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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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Zainab's Profile
Zainab's family
Zainab
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
25
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($461 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After utilizing the second transfer, I developed another goal that will be a continuation of what I did with the second transfer. If I get some money, I will build more rental houses. By so doing, I will be assuring myself family and I a stable source of income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did a commendable job. It aided not only the poor but also to everyone in the community provided they meet the registration criteria. I was able to start a new business which has turned to be my source of income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I withdrew the second transfer, I had already planned on how I was going to spend it. I used the whole transfer in building a rental house which would be a source of income for me. The reason for opting to this idea is that, rental houses are long-lasting sources of income that one can fully depend on once it they get tenants. As of now, I have one tenant whom joined and I have now started to see an income flowing unlike before when we were struggling in making ends meet.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I can still vividly remember, it was exactly 10 AM when I was at my farm watering vegetables then I heard a message tone from my phone. I was so nervous and even decided to check its content. I didn't belie what I saw, it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I had finally received my cash transfers which I had anxiously been waiting for. I was over-excited and all I could do was a laugh on top of my voice. I had to return home and share the news with the rest of my family members (my spouse and children).
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life so far that I will always mention is the fact that I managed to construct a permanent rental house. This has always been my wish since I already had a plot that I inherited from my dad but then I didn't have the resources to develop it. I have been jobless ever since I got married and life has never been easy since I only depended on my spouse for the family's basic needs. My spouse relies on temporary casual labor which earns him KES 800 a day, but this is never guaranteed. With the little income we make, we could not meet the school fees required and this led to my children being sent home quite regularly for non-payment of school fees. There are also times that we had to skip meals because of little or no money to buy food. Because of all these, I had to think of a way to get an income to supplement what my spouse gets. I am glad that the rentals I put up are ready for use and I will soon start earning and hopefully I have good returns from it. Thanks to GiveDirectly for the finances which have empowered me as an entrepreneur now. I will never strain in paying school fees for the two children and meeting other household expenses.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a larger portion of my first transfer on buying building materials to build a rental house. The materials include; fifteen bags of cement, bricks, sand, hardcore at a total of KES 50000. I have been yearning to construct this house for years but because of the poverty life that had stricken my household, this was not attainable. In addition to that, I cleared school fees arrears of KES 1600 for my children who are in primary schools. Today, I am glad they are attending regularly without being sent home like before. Finally, with the remaining amount of KES 3200, I bought sufficient foodstuffs like maize flour, sugar, beans, which would last for three weeks.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means starting a business (supplying and selling water) to residents. This has been my ambition for 5 years now but due to financial difficulties, this has not come to pass. I plan to spend 45,000 shillings to purchase 2 donkeys and a cart that can carry roughly 20 jerricans in 1 trip. The donkeys will help me pull it so that I distribute water in people's compounds because our area does not have sources of water e.g dams. People walk almost 10 kilometers or hire expensive motorbike. A jerrican goes for at least 40 shillings which will be a good source of income to my family of 5 members. Also, the remaining amount will go to building a house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is my happiest part of the day. It is at this time when mostly I have hope of getting calls from my friends to go an work and provide for my family needs such as food. Unlike in the afternoon when I am always stressful especially when I have failed to secure a job.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Securing a good job which can give me good money has been the biggest challenge I have faced in life. I work as a casual labourer at our nearby center but the job is not guaranteed due to the high level of unemployment in our area. In a week I make at least 800 shillings, which is not enough to sustain all our needs such as food. My family of 5 spends 300 shillings in a day.