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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Pili's Profile
Pili's family
Pili
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Pili's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 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?
Having undergone financial challenges in the past, I want to invest in another business that will ensure I become financially stable. I plan on selling clothes commonly known as "lesos." The business will generate more income, making it easier for me to take care of my family. The success of my current business is a motivating force for me to start another one. My financial stability is currently better compared to when I was not receiving the transfers, signaling a positive impact of the transfers on my life. I am very happy and appreciate the support from the transfers in changing my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I purchased three buckets of potatoes for $30 and two packets of wheat flour for $4. Currently, I run a business selling fries in Mnazimumwenga shopping center. The business is booming due to the strategic location I chose. My customers are mainly students from the nearby Mnazimumwenga primary and secondary schools. I make a daily profit of $15, which enables me to meet my family's basic needs. Before enrolling in the cash program, I had no job and struggled to make ends meet. In addition to restocking my business, I bought a goat for $35 as a future investment. Knowing that the financial aid will end, investing in livestock provides a better safety net for the future. To ensure my son can continue his education without interruption, I paid $10 in school fees. Finally, I purchased a bucket of maize for $10 and other food items such as sugar and tea leaves. These purchases ensured we had plenty of food and never went hungry. I am very grateful for the transfers, which have made me self-employed and allowed me to enjoy the benefits of financial independence.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 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?
I aspire to attain financial stability and provide for my family's needs. To realize this goal, I aim to initiate a new venture focused on selling clothing. This endeavor will enable me to explore various income-generating opportunities within my village by retailing a variety of products. I am content with the current financial assistance and hold an optimistic outlook that the business I am establishing will yield sufficient income, paving the way for an improved quality of life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After transitioning from selling fries to starting a business selling leafy vegetables and fruits, I invested $34 to kickstart this new venture, aiming to enhance my income. The proceeds from this business are essential for meeting my family's basic needs. Additionally, I expanded my business by purchasing a sack of potatoes for $20 and cooking oil for $10. I am pleased with the success of the business, as it has provided the means to support my daily requirements. In a bid to diversify my sources of income, I made a smart investment in purchasing a sheep, which holds promise for the future as it multiplies and provides an additional revenue stream. Furthermore, I allocated $8 to purchase food for my family of four, ensuring that we never faced food shortages. I am profoundly grateful for the financial support that has enabled me to achieve financial independence through multiple income-generating investments.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 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 I am a local food seller and I make and sell food for a living. I do not have a permanent location to which I work and this means I do most of my work along the roadside most times. My hope is to stabilize my business and expand it. I want to add Groceries to my current portfolio of things I sell. I want to increase my income as this in turn means I will be able to get enough cash to educate my child and provide food for my home.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My work is a local food seller. I make fried potatoes, fried wheat pastries local to the Kenyan coast and also fries and this is what makes me my income. I spent my March transfers to purchase provisions for the business, I spent $2 to buy wheat flour, $12 to buy cooking oil, $20 to buy potatoes. I also got some Kid goats to add to the animal herds I have. I also got a mattress since I did not own one for myself at $32 in May as well as a bag of maize flour at $20.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
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?
I am currently operating a food kiosk in my village which has been my only source of livelihood. I have been able to restock it every month I receive a transfer which has greatly improved my profits. I am able to effectively take care of my family's basic needs like buying food daily through this business. My dream is to expand this business to a bigger one that can serve a bigger clientele. I will be able to save more as profits increase. I am also planning to buy goats and chickens to add to my livestock. I currently have three goats in my compound, and I am hoping to add more through the money. My expectation is to have as assets that I can readily rely on in case of a financial need such as boosting my food kiosk business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have the intentions of investing more in growing my farm especially by buying a couple of farm animals. I would have loved to be able to buy livestock but unfortunately cows are quite expensive and that is why so far I have bought one goat and I proceeded to use this recent transactiom to buy another goat which cost me KES 3,000. Afterwards, I went on to spend the balance of KES 400 on purchasing two packets of wheat flour. During the month of November I used the funds in order to expand my business so I bought more stock for my cooking business. As for October, I decided that I was going to use that money to invest in poultry farming so I ended up buying thirty chicks using the entire funds.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
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?
GiveDirectly has done well by providing the unconditional cash transfer to the villagers because we had the privilege to use the funds however wanted and hence had our goals and objectives achieved in a short time. I would not want GiveDirectly to change.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a single mother of one child and paying school fees for my child has been the biggest challenge because of lack of a stable job. As soon as I received my cash transfer, I used $20 to buy a sack of potatoes and the remaining $10 to buy 5ltrs of cooking oil, tamarind, and food coloring. I set my mind to starting a small business selling fried potatoes with tamarind sauce, which is a common delicacy for school I going children in my village. I was so grateful because this was my journey to start my business to support my family independently.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Around 8 p.m., I received a mobile money alert on my phone. I was preparing to close my vegetable-selling shed. Upon confirming that Give Directly had sent my first transfer, I was so elated.  After spending the entire day without making any money, the cash transfer would at least assist put food on the table for the night.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Clearing my child's unpaid school fees provided me with peace of mind that I lacked before the transfer. Prior to that day, I was always concerned about what would happen to her studies if I did not pay the overdue balance on time. I am now confident that she will be continue with her classes without being dragged out to collect school fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I commend Give Directly for sending me the transfer at a critical moment where I had hit rock bottom in raising money for food.  My family had gone to bed hungry the night before due to a lack of funds to purchase food. This is because my vegetable-selling business bore no fruit that day, and my brother (a motorcyclist) had also earned nothing to help feed the family. As a result, I used KES 670 from the transfer to buy food for the family, that lasted five days. I utilized the remaining funds to pay off my daughter's kindergarten tuition expenses for the current academic term, allowing her to continue her studies without interruption.
 
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I currently live at my maternal home with my only child who is three years old yet to start schooling. This followed a separation with my ex-husband due to irreconcilable differences. I have been trying different businesses in the village some of which didn't work out at all before selling on grocery. This business is not so lucrative and has a lot of challenges given the perishable nature of vegetables. Getting this money will give me an opportunity to invest in livestock business which has good returns though require bigger initial investment. I want to first save my money for about one year to get 30000 KES, which would make a good start up capital. And I'm also happy that I already know some people who are in this business and ready to help me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was really happy in the month of December last year because I made the biggest sales ever since I started this business. In that month there was a lot of celebrations that took place in this village ranging from weddings, to graduations and even fundraising gatherings. All these required food for attendees and so I got to make a kill.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I live with my parents here at my paternal home since I separated with my husband two years ago. We're a eight right now in the family who are living here and this is such a big burden on my father's business. He is just a shopkeeper running a business in our local trading center which generates only around 200 KES per day in profit. It's always burdening to live here because I also have to contribute money for us to afford food every day. My grocery business isn't doing great so most of the days I get a profit of 100 KES and still have to replenish family supplies.