve this now but I believe that I will achieve it once my two children who are in tertiary institutions are through with their studies. This is because I will have some money that I can save since the burden of paying school fees will have been reduced."
Valerine's family
access_time 2 years ago
Valerine received a $468 second payment.
"Before GiveDirectly, I used to live in a tiny grass-thatched house that could only accommodate my family of three. I had wished to build a better house for the past four years and even invested in merry-go-round contributions. Luckily, GiveDirectly came in before I received my contributions. I, therefore, topped up my first transfer and a part second transfer and built a two-roomed Iron roofed house. From the first transfer, I used KES 12,900 on Ironsheets and KES 22,900 from the second transfer was used on Ironsheets and timber. After completion of my Iron roofed house, I can now accommodate my family and visitors at the same time. From the Iron roofs also, I am now able to get and store clean rainy rainwater as well. To feed my family, I majorly depended on the farming of tomatoes, sukuma wiki, and indigenous vegetables. From the sale of vegetables I could get up to KES 300 in two weeks and this normally supplements household expenses. Fortunately, when I received GiveDirectly transfers I spent KES 5000 on a bag of maize and KES6000 on clothing. Farming was also quite a struggle due to the lack of money to buy farm inputs. Although my husband works in a nearby supermarket and earns KES12000 a month. The family needs would be too much for this amount. But when GiveDirectly transfers came, I spent KES 3,000 on plowing land and KES 1,000 on the purchase of maize and bean seeds."
Dama's family
access_time 2 years ago
Dama received a $467 second payment.
"I spent KES 1500 of my transfer to start a small business vending dry fish and coconuts around the village. This is my reliable source of living for my family, I am currently earning an income of KES 700 per week on average. I also used KES 7000 to clear the term three fee arrears of my 4 children who are in primary. In addition, I bought new clothes for my children as well as school uniforms. They had been going to school in casual clothes that were humiliating whenever I am accompanying them to school. Lastly, I saved KES 20,000 to start livestock rearing when there is enough pasture and water in our area."
Gladys's family
access_time 2 years ago
Gladys received a $467 second payment.
"I invested KES 24,000 of the most recent transfer on purchasing 6 goats. This was to start livestock rearing a future investment for my child's education. For a couple of years now, I had dreamed of owning livestock but I lacked the finances. In addition, I bought 7 iron sheets which Intend to improve the condition of my house by constructing an additional room. Currently, I am inhabiting a small one-roomed house that is not enough to fully accommodate our items. I was remaining with KES 8,000 to assist me in my daily needs like food and water."
Bendera's family
access_time 2 years ago
Bendera received a $467 second payment.
"With 4 children in secondary school, providing for their educational needs has been a big challenge for me. I depend on temporary casual activity of charcoal burning. This job does not earn me enough money to feed my family as well as to cater for the children's education. They were always sent home for fee something that has impacted their performances negatively. In most instances, they are forced to engage in casual jobs after school to pay their fees. I spent KES 28,000 of the recent transfer to clear their school fees. Currently, they are happy learning with disruptions. In addition, I bought a barrel for KES 2,800 to store enough water for the family. Also, I purchased 3 plastic chairs because we were sitting on the floor which was a shameful situation whenever we received guests. With the remaining amount, I completed the renovation of my kitchen."
Sylvia's family
access_time 2 years ago
Sylvia received a $467 second payment.
"I spent the KES 48,000 of the recent transfer in purchasing animals feeds. We were experiencing drought and lack of pasture and water. This was a great disaster considering that I depend on livestock farming as my main job. I decided to spend most of the transfer to purchase hay and water for my six dairy cows and 30 goats. With the remaining amount, I bought enough foodstuff for my family of 5 members since we had food shortages."
Richard's family
access_time 2 years ago
Richard received a $467 second payment.
"Givedirectly did well by giving unconditional cash transfers to the poverty alleviated households. At the moment, every household in my village has a new face i.e newly iron-roofed houses, dairy cows, water tanks which we all didn't own before hence making all of us equal."
Nancy's family
access_time 2 years ago
Nancy received a $467 second payment.
"I am a single mother of five children - all currently in various schools right from primary school and stretching to University. Meeting all their needs both financially and even the physical and emotional support has never been any easier for me. I am grateful that GiveDirectly support was timely in that it came right when the push to clear their school fees was on. After paying part with the first transfer, KES 35000 out of the second transfer still went to the clearance of the current semesters. They can now study in peace as I work hard on other income-generating projects to raise more for the coming terms. Back at home, I have been living in an old house with rusted iron sheets that I would keep tugging some polythene on the leaks that would otherwise let rainwater in. I managed though to spend the remaining KES 18000 on buying 14 iron sheets and 8 kilograms of roofing and framing nails that I am looking forward to using in the construction of a new spacious house for my family of six. I am one of the grateful mothers around for this generous support from GiveDirectly that gave me a chance of retaining my children who were on the verge of dropping out of their schools."
Joan's family
access_time 2 years ago
Joan received a $483 second payment.
"Originally, I had a goal of buying a cow purposefully for production of milk. I like milk although I have been forced to buy from the milk vendors snce I never owned a cow. Immediately, I executed this goal, I developed a new goal of acquiring a 5,000 litres water-tank. I have been relying on water from streams which is not only unclean but also unsuitable for direct consumption. The stream water has occassionally been causing water-borne diseases among my children thus causing us to always spend some money on medication. I hope that by acquiring a water tank, I will be able to harvest rain water for my household utilization."
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