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 > Rajab's Profile
Rajab's family
Rajab
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Motorcycle or bicycle taxi
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on Rajab's next check-in.
 
29th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 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?
In the upcoming year, my greatest hope is to save enough money to help my younger brother, who has been called to study nursing, attend college. Since our dad passed away, my mum has been struggling to make ends meet by doing odd jobs. It would mean a lot to her if I could step in to support our family. I plan to save as much as I can from my earnings by cutting back on unnecessary expenses, so I can contribute towards my brother’s education and help ease the burden on my mum. My brother has always dreamed of becoming a nurse, and I believe that with my support, he can achieve this goal. By doing this, I hope to honor our father’s memory and pave the way for a brighter future for our entire family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a motorbike operator, I work hard to provide for my family. With the last three transfers totaling $102, I prioritized my family's most urgent needs. First, I used $30 to pay school fees for both my children and my siblings. Education is vital for their future, and I want to ensure they stay in school without any interruptions. Thereafter, I spent $44 to buy four iron sheets. My current house is a small one-room mud-walled structure, and it’s getting too cramped for my family of four. These iron sheets are the first step toward building a new, more spacious home where we can live comfortably. After taking care of these essential expenses, I used $23 to buy sugar, ensuring we had enough to meet our daily needs. Finally, I spent $5 on a new school uniform for my child. My child needed proper clothing for school, as it helped them feel confident and ready to learn. Each of these decisions was made with my family’s well-being in mind, and I’m grateful that these transfers have allowed me to start making these improvements in our lives.
 
25th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 5 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
At this very moment, my entire attention is devoted to ensuring my brother's enrollment in nursing school. It's a mission fueled not just by duty but by a deep sense of commitment to his dreams. I see the transfers as more than just financial support; they're the key to unlocking his future. Combining them with the earnings from my bodaboda hustle, I'm determined to pave the way for his educational journey, ensuring he not only starts but successfully completes his studies. And once he's on his way to fulfilling his dreams, then I'll turn my attention to mine. But for now, his education is my priority, my purpose.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfers arrived at a critical moment, just when my brother needed assistance to clear his school fees debt of $100 and obtain his education certificate for nursing school. I allocated $34 towards this adding to what I had collected from my bodaboda hustle, ensuring he could proceed with his education unhindered. Witnessing his relief and joy upon receiving his certificate was truly heartening. Additionally, I allocated $30 to cover school fees for my other younger brother, ensuring he could continue his studies without interruption. It's fulfilling to support his educational journey and contribute to his future success. Furthermore, $25 went towards school supplies and fees for my son, who was embarking on his kindergarten journey. Seeing him excited and ready for this new chapter filled me with pride and happiness. To ensure our family's immediate needs were met, $8 was used to purchase food, adding to our existing supplies and ensuring everyone's well-being. Lastly, I indulged in a small personal treat, using the remaining $5 to purchase a T-shirt I stumbled upon and instantly fell in love with. It's a simple joy, but it brings me genuine happiness and boosts my spirits whenever I wear it.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($21 USD)
access_time 9 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My primary goal is to channel the financial support into ensuring a brighter future for my children through education. The cash transfer will be dedicated to covering school fees, buying textbooks, and facilitating a conducive learning environment at home. I believe that investing in their education is a long-term strategy for breaking the cycle of poverty and creating opportunities for their personal and professional growth. I am filled with gratitude for the support it will transform my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the Givedirectly cash transfers has been a blessing for my family. First and foremost, I allocated $68 towards paying school fees for my two children, one of whom was in secondary school. This ensures they have the opportunity for a brighter future. financial burden. With the remaining $34, I made thoughtful choices to enhance the overall well-being of my family. I used part of the cash transfer to buy clothes and other household necessities as we entered the new year. Providing for my four children brings me immense joy, and being able to ensure they have decent clothing and essential household items adds a sense of security and comfort to our home. The unconditional cash transfer has given me the means to create a more stable environment for my family. I am grateful for this assistance, as it has enable me meet the essential needs of my loved ones.
 
17th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 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?
I plan on venturing into business, where I hope to open a wholesale shop. With casual labour I am usually not expecting income to come in all the time but with the business I will have an assured income. From this I believe I will be able to generate income sufficient to pay for my brother's entire school fees as well as take care of my young family and educate my children as they come of age to join school.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a father of two children and simultaneously provide for my two younger siblings. Our family has relied on my mother as our sole provider ever since our father passed away 15 years ago. My sibling, who is my follower, is currently in high school, and I have been primarily responsible for covering their school fees. Over the past three months, using the transfers, I have paid $80 for my brother's school fees. My mother's income is limited as she doesn't earn much. I also ensure that we have enough food and cover their medical expenses. I work as a casual laborer , and the income I earn goes toward covering the school expenses for my youngest sibling. Any remaining funds are used to provide for our basic needs, such as food, which amounted to around $22.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 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?
I have successfully achieved various goals and now I am contemplating embarking on a new venture. My plan involves establishing a business centered around raising goats, sheep, and poultry for the purpose of selling them and generating more income. By maintaining the cycle, I intend to utilize the profits generated to support other endeavors. One of my aspirations is to open a shop where I can offer clothing and essential household items to meet the daily needs of the community. This initiative will not only contribute to the financial stability of my family but also enable me to provide quality education for my children and maintain their overall well-being. Furthermore, I am determined to ensure an ample food supply for my family. As I contemplate my future endeavors, I am also considering ways to support and care for my mother and wife, exploring opportunities to improve their lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I am responsible for my younger brother's well-being, I paid his school fees amounting to $20. This has been my commitment for more than a decade, even when I was still in school. I would raise funds, by engaging in casual work. Our father passed on and he was our only breadwinner. We were left with our mother to fend for us and that is why I joined to give a helping hand. I have four children of my own to take care of. Though, I have always felt my brother's situation is urgent as he is in high school and he might end up being sent back home if his fees are not paid. Our household, consists of seven members (my mother, spouse, two brothers, two children, and myself). So,I contribute towards other essential expenses as well. I then allocated $14 for food, purchasing maize flour and beans that sustained us for only two days. In April, I spent $25 on farming. We used cows to plough and preparing the farm. We utilized one acre of land to grow maize and vegetables. Although the amount was insufficient, I took it upon myself to complete the tasks manually. The remaining balance of about $9 was used to buy food. Last month, I decided to expand my farming activities just to ensure plenty of food supply. This costed $12 for additional maize seeds. I then managed to pay $10 for my younger brother's school fees. After all these expenses, I was left with $12, which we used on food.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since I do not have a formal job, my key goal has been to start a business. Though I have not begun any yet, I have a small-scale poultry farm with seven chickens and three hens. With the subsequent transfers, I aim not only to keep goats, but also to start a retail shop. They will diversify my income, hence raising school fees for my school-going brother, Kazungu, will not be a serious matter to my widowed mother. She solely relies on selling cooked food to raise money for her upkeep. As a result, my mother shall have a sigh of relief from the burden of raising fees since her business generates very little profit.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I work as a motorcycle taxi driver and am the sole provider for my family. My widowed mother could not raise school fees for my younger siblings because she is unemployed. I spent $21 on Kazungu, my younger brother's school,'s fees as soon as I confirmed the receipt of my transfer. He is currently in form three and is a very bright young man. I also spent $10 on food because we never had any then. Finally, I do poultry farming I purchased a hen for $3. They will provide me with additional income, allowing me to diversify the types of livestock I can keep in the future.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used $20 to pay school fees for my younger brother and used the remaining amount to buy food for our family. I am a father of two but I still take care of my two brothers and my ageing parents who stay with me in the same household. Currently, I am a motorcycle operator and the income that I make is hardly enough to buy food for my family. I have had support from my mother when it comes to payment of school fees of my younger brother and this has at least reduced the burden of payment of school fees by a great extent. I am so grateful for a helping hand from GiveDirectly. This has made life for me and my family quite easy especially during such hard times.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does so well in improving the community living standard through direct cash transfer. I have felt a great relief since I began receiving my support. For instance, it has been easy for me to meet the family's basic needs such as food provision even though my motorcycle taxi business is less profitable. On contrary, there is nothing that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Even though I had food in the house, it was insufficient to feed my family for two days. As a result, when I received my transfer, I spent KES 1,000 on extra food because I did not know when I would have any money. I operate a motorbike taxi, which has not been profitable for the past two months due to rising fuel prices. In addition, I paid KES 1,000 in school tuition for my younger brother, who is in secondary school. Because my mother does not have a consistent source of income, I occasionally step in to assist her in raising his school fees. She only does a small business of selling cooked food which has also been affected by the hike in commodity prices. Lastly, I spent the rest of my transfer on buying two chickens. As a result of the low income from the motorcycle taxi, I am shifting my focus to poultry farming. I hope this will turn out to be a viable venture.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The money was received on my phone while I was dead asleep.In the morning my phone was off charge and had woken up early that day to charge it.As I was in the verge of switching on my phone,I overheard my mother saying that GiveDirectly had sent her funds.I Immediately checked my phone and the excitement of the news made me disappear only to come back home laiter with foodstuff and the chickens.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the constant cash flow from the support program. Because I work as a motorcycle rider am able to combine my chicken business with my daily income of KES 500 on good days and buy atleast one goat per month.In the next twenty months am aspiring to make great revenue from selling goats for KES 5000 and chicken for KES 800.On the minimum expectation of atleast having sales every month am able to make enough to support and sustain my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am the firstborn in a family of seven members who works as a motorcycle rider. I live with my mother and my other two siblings because after my father died,I took up his roles to support them.My mother has been striving hard by cooking chapatis and selling beside the road.Due to her low income she makes have taken up all the major roles and she only assists where she can. When I received my cash transfer I used KES 320 and added some food stuff because that is the major challenge and used the KES 950 to buy two chicken. I had planned to start chicken rearing business as a means of earning extra income.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Stability comes to mind when I think about this money. I am a motorcycle taxi driver, this is my fifth year in this industry. I recently bought a motorcycle on hire purchase which I pay 1550 KES weekly. On a good day, I make a profit of 500 KES, if I compare, the good days are less. This is a challenge since I have a young family of three and my responsibilities have increased. I have been toiling to provide for them and still pay off the motorcycle owners. Receiving this money lessens the pressure. I plan to start a poultry business which will on the side help meet some basic needs, buy food and help raise my two children as I focus on paying off the motorcycle.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The day I bought my motorcycle although, on hire purchase, I was given 12 months to finish payments. It has now been 18 months and I am yet to honor this. On the higher side, I am happy that they have not taken back the motorcycle as compared to my fellow drivers who have not had the same luck. I have been diligent in making small payments and I am confident that in a month I will have cleared the balance.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am financially strained. Every day I set aside 310 KES to pay off the motorcycle I took on hire purchase. I earn about 500 KES daily and when I do not meet this target I get frustrated. The calls I get when I miss a payment are the worst. This instills a lot of stress on my end. Currently, the industry has been affected by the hike in fuel prices. To make ends meet I increase the transport prices but this is not welcomed by my customers and they opt to be ferried by vehicles. It affects my productivity and I am forced to bear the extra cost that comes with the rise in fuel.