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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.
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Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Gertrude's Profile
Gertrude's family
Gertrude
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Street trading - non-food (self-employed)
faceAge:
29
workCampaign
FSD / Urban Youth
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($486 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, my life is different from how it was in that, I pay school fees for my child with easy. I use the profits which I get from my business to meet most of my needs and I am glad that I do not take a lot of loans from the merry-go-round unlike before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My plan is to buy a drying machine. This will make the ice cream to dry faster hence making more which will translate to more profits.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a larger portion of my transfer on purchasing a freezer. Nowadays I sell ice cream. I had identified a good market place. This is a nearby school. My target group is the school going children and I can never regret to have started this business. Previously, I used to sell clothes but my customers used to take the clothes on credits and sadly my business collapsed. I could also use transport to the nearby market place called Gikomba to get my stock which was a loss on my side. Today, I am happy because the children buy ice cream, not on credit and the products that I use to make the ice cream are available in the neighborhood.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
36800 KES ($364 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, my life has been made much more better than it used to be. I no longer do odd jobs to earn a living, I have been able to start my own business where I sell ladies hand bags and sandals. So far it has been good.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I am planning to start an ice cream business. This will help me generate more income and help me sustain my family members. With the savings I am looking forward to purchasing a freezer and a cooler box help me jump start the business. During cold seasons, the freezer can be used to store chicken meat for use by the local restaurants.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my recent transfer, I save three quarter the amount towards a project I am planning to start once I receive my last transfers. The remaining amount I boosted my business, bought household items and paid school fees for my daughter. This transfer has opened doors for me and I am seeing greater heights coming my way.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($199 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I am planning to buy a freezer to make ice, sell in schools to supplement with my shoe business. The reason for this is because the shoe and bags business at times is seasonal so I will be in a position to supplement the little I get from the other business to enable me not to strain too much.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I boosted my shoe business hence increase in income, can pay rent out of my business, buy food, and school without any difficulty. Initially, I used to ask my father for frequent financial assistance sine paying rent and school fees for my children was not an easy task due to the low income I use to get from my business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have bags and sandals business though on a small scale hence I have been receiving very minimal profit out of it that could not enable me to take care of children with a lot of ease. When I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly I used on boosting my business since this is the source of my livelihood. I thank GiveDirectly.I am now getting a good profit out of my business because I have a variety of bags and sandals and also I have enough capital to buy what my customer order with a lot of ease. Life has changed and Iam able to pay fees and pay rent without any difficulty.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I had finished washing and therefore I decided to go inside the house to check the time only to find a message from GiveDirectlly that I have received money. I was very happy and rushed to the bathroom immediately to take a shower. Then rushed to the market to buy more stock for my business because I had planned to use my transfer on business since this is the source of my livelihood.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My plan is to open a new business by buying a freezer for making Ice cream so that I can be selling in the community and schools around, I also want to expand my existing business where I sell shoe's and bags by adding more stock and lastly I want to pay for school fees for my children who are twins so that they can have a bright future.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is health crisis because when you are healthy you are able to work hard, Gun violence is also a big problem in mathare especially when you have children you get worried and lastly unemployment because without a job it's not easy to pay for rent and provide for food everyday.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambitions is to become a successful business woman so that I can support my twins who I want them to live a better life outside mathare and also give them good education.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I usually wake up early in the morning and prepare tea for my children. I then wash clothes and utensils and I also clean the house. When am done, I get ready to go around my neighborhood and beyond, to sell bags and shoes, that I do as a business. During lunch time around 1:00pm, I take a break and have a meal, and then I continue roaming around Selling my products. At around 5pm I go back to my house to check on my children. I prepare dinner for them, we both eat and then we sleep. In my free time, I enjoy to do general cleaning in my house.