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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Newsfeed > Nyevu's Profile
Nyevu's family
Nyevu
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on Nyevu's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($21 USD)
access_time 2 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I would like to increase my investment in livestock, specifically by purchasing more chickens and goats. Currently, I own over ten birds and two goats. As I do not have any other source of income, I primarily rely on subsistence farming to provide food for my family during the planting season. However, these livestock can be a great investment for my children's education. When they reproduce, I can sell them to pay for my children's education and also help solve my financial problems. Additionally, I plan on selling these animals in the future to buy a dairy cow, which I can then use to produce and sell milk for a living
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used $50 from the recent transfer to buy livestock, which includes four chickens and two goats. I plan to rear them and let them multiply, making it a profitable investment in the long run. This way, I can sell them to offset any financial challenges that may arise. I have four children, all of whom are still in lower academic levels, and I know that when the time comes for them to advance their studies, these livestock will come in handy, providing security for their future education. I currently don't have a job, and during the rainy season, I engage in subsistence farming, while my husband does menial jobs that have a low income. I am grateful that my children are all comfortably in school, and I have been able to pay their fees on time, including clearing the $20 arrears. This gives me peace of mind knowing that their studies are not disrupted because of fees. I used the remaining amount to buy foodstuffs for my family during the festive season and household items that were missing.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I aim to buy more chickens and sell their offspring to eventually purchase a cow. I already have seven bulls, and with the cow, I can provide milk for my children and sell the extra to neighbors to support my family while I am unemployed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of six children. I used $24 to pay for the school fees of four of my children. At the moment, I have two chickens. I spent the remaining $10 to buy another chicken and added it to the ones I already had.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Utilizing my monthly transfers, I intend to establish an additional income stream that can complement both my husband's earnings and the produce from our farm. One of my aspirations is to acquire a dairy cow, as the sale of its milk will generate a significant income to meet some of my personal requirements. To realize this goal, I have devised a plan to purchase goats initially. Over time, as the goat population multiplies, I will sell some of them and utilize the proceeds to eventually buy the desired dairy cow.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The day before I received my May transfers, my three children were sent home from school due to their substantial outstanding school fee balances. I was overwhelmed with distress, unsure of where to find the funds to settle their fees. My husband, who works as a casual laborer in Mombasa town, struggled to secure employment due to the poor economy and limited job opportunities. However, my heart was filled with joy the following day when I received my transfer, knowing that my children could finally return to school and continue their education alongside their peers. To address the accumulated school fee debt that had been building up since the beginning of the year, I allocated $10 towards its partial payment. Additionally, I used $16 to purchase essential items such as five packets of maize flour, a kilogram of sugar, washing detergents, and personal necessities that I rely on daily. While I still have to buy all our food from the store at inflated prices, I am grateful that our situation has significantly improved. Unlike before, when we would experience prolonged periods without enough food, we now rarely miss meals, and our diet has improved thanks to the transfer money. As a future investment, I invested $8 in acquiring two hens. In a few months' time, they are expected to reproduce, allowing me to sell some if an emergency arises and fulfill my needs.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 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?
Previously I had seven fully grown goats. Unfortunately, all of them died barely two years ago. Since then, I have not raised some, although I desire to keep livestock. Goats are my preferred livestock because they have shorter gestation period and are more beneficial than sheep. I will start working toward raising cows as soon as I acquire at least five goats. The seven cows I currently own make me long to have more. Once these goals are achieved, my family will have access to free milk. As a result, we will have food supplementary.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a housewife, and I occasionally rely on subsistence farming which is not doing well nowadays as a result of periodic droughts experienced in our area. However, my husband does casual jobs to support our family of seven members. Since I got enrolled in the program, I have been relieved from the struggles of raising school fees for my children. With the most recent transfer, I paid $7 in tuition for my four school-going children, Hamisi, Saidi, Emmanuel, and Zawadi. I am happy to see that they are making good academic progress. I spent $20 on food for the family, which has been incredibly helpful. Finally, after losing my previous flock, I spent $7 on two hens and am happy to have started poultry farming.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly's support in the form of cash was the best option for us. I am grateful to be a part of this project because it has helped us overcome our hunger over the last few months. Purchasing daily food for my family of seven with hard-earned money has been difficult because we always work extra hard for long houses with low pay. So far, GiveDirectly has delivered on all of its promises without complaint.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband works as a casual laborer in Mombasa town, where he has been for over a year, to help pay most of the family bills as well as school fees for my four children, who are currently in primary school. I was relieved to relieve him of the burden when I received the most recent transfer, which I used to pay $10 in school fees, $10 for maize flour to replenish the food basket for my family of seven, $5 for green groceries, and the remaining amount on water, which has been in short supply and is currently going for $0.5 for a 20-liter container. My husband appreciated the help, and I hope todo a lot with the subsequent transfer. 
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was cooking supper for the family at around 8 pm. My daughter came running towards me, shouting that I had received a message on my phone. I checked it out, and I was shocked beyond words to learn that I had received my first transfer. Ripples of excitement sparkled down my spine as I hummed my favorite thanksgiving song. Later that evening, I shared the good news with my husband, who, too, became very excited.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The reality of seeing my children stay at home as their colleagues go to school was hurting for me. I value the importance of education and believe that it will empower them to have a wonderful future. The unconditional transfer made a tremendous difference for my children at that critical moment when I was helpless and could not raise the required amount of money to take them back to school.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have four children who are in primary school, classes 6, 5, 3, and 1 respectively. My husband, the sole breadwinner of the family, struggled to pay their school fees. This culminated in them being sent home. My efforts to get a loan from friends and family were futile, as they claimed they did not have money too. For two weeks, they stayed at home while watching their close friends go to school. It stressed me a lot, and I lacked peace of mind. There was light at the end of the tunnel when I received my first transfer because I spent KES 2000 to repay all the debts they owed their school. I am glad that they are back in school and continuing with their education. Having dealt with my children’s school problems, I bought food for the family with the remaining KES 1000.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I will be receiving the transfers at a critical point in time when my first born child will be three months shy from finishing his primary education. The current school life has proven our inability to take the boy for further education for there is no term the children have spent it entirely in class without being sent home to collect school fees. My husband, who does casual jobs in town can only afford to send home 500KES every week for food leaving no coin to be saved for the children's education. It is without doubt that the 3000KES cash received every month will play a big role in educating the children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I do table banking where I save 150 KES every week. In December, about five months ago, I was able to take home a total of 7 000KES from my savings. I spent the cash in preparations for the christmas and new year festivals which included buying new attires for my five children. It was one of the most adorable moments seeing my children dancing and singing praises while dressed on the new clothes.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am eight month pregnant and my health condition is not good. I was advised to take good balanced diet to boost my immunity and blood levels for the welfare of the foetus but due to lack of money, I have not been able to adhere to the recommendations. I am more worried as I draw nearer to my expected date of birth.