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.
Susan's family
access_time almost 4 years ago
Susan received a $501 initial payment.
"I spent KES 30,000 on building a two roomed 24 Iron roofed semi permanent house which is currently more spacious and can access clean water. Initially, the house I had was old, tiny, and with a grass thatched roof. I also spent KES 10,000 on school fees payment for my daughter in her third year of high school. I spent KES 10,000 on food and household items in order to avert hunger because the maize stock was depleted."
Vicky's family
access_time almost 4 years ago
Vicky received a $501 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is having adequate water storage hence saving time that would be spent fetching water for my farm work. The transfers have also relieved me of school fees burdens of which we used to rely on farming of maize and goat farming to pay school fees. My kids are also very grateful because of the decent clothing, adequate food and my family has grown healthier and happier."
Mercy's family
access_time almost 4 years ago
Mercy received a $501 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is buying a dairy cow which I had desired for the past two years. The dairy cow will act as an investment for payment of school fees for my kid in the near future. As a hard-working single mom, I had even bought a young bull which I had plan to keep and later sell for an heifer once grown up.I am now relieved of casual labor because the through GiveDirectly transfers I bought adequate food which will sustain me for a longer period. Before, I used to rely on casual jobs like firewood selling and fetching of water in order to put food on my table but not anymore. I am also grateful because GD has enabled me to buy latest clothing fashion which I would envy my neighbors when they dressed decently but I couldn't afford."
Benjamin's family
access_time almost 4 years ago
Benjamin received a $501 initial payment.
"There has been a very big difference in our lives ever since we received the transfer from GiveDirectly. My wife has been able to get the capital to start the business that she has always desired. I have also been able to buy the machine that I will use in spraying water on my crops during the dry season. I will hence no longer be experiencing wastage and difficulties with my crops during that dry season. The transfer has enabled us to buy two more digging hoes and a spraying pump for our animals. We will hence no longer have to move around borrowing from the neighbors the tools. Having rented the land and having bought the potato seeds, we will be able to plant them. We will sell the potatoes when they mature and hence get income. The maize that we bought, will enable us to have something to eat for a while as we wait for the maize that is on the farm to ripen. We will hence not have any worries about what we are to eat. My children are happy too because they got new clothes for themselves."
Rael's family
access_time almost 4 years ago
Rael received a $501 initial payment.
"The transfer has brought a big difference in our lives. Having painted the house that we are living in, it now looks good and new. The rainwater will no longer be getting absorbed by the timber that was used in the building. This will hence prevent further rotting of the timber. We are going to take care of the calf that we bought with the transfer. When it grows, it will reproduce and we will be able to get milk that our grandchildren can consume and sell some. The cost of buying milk will have hence be cut down. The food that we bought will push us a while before it gets finished. We hence have something to eat and we no longer have to go hungry. The nets that I bought and placed on the walls to cover them have made the walls look much better and beautiful. We thank GiveDirectly for making this possible for us."
Chepkirui's family
access_time almost 4 years ago
Chepkirui received a $501 initial payment.
"I am building a house that is bigger than the one I am currently living in. I bought mattress and clothes for my family members and food for my family. I also bought a container to collect water."
Kahaso's family
access_time almost 4 years ago
Kahaso received a $501 initial payment.
"Settling in my ancestral land has not given me the freedom to do my farming projects which I love most. My desire was to have my own land to empower myself by setting up some projects like poultry. I acquired the land but I was not able to pay in full. When I received my first transfer, I took KES 40000 and cleared the outstanding balance. I am happy to have gained full ownership of this piece of land and free to do my projects. In addition to this, I also spent KES 6000 on buying a bicycle that will help me to carry water for my projects. I spent the remaining amount on buying enough stock of foodstuffs that will take a month."
Lennox's family
access_time almost 4 years ago
Lennox received a $501 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is that through this transfer, I managed to fix a 500m water tap for my household. I paid for the necessary expenses and bought water pipes for this project. Again, I paid for the labour cost required. I have been buying water daily from neighbours and it was expensive for me. Having my own tap means I will no longer be incurring costs on water. I will be selling the water and earn an income."
Lidya's family
access_time almost 4 years ago
Lidya received a $502 initial payment.
"1 cow, bicycle for fetching water as I begin building a new house, the rest I saved for building as I Wait for the next transfers. I have no child , I bought a cow for reproduction and profit, my husband is a construction worker"
Janet's family
access_time almost 4 years ago
Janet received a $502 initial payment.
"I spent KES 45,000 on payment of school fees for my two girls and a son who are still in school because I couldn't afford to pay before and never received such a lump sum before.Initially, we used to rely on casual labor like farming in order to pay school fees. I also spent KES 8000 on my kid's school uniforms and home clothing because initially they used to put on second hand clothes. I also spent KES 1300 on a water storage container for water storage because every time it rained I would preserve any water and used to rely on river water. I also spent KES 3200 on a sack of maize in order to ensure food adequacy for my kids because our place is marked by long dry spell and food and money is difficult to come buy."
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