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.
Julius's family
access_time 2 years ago
Julius received a $467 second payment.
"After receiving my second transfer, I purchased a dairy cow worth Kshs.30,000.We had been buying milk for a long period and this was so expensive and it wasn't adequate for consumption and at times we could take strong tea. Am happy that we are currently enjoying plenty of milk. I also bought a donkey at a cost of Kshs.10,000 which will be a means of transportation of water because we use to go and fetch water from a river which is a long distance. In addition, I can also use the donkey to transport maize, especially during harvest season for my neighbors hence getting an extra income. I used the remaining amount to purchase food and clothes for my entire household members."
Sheila's family
access_time 2 years ago
Sheila received a $467 second payment.
"I am a consistent farmer and a housewife blessed with three children. Fetching water from the stream has been a hectic task in my life, this is because the stream is quite distant, Thus upon receiving my transfer I prioritised purchasing a water tank worth KES 20,000, I knew this would help me in harvesting rainwater, I was unable to purchase one due to financial constraints and other responsibilities like school fees, I then used the remaining amount to purchase chicken at KES 1500 and then seats at KES 3150 and lastly I bought foodstuffs and clothes. I am thankful for the support that changed our living standards."
Norah's family
access_time 2 years ago
Norah received a $467 second payment.
"I am a dairy, poultry, and vegetable farmer. On a good day, I get a total of KES 400 a day from all these entities and this helps in household expenses. My husband also works as a carpenter where he gets KES 12000 a month and this usually caters for school fees and food as well. Nowadays, my back is relieved from backaches experienced from carrying water. This is because with the second transfer I bought a water tank at KES 14,000 which can store up to 2000 liters of water at a go. I had desired to have a water tank for the last 10 years but couldn't afford it due to school feed burdens. In addition, I spent KES 10,000 on repayment of my kid's hospital bill which had accrued from the last year. GiveDirectly has also relieved ger which has been prevalent since the maize pandemic started. I, therefore, spent KES 4000 on food. I was also able to pay KES 4000 remedial fees for my kids in high school."
Kadzo's family
access_time 2 years ago
Kadzo received a $483 second payment.
"I spent part of my second transfer on buying a bicycle at KES 10000. This has been of help especial in transporting water from the dams which are about 15KM away from the villages. Previously, I have been using my own hands in carrying the jerrican and it was so tiring. I used to complain of back pains every evening. Also, I cleared the medical bill of KES 15000 for my spouse who was diagnosed with high blood pressure some months ago. He is now fairing so well courtesy of GiveDirectly. With the remaining amount, I bought foodstuffs and decent clothes for my children."
Kikwai's family
access_time 2 years ago
Kikwai received a $467 second payment.
"I operate a bodaboda business in our locality and I sometimes use it to carry water for drinking and domestic use. This is because we usually fetch them at a river that is far from our village and one usually has to walk for a long distance which is time-consuming. When I received my transfer, I bought a water tank worth KES 17000 and a dairy cow at KES 28000 after the one that I had bought using my first transfer died. This will enable me to save the money that I would otherwise use in buying milk when it calves. I spent the remaining amount on food and other household necessities."
Kabibi's family
access_time 2 years ago
Kabibi received a $27 second payment.
"After I received the transfers my first decision was to settle issues concerning nutrition because I barely had any food in the house and most times I would go without having a meal even as close to a week. Starvation has always been my biggest predicament and fear but unfortunately I go through it so many times. That is why I went ahead and bought a bag of maize which contained a dozen packets for KES 1,300 and used KES 200 to buy sardines and sugar and another KES 200 to purchase drinking water since it was such a problem back in the village and most times we had to get it from neighbouring towns which was costly because we had to pay even for transportation fee. Then I took the remaining balance and bough two hens which cost me KES 800. I planned to breed them and hopefully begin poultry farming for commercial reasons. Then lastly my health deteriorated since I kept having stomach pains and after consulting the doctor I ended using the rest of the money I had which was KES 500."
Apolonia's family
access_time 2 years ago
Apolonia received a $27 second payment.
"After receiving the money I consulted two of my relatives and suggested that we start a savings committee where we contributed money and distributed it monthly to a particular person so as we would have a larger amount of cash compared to the one we had and could invest it in individual projects that needed large sums of money. Fortunately they were down for it and I was the first person to receive the money that month so I contributed KES 2,000 on the money I had and plus what I got from the others I received KES 6,000 in total. My initial plan was to renovate my house with money but due to drought, water has been a predicament and so I decided to put the money away until the rainy seasons come or when I have enough money to buy water in order to finance the project. I was left with about KES 1,000 from the funds received from GiveDirectly so I took KES 300 and bought a chicken, then used KES 300 and paid tuition fee for my grandchild who was in kindergarten since at the time the parents had no finances. I was left with about KES 400 where I used KES 300 and bought maize flour and sugar then the balance KES 100 I took it as offering to church ."
Katsaka's family
access_time 2 years ago
Katsaka received a $11 initial payment.
"I was at home fetching water when I received the funds from give directly, this made me feel so happy so I started planning on how to use them. My first thought was to reduce my children's school fees. So, the following day I went to school to reduce the arrears by KES500."
Caren's family
access_time 2 years ago
Caren received a $467 second payment.
"With Kshs 40,000 we spent in building a two iron roofed house since we had a single grass thatched one.We are happy now the house is fully complete and we have already moved in.The house is not only for shelter but will use the clean iron roofs to collect clean water hence saving us walking long routes to get water.With the remaining amount we used in purchasing maize which has sustained us several months."
Daisy's family
access_time 2 years ago
Daisy received a $467 second payment.
"In my opinion, Givedirectly did well by uplifting all households in my village from newly constructed houses, dairy cows,water tanks and many others which gave our village a face lift.No complain since everything was delivered as promised."
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