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.
Kadzo's family
access_time 2 years ago
Kadzo received a $483 second payment.
"In my opinion, this organization called GiveDirectly did a marvelous job. Apart from the many good houses that people built through the transfers from GiveDirectly, I can say it enabled me to get a water tank which aided my family to store water at a time when we were stuck due to water shortages which we experienced in our area. It also enabled me to save some money for my child who is yet to join college, something that would have stressed me because of lack of income. Basing on that, I can say this organization has no faults and it cane to hold our hands. Thank you GiveDirectly for the unconditional support."
Dama's family
access_time 2 years ago
Dama received a $467 second payment.
"When I withdrew the money, I bought goats worthy KES 17500.00. These goats are an investment and after a short while my zoo will be full of goats. Since I have a child who is in secondary school and she has been on and off school due to school fees, I opted to pay the arrears plus the current fees so that she be retained in school for proper learning. In respect to that, I paid KES 18000.00 school fees for her. After settling the two key things, I did not want to exhaust all the money because the season we were in was a drought season where we were required to buy both the food and water; I kept the remaining amount for the family upkeep."
Charo's family
access_time 2 years ago
Charo received a $27 second payment.
"After receiving the funds I decided to pay KES 150 in tuition fee and the also paid KES 300 as lunch fee for my daughter who normally had her meals in school. I was left with about KES 2,550 which I decided I would take care of nutrition with. I bought one and a half bags of maize flour where in total I had eighteen packets of maize flour which would last us a while before I had to worry about the next meal. This cost me KES 2,090. I was left with KES 460 which I used in buying gallons of water weekly since we faced a lot of scarcity when it came to drinking water that was not contaminated so most times I had to buy the water from other towns."
Jonathan's family
access_time 2 years ago
Jonathan received a $468 second payment.
"I used part of the second transfer to purchase a motorcycle at a cost of KES 35000. My main motivation for purchasing the motorcycle was to sort the challenges of walking for a longer distance in search of water, especially during drought. In such periods, we are usually forced to leave the house as early as 4:00 am in search of water only to come back later in the evening. With the motorcycle, I can carry enough water for the family in one trip. Besides that, I also operate taxi services with the motorcycle. This is an additional income alongside the charcoal business which I have been operating for some years. The money I make from the motorcycle comes in handy when it comes to meeting the daily household needs like food. I am so proud my family looks healthy because we can afford a whole day's nutritive meal."
Summoh's family
access_time 2 years ago
Summoh received a $276 second payment.
"GiveDirectly can help people with money, for them to start new business, build house and to also sent their children to school. GiveDirectly don't take food nor water or anything from people."
Rusi's family
access_time 2 years ago
Rusi received a $468 second payment.
"I spent the second transfer on buying a water tank. I bought the tank at KES 20000. I decided to buy it because the river that we usually fetch water from is very far. The tank will help me in collecting clean rainwater for household and animal use. I am glad that this dream has come to pass because it has rained and hence we have clean water. We hence no longer make long trips to the river to fetch water. I also bought the three sheep at a total cost of KES 12000. I decided to buy the sheep because it is a form of saving money and also because they usually multiply very fast in number. I can sell an offspring whenever I get an emergency and hence help myself out. The remaining amount of money has been helping me in buying food and paying for milk since my cow is dry at the moment. I am happy and thankful to GiveDirectly because I was able to fulfill the plans that I had and I am no longer poor like before."
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."
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