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 > Annah's Profile
Annah's family
Annah
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
House staff (works for others)
faceAge:
22
workCampaign
FSD / Urban Youth
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Annah's next check-in.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($40 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before the transfers, I did not have a stable source of income. I used to rely on a small income from casual work which would not give much. I used to struggle financially and would seek help from my mother who is not employed too. Since I started receiving these transfers, I have witnessed a very big change in my financial life. I no longer seek help as before instead I offer the help as I did for my brother who was reporting back to school. I am now a valued member of the family because of the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My goal for the next transfers is to save for the future. Currently, I do not have an urgent need for the finances and I want to save so that I can start a business in case I do not meet any financial crisis in the future. This is a very big improvement in my life being that I have never saved before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on gifting my mother to help in paying school fees arrears for my brother in secondary school. He would not have been allowed back in school without the money as he was reporting back this year. I am happy I was able to help and now he is in school studying in peace.
 
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($39 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently,the biggest difference in my life is that I am self employed hence my standards of living has improved. I have my own business which is picking up soo well that enables me to assist my husband to provide for some of the basic needs in our household such as meals.Before I was unemployed for 9 months just taking care of my new born baby and household duties ,therefore , with no income my husband who does casual jobs was the bread winner though it was a struggle to provide for us since his pay was meager . I am thankful to GiveDirectly for bring a positive change in my life.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to expand my cloth vending business to a point where it can run on its own meaning the profits from the business might be enough to save for my child's education who is yet to enroll in nursery school next year.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the larger part of my most recent transfer to restock my cloth vending business. Starting this business with GiveDirectly's transfer was the best thing I thought of and I would never wish it to collapse hence stocking it helps alot in doubling my profits. I bought food for my family's consumption with the remaining amount.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($49 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?
It was impossible to support my family when my business declined and I had to stay home to take care of my newborn baby. This was especially felt by my mother who has a very huge burden providing for my many young siblings yet has no stable source of income. Receiving these transfers gave me the opportunity to do so even when I had no job and earned very little from my business which is currently being run by someone else I employed. I would not have been able to support my family if I was not getting the money from GD during those tough times.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I have no additional goals at the moment but to improve my clothing business which is on a downward trend to ensure that it is stable. My plan is to invest in more items so that my customers can have a variety. I also want to focus more online advertisements and promotions through social media to promote my products.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have a small clothing business which has not been doing so well because I had to hire someone else to take care of it while I was on maternity leave. For the past couple of months, I have been trying to stabilize it by bringing more trending clothes and reaching out to my friends to pass by. I spent most of this month's transfers to buy more stock and gave out the rest to my mother for her household needs and fee payment for my little siblings.
 
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($50 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My goals are to expand my business and eventually acquire a stall that I will stock both female and males clothes, as well as children clothing also.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that my living standards have now improved. I was unemployed with no income from anywhere and my husband was engaged with casual jobs, which can be rare, and the pay meager. I now have my own business which is picking up well and I have been able to provide some basic needs in my household like meals, which were a struggle before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfers to start a clothes business in my neighborhood in Mathare at Mlango Kubwa village. I secured an open space along Juja road where I sell men's trousers. I was unemployed and just sitting in the house taking care of my 9 month old child. I had no means to get any capital to begin a business. My husband does casual jobs which can be rare at times. He was unable to assist me to raise capital to begin a business as what he earns is enough to only sustain the household. I am grateful to Give Directly that I was able to begin a business and assist my husband to bear some financial burdens in the house.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I woke up in the morning to check my phone for any calls or messages that might have come at night, like I did every morning. To my surprise I saw the Mpesa message and the message from Give Directly. I was very happy as I had no money even for food on that day. I also felt very grateful and thankful to Give Directly. I withdrew the money immediately to buy food, and I also knew then that I would spend some of the money to begin a clothes business.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
First I would love to open a cosmetic shop so that I can have an income then secondly, help my mum in paying fees for my siblings because she always has challenges paying all the fees and lastly, save some for myself and my son for future use and emergencies.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is not being able to raise my son and provide for him as a parent should because it will mean I have failed. Secondly my concern is unemployment because I can't do anything of my own and even make personal decision in the house or even buy anything. Lastly, my concern is achieving my ambitions in life of becoming an electrician so that I can be independent and get income.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition in life is to go back and finish my education. I have always wanted to be an electrician and I would love if I accomplish it one day so that I can be a providing parent and also have a stable income.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
Once I woke up in the morning I do household chores then prepare tea and prepare my son then go look for work of washing clothes for others then once am done I come back cook lunch for my son we eat. Once we are done now I rest as I watch television programs waiting to cook supper in the evening.