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.
Chepngeno's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Chepngeno enrolled.
"My first priority is to finish construction my house. I started building it last year but I haven't been able to complete it because of insufficient funds. I plan on using an estimate of KES 40,000 in completing the house and KES 30,000 in purchasing a water tank to help me store water for the dry season."
Loice's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Loice received a $488 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is the completion of the new house. Giving directly has made my dream come through since I did not have hopes that one day I would own iron sheets roofed house. In addition, this has also allowed me to harvest clean rainwater for use."
Kadzo's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Kadzo received a $27 second payment.
"I currently do not have a job. I have always heavily depended on my farm for my everyday survival. The rain is no longer there. This has made my life very difficult. I have lost my source of living and I am currently surviving on manual jobs. Upon receiving the transfer my priority was to buy food that will last my family for the next several weeks. I spent KSH 1650 in purchasing the food. In addition to the food I bought some clothes for myself. Life has been tough to a point where I had not been able to buy any clothes for myself. I also spent KSH 250 in buying water for my own use in the house. The drought has made it difficult for us to find water. We now have to buy water from the vendors at very high prices."
Zawadi's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Zawadi received a $27 second payment.
"Due to the drought persisting in recent years. Finding water has been very hard for me and my family. When I received the transfer I decided to buy a water tank. This water tank is 150 liters and it will help me store water in large quantities. Once I have done that I will be able to rest from the daily routine of going in search of water. I then spent KSH 1000 of the transfer in buying a bag of maize flour for my family. The rest of the money was used in paying school fees arrears for my children who are still in primary school."
Jackline's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Jackline enrolled.
"My biggest challenge is lack of water in our area, we don't have rains so we live in unhygienic conditions. We have to walk long distances to get water which is sold at 10 bob per jerrican and everyday I use 5 jerricans the minimum, for cooking, washing dishes, washing clothes and even bathing; so most times I even lack the money to purchase and I have to stay without water or lend from neighbors. I have a newborn baby who needs total cleanliness and sometimes I can't even wash him or even his clothes which can make him be infected with diseases."
Rehema's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Rehema received a $27 second payment.
"The drought situation in our area has made our life a living hell. I was very fortunate to buy maize in the past and I am still using it as food together with my family. The main challenge that I have currently been facing is getting water together with my family. The only option we have currently is to buy water from the vendors who sell a 20-liter jerrican at 60 to 100 bob. My family is big and we use water a lot. We also use some of the water to give our animals. When I received the money I spent KSH 2000 in purchasing water. I also used the remaining KSH 1000 in buying some foodstuffs for my family."
Saumu's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Saumu enrolled.
"Getting fresh water is a bigger challenge because we depend on tap water which is at the main road which is is far from here for about1km. and also you have to pay to get the commodity. One jerican of 20litres cost at 10 kES. I am also living very far from the shops and getting food items means I have to travel to the main road. I do not have job to do myself, I depend entirely on my husband who is a truck driver to provide everything in the house."
Kadzo's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Kadzo received a $11 initial payment.
"The money has been a blessing to my family as we have been living from hand to mouth these past months due to the drought. There was no water for planting crops so there was no money for food or even to pay school fees. Thanks to this money, I have been able to pay school fees worth KES.500. My children had been sent home due to a lack of fees and we're starting to get behind the class. I was also able to buy food worth KES.500 for my family so that they could at least have one meal a day if worse comes to worst. The rest of the money which is KES.170 was used to pay for books and pens for my children."
Dhahabu's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Dhahabu received a $11 initial payment.
"I ferry water for me to earn a living. With the transfers from GiveDirectly coming in, I can now at least save some amount from my occupation and do some other things. Before I was unable to save, I could use all the amount to buy food."
Naomi's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Naomi enrolled.
"About four years ago, my husband decided to walk away from the relationship leaving me with the children. His action left me with no option, but to struggle with the children all alone. The house we built before divorce is now leaking and the children are out of school. During the raining hours I do not sleep because I have to be up to have dishes under the leaking areas so the room can not be flooded with water. I was able to go into the bushes to get thatches to cover the house, but I am not able to roof a house so the thatches are left to spoil. If I receive any money from Give Directly, I'll use part of the money to change the roof of my house, establish business and the rest will be used to send my children to school."
water