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 4 years ago
Evaline received a $528 second payment.
"In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in uplifting our lives which were miserable before enrollment. We have been able to provide for our families effectively, purchasing livestock as assets and most importantly, building better iron-roofed houses thus enjoying good shelter. I urge GiveDirectly to continue with the same spirit."
Angelina's family
access_time 4 years ago
Angelina received a $253 second payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is the newly built house that I was able to build with my second transfer. Before we received this money, my family and I were living in a very small grass thatched house that had its roof leaking. We were not in a position to build a new house owing to our financial situation. The little we got from our subsistence farming was hardly enough to meet the basic household needs and we were left with very little to save if any. Building an iron roofed house was not only important in providing a decent shelter for my family but also provided us with an opportunity to gather rain water for drinking. My focus is now on purchasing a water tank to help me gather and store enough water during rainy season and travelling for long distance in search for water in the river will be a thing of the past."
Rose's family
access_time 4 years ago
Rose received a $528 second payment.
"Without the transfers, I wouldn't have built a house! we used to stay in a mud-walled and flour and grass-thatched house that used to be so terrible and leaky during the rainy season. In fact, the floor of the house would sometime be filled by water from the ground due to too much rain. I was able to build two decent houses; one kitchen and a sitting room. I no longer worry now about leaking roofs and cold. I am also happy that we had enough food for my family."
Kauchi's family
access_time 4 years ago
Kauchi received a $547 initial payment.
"I spent KES 38000 to purchase livestock which includes three goats and a pair of oxen. I am expecting this pair of oxen to aid me in my farming. I am assured of doing my farming early and timely. Besides, I will be able to cultivate a bigger portion of my farm unlike before. I am also expecting these goats to reproduce and have many of them. Through them, I will be able to sell to meet my future financial needs. In addition to the livestock, I also took KES 7000 to buy 20 pieces of iron sheets. I am planning to build a new house since the one I am currently sheltering is small and its roof is dilapidated. I am spending the remaining amount to buy household needs for my family as well as paying for other household expenses."
Sarah's family
access_time 4 years ago
Sarah received a $528 second payment.
"I have several children in school and I was at a point where I was almost giving up educating my children because I did not have any money to meet their school needs and for food. I am glad that it never reached that point because GiveDirectly came to my rescue. I am also happy that I was able to build an iron-roofed house. We used to live in one grass-thatched hut which acted as both the kitchen and bedroom, I did not even have a place to welcome my visitors. When I got the transfers, I decided to build one. We now have separate sleeping houses for the children and for us."
Maritha's family
access_time 4 years ago
Maritha received a $528 second payment.
"Upon receiving my second transfer, I decided to upgrade my house. I had been living in a grass-thatched house for quite a long time and I felt it was the opportune time to transition. So I spent Kes 25,000 to upgrade to an iron-roofed house. The remaining amount I gave my daughter to pay her school fees to prevent her from being sent home for school fees."
David's family
access_time 4 years ago
David received a $471 initial payment.
"My life's biggest difference is having built a permanent iron roofed house. This is because I have always suffered with the leaking roof of the grass thatched one. I am now relived that I will no longer have to spend on renovating it yearly and focus on other things such as children's fees among others that will develop my standard of living."
Kache's family
access_time 4 years ago
Kache received a $547 initial payment.
"When I received my recent transfers, I bought a cow at Kes 17,000 because I had always dreamt of having one but I never knew it was coming this soon. Besides that, I also used part of the balance Kes 20,000 to purchase poles, sisal twine and nails to be used to construct a house for my household given that I am the second wife and my husband is way old that he can no longer work to support us. The amount that remained was Kes 13,000 and it was not enough to purchase timber and iron sheet for roofing so I decided to save it and wait for the second transfer so that I can add to it and purchase roofing materials."
Sarah's family
access_time 4 years ago
Sarah received a $528 second payment.
"The biggest difference in my life is that l am now staying in a iron roofed house where I am never worried about rainnny seasons compared to before when I used to be worried more so when it used to rain when I was not at home. I have earn a name in the village, I am now able to interact, socialize and share with my agemates something that I was just longing for. l am now using solar to light my house which is very convenient to my family and of a great help to my children when they are studying as compared to before when they were using tin lump. Solar has also become like a source of income because I use it to charge phones for people and get money for my up keep, which was not the case before. The better part of it is that I no longer spend money to buy parrafin which was very costly."
Ruth's family
access_time 4 years ago
Ruth received a $529 second payment.
"I spent most of the transfer to add more building materials and built a spacious iron roofed house in my own compound. I was staying in small and leaking house where I was not comfortable because any time it was raining I could be rained on, the house also was too small that I had to put things in one corner or pile in one place. I am now very happy because I was worried that the house could fall down on me even at when I am a sleep and I could not have a good sleep. I was so embarrassed but there was nothing I could because I could not afford to buy new iron sheets and another house. I am now staying in a spacious comfortable house where I am not worried when it is raining and I am very confident when I have visitors because I know it will accommodate all of them. I also spent the transfer to buy plastic chairs atleast to have something that I can sit since I did not have anything to sit on , I was sitting on a water container which was very uncomfortable and embarrassing when you have visitors. The remaining I spent to buy decent clothes and food stuffs, I am now putting on well like other people. "
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