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.
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Enrollment
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Completed
Newsfeed > Sidi's Profile
Sidi's family
Sidi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Sidi's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 4 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My family and I currently reside in an unfinished house, posing safety concerns. As the year draws to a close, my goal for the upcoming year is to complete the construction of my house. I intend to utilize subsequent transfers and savings from my casual jobs to cover the associated costs. Achieving the completion of my house holds great significance as it ensures my family will have a secure and stable living space, filling me with a profound sense of accomplishment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
During the rainy seasons, I engage in farming, and in dry seasons, I supplement our income by selling charcoal, all in an effort to provide for my five children. Since my husband lost his job a few years ago, he has taken up casual labor to contribute to our finances. However, our combined incomes struggle to cover our needs. The impact of GiveDirectly on our lives has been significant, allowing us to meet our basic needs through the provided transfers. Recently, I allocated $60 from these funds to settle a school fee debt for my children just before their end-of-term examinations. The remaining $62 was used to purchase food for my family, as our existing supplies had run out. Receiving these transfers has brought considerable relief, ensuring that my family's needs are adequately addressed and I am happy to be a part of this project.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
With the help of the monthly transfers I received from Give Directly, I embarked on constructing a two-room house. Utilizing old pieces of iron sheeting salvaged from my previous collapsed house, I managed to roof one of the rooms partially. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, the other room remains unfinished as I lack the funds to purchase the necessary 12 iron sheets. However, I am determined to achieve my goal by saving enough money through a savings group, which will allow me to buy the required iron sheets and complete the construction of my house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband bears the responsibility of being the sole breadwinner in our family, often taking on various temporary jobs that typically last no more than three days each. Unfortunately, there is usually a considerable gap between the end of one job and finding another, leading to financial difficulties as he earns very little from these engagements. As for me, I work as a casual laborer, specifically selling charcoal. Despite both of us contributing, our combined incomes fall significantly short of covering all our family expenses. Thankfully, I receive monthly transfers that provide some financial relief. In July, I utilized $10 of this assistance to pay off a portion of my children's school fees, amounting to a debt of $35. I am relieved that, despite the financial constraints, my children are still attending school and have not faced the risk of being sent home. Additionally, I allocated $4 to purchase necessary stationery items for them, ensuring their learning process continues without hindrance. However, my financial struggles sometimes result in challenges providing enough food for the family. To address this, I spent $10 on purchasing food, ensuring that my family never went to bed on an empty stomach. Lastly, I decided to save $10 within a savings group with the ultimate goal of accumulating enough funds to complete the construction of my house. This savings initiative brings a glimmer of hope for a better future and improved living conditions for our family.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As I said a large percentage of my income goes into taking care of my children's school fees. I have four children two are in school, grade 6 and class 8, one finished class 8 but is yet to join any further learning institution and my last born is still so young and not in school. My goal this year is to ensure the children in school stay in school using these transfers. My husband has a job but his income is not sufficient and this is why I would want to ensure that whatever I can do with my GD transfers to ensure my children do not miss out on an education I will. I also intend to use these transfers to continue saving in my savings as this money will eventually come to me as a big amount when it's my turn to receive the cash.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am always excited to get GD transfers. I jumped up and down when I got my transfers this month. This money always plays an important role in keeping my family afloat. I am a charcoal seller and maker, this is what I rely on. My husband moves around alot he is a police officer and does not make much. We rely solely on his income but sometimes delays in his getting paid causes a lack at home and this is where GD transfers come in. It always allows me to pay for my children's school fees as well as buy food for our home. I also joined a merry go round where I send a monthly payment of $10. I use $10 for my childrens school fees monthly and I always buy them books which take about $4 monthly. This month I also bought water for $3 as this includes transportation.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The primary goal I have for this year is to raise the money needed to cover my three children' school costs. My oldest son finished elementary school and did extremely well. Early next month, he is expected to begin secondary education. My other two kids are in grades 8 and 4, respectively. I'll be able to pay their tuition on time with the help of the money from the transfer. They will continue attending school as a result, and they will do well on their exams. The money from the transfers is helpful in assisting us in achieving our goal of educating our children because my job selling charcoal and my husband's job as a watchman cannot cover all of their educational expenses.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was honestly very excited to realize that the organization had actually sent out the transfers especially because at the time I was financially frustrated. My three children had been out of school for two days and therefore I decided to spend KES 2,000 of the money by settling their fees. I then proceeded to deposit KES 1,000 into my savings account because I was hoping that after the money accumulates I could eventually buy iron sheets to replace my grass thatched roof. Lastly I ended up using the remaining balance of KES 400 by purchasing two packets of maize flour so that we would have a meal.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
About two days prior to receiving the transfers from GiveDirectly, three of my children had been kicked out of school because I owed the school some money in tuition fee that I had failed to settle. So as soon as I realised the funds had been sent out, I took half of the payment which was KES 1,500 and pay school fees for them. Afterwards I used the balance of KES 1,500 and catered for nutrition for my family especially since my children and I had gone to bed in an empty stomach the previous night, so I ended up purchasing about seven packets of maize flour.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The transfer that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly have been so helpful to me in many ways especially basic needs but I would recommend lump sum transfers. It's impossible for someone to do a major project like build a house with the KES 3000 per month but all in all, I appreciate for the support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Have you ever starved for some few days and thought of preparing the best meal for yourself when you get money? That's exactly what I did with KES 550 of my transfer, I prepared beef stew and ugali for my family and wow! It felt like a Christmas day! My husband and I rely on charcoal burning to earn living but since this is the main economic activity in the areas, it has led to tree depletion hence we have to dig up the tree roots and burn them to get charcoal. This process usually takes a whole week and the maximum number of sack that we can get is two where one goes for KES 400. This amount can only afford us basic needs and we have not been been able to save towards our son's school fees who will be joining high school. Recently after being enrolled in the program, I joined a sacco where I have been saving KES 1000 monthly and I hope this will help us a lot in paying school fees because I'll be eligible to borrow some money in a months time. I saved KES 1000 in the sacco and paid KES 1000 school fees for my other three children in primary school.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the notification that the money had arrived early in the morning while I was in the farm trying to find wood that I would use to make charcoal with, since that is how I provide for my family. Seeing that message, that I had received the money left me thrilled I almost wanted to jump just out of the extreme joy and happiness I felt, and with my age that would have been quite a show, but it just goes show and explain the kinda of joy I had.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before receiving the money, I will be honest I was so devastated especially since I knew that my children could have been sent home any day and it left me so anxious the fact that I not only could pay their fees but also I could not even put food on the table. Therefore receiving the money was quite a good surprise to be honest and it served me very well, and would not have come at a better time if I do say so myself.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before receiving the money my children who are in school were literally on the verge of being sent home due to the pending school arrears that I had yet settled. I have five children who are all enrolled in school but I only paid for two because the money was not enough to pay for all of them plus the remaining three I had managed to pay some portion of the fees for them a few weeks back. I took KES 500 and paid the school fees for my two kids. The remaining bit of the money I decided that I should cater for nourishment instead since there was barely any food in the house at the time. Therefore I went ahead and bought four packets of maize flour which cost me KES 420 and I took the little change I was left with and bought stationery like books and pens which was KES 150, then used KES 130 to buy laundry detergent and body oil.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Everyone deserves privacy, good sleep and wishes their family to have a good life. My life seems different, I have been through so many hardships in my life. When I got married, I thought I was running away from poverty because life seemed good when I got married to my husband and I was staying in the city. 20 years later, I'm languishing in the same poverty that seems extreme that the one I ran from. A few years after marriage, I was blessed with five children and life became unbearable in town and I had to relocate to the village with the kid leaving the husband in the city to toil and provide for us. Then, he had no house and I had to stay at his parent's house as we construct a semi-permanent room to stay as we figure out our way. Little did I know, I was going to live in that house until now. You can see my house is almost crumbling down, I don't have privacy as I stay with my kids and I have to send them outside when I need to dress up. In a but shell my life has been unbearable. Receiving these transfers means that I can save towards a better bigger house and provide basic needs for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I lost all my livestock during this drought season I have been left with nothing to call mine. All I have now is my family and seeing them alive is something to be happy about.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I used to farm and harvest enough food to take us through the drought season but with the prolonged drought, it has been two years since we had good harvest season. This has made food prices to hike and we can hardly afford two meals a day.