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 > Sidi's Profile
Sidi's family
Sidi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Raising livestock
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Sidi's next check-in.
 
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($22 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?
My primary mission is clear: I am determined to secure additional funds to cover the education expenses of my three children. With two in secondary school and one in primary, the financial responsibility has become substantial. My aspirations extend beyond merely paying school fees; I aim to provide them with a quality education that will open doors to opportunities and a brighter future. Whether through finding additional income streams, exploring scholarship opportunities, or tapping into community resources, my commitment to their education is unwavering. I believe that investing in their learning today is an investment in their success tomorrow, and I am driven by the conviction that education is the key to breaking the cycle of limitations.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a single parent juggling the responsibilities of four kids, making ends meet was a daily struggle, especially relying on a small charcoal business that barely brought in $5 a day. When my daughter joined Form One this year, the additional school fee burden threatened to overwhelm me. The $30 cash transfer was a lifeline. With immense relief, I promptly used it to settle her school fees, ensuring she could continue her education without interruption. The weight lifted off my shoulders was immeasurable; without that financial assistance, my daughter would have been stranded, and her dreams of a brighter future might have been dimmed. With $4.7 left, I made a practical decision to invest in the well-being of my entire family. I carefully budgeted and used the remaining funds to purchase essential groceries that would sustain us for a week. The simple act of filling our kitchen with nutritious food brought a sense of stability and warmth to our home. The unconditional cash transfer not only rescued us from an immediate crisis but also provided a brief respite from the constant financial strain.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 6 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since the arrival of heavy rains in June this year, my house has fallen into a state of disrepair. The force of the rainwater caused significant damage to the mud walls, leading to weakened supporting poles and resulting in the house tilting to one side. Furthermore, the iron sheets covering the roof have rusted over time, leading to severe leaks. Given the circumstances, my objective is to utilize the funds from the transfer to construct a brand-new house. The financial support I have received thus far has allowed me to purchase ten pieces of iron sheets, marking a significant step towards achieving my goal. The prospect of having a new house fills me with immense joy and gratitude, as it promises a safer and more comfortable living environment for myself and my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As the sole provider for my family of four, the responsibility of supporting my household rests solely on my shoulders. Both of my children are currently pursuing higher education, with one studying in the medical field and the other in the teaching field. Meanwhile, my youngest child is in their final year of primary school, currently in class eight. Being employed as a casual laborer, my earnings are often insufficient to meet our financial needs. Consequently, a significant portion of the transfers I received was allocated towards financing my children's education. I directed $30 from the transfers to cover their school fees, ensuring that their education remains uninterrupted. Additionally, recognizing the precarious state of our dwelling, I decided to allocate $60 towards the purchase of six pieces of iron sheets. Our house, constructed with mud walls, has been severely affected by the heavy rains that frequently occur in our village at the beginning of June. With ten iron sheets already acquired, I am grateful for the progress made in constructing a new, more stable house. Moreover, I utilized $12 from the transfers to purchase essential items such as sugar and detergents. These basic necessities contribute to the overall well-being of my family. I am incredibly grateful for the financial support provided, as it has played a pivotal role in transforming my life for the better.
 
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Though I am a single mother and the sole provider of four children. I have been living in an old structure that is in a dilapidated condition. I have been longing to build a new spacious house. I, therefore, hope to accomplish my goal of building a new house that will accommodate my four children and me. We always squeeze ourselves into the current small structure that is so uncomfortable to stay in. I am looking food to achieving this before the year ends. I shall be a happy mother once I succeed in that.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a single mother of four children. Because I do not have a reliable source of income, I have been living in a small structure with all my four children. It is an uncomfortable place to stay in, I have no way out. My siblings had been trying to help me occasionally since they also struggle to keep their family, but there has been no improvement in my way of life. I spent $20 on buying two iron sheets. Since I have a daughter who schools going, Riziki, for whom I could not pay her fees, I spent $10 on her school fees. She has ample time in school to concentrate on her study. The rest I used to buy food that took us for a day.
 
10th 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?
I want to buy more iron sheets with the transfers this year, and then I'll start buying lumber. Since I currently reside at one of my relatives' homes, my ultimate goal in the entire process is to one day own my own home. Aside from that, I'll also consider nutrition-related issues because they've been a persistent source of difficulty for me and my children. My plan also includes financing my three children's tuition since I want them to continue their education unhindered.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I first got the transfers, I made sure to pay my son's tuition because it had been two days since he had been to school. I then went ahead and paid his tuition with KES 1,000. After that, I spent KES 2,000 to purchase a pair of iron sheets like I have been doing since last August so that when I had enough money, I could start building my house. In the end, I bought a kilo of sugar and a package of maize flour with the remaining KES 400.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $10 of my recent transfer on paying fees for my daughter who is in grade seven at the nearby primary school. She has always been on and off because of the pending arrears which have equally been affecting her performance in general. I later used the remaining amount to buy two iron sheets. I plan to construct a new house in the next five months, therefore I have opted to purchase the materials whenever I received the transfer. Being a single parent, it has been tough to provide for my family's basic needs and construct a decent house at a go.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
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?
Our financial hardships had worsened after drought struck and we were unable to engage in subsistence farming. Burning and selling charcoal was now the income-generating activity and still could not sustain us. We were hopeless and meeting the very basic needs had become the biggest challenge. However, our lives are now improved because through the unconditional support from GiveDirectly, we are now able to take care of our most important basic need; food. Our children are also comfortably in schools because of the transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My current house is very small and dilapidated since I have not been able to renovate it for a while. Its nearly collapsing and I am always worried that it might one day fall on me. My lowly financial status could not allow me to purchase the required building materials such as iron sheets and building poles. When I received my recent transfers, I bought two iron sheets to start with. I am planning to save every month to attain my target of 22 iron sheets. Apart from this, my children had also been sent home for failing to pay for their fees on time. Thus I took Ksh 600 and paid for the fees and examination. They would have stayed for long had I not received the transfer. I am also grateful to GiveDirectly because ever since I received the money, my household never ran out of food since I did enough shopping on foodstuffs such as maize flour and beans. I could now afford three meals a day unlike before when I had to skip meals.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was out clearing my farm in preparation for planting despite the drought when I received a text message. Since I do not know how to read, I handed the phone to my son whom we were with to check the message. I could tell it was a piece of good news from the smile on his face. He then told me smiling that GiveDirectly had kept their promise. I was financially down at that time and the money was an indicator that my family was not going to spend the whole day without food. I thanked God for the miracle.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
It has been a challenge to get some of the basic needs like food and personal care products. I do casual work on people's farms to earn a living but due to the current drought, there are no farms works hence no income. I am glad the foodstuffs I bought with the first transfer have kept us for a good period.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I did not have a phone at the time of enrollment, so I was given a phone by the field officers. Part of my first transfer was deducted to cater for the phone leaving me with KES 1200 as my first transfer. I am glad it assisted me in purchasing mostly dry foodstuffs for my family. It was a reliever because we do not have a reliable source of household income which made it challenging raising money for the family's food. The KES 200 I earn once in a while after helping people out on their farms is not enough to meet all the household needs.
 
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
There is no form of privacy and self-worth when a mother shares a roof with two of her teenage children. My immediate plan is to build a new house and leave the other one to my children. Roughly, it will cost me 30,000 KES. By having a different house, I believe my self-respect will be regained.
What is the happiest part of your day?
At the beginning of January, my 14 years old daughter fell sick. It was a trying moment for me because her condition was life-threatening. She was away from school for a whole week. By good luck, she recovered after getting medical assistance from a nearby private hospital. Seeing her attend school with sound health is my source of elation.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a jobless single mother of 4 children. Two of them are still in school. Children come with responsibilities. From their food, health to education. Education is their most demanding need. To make sure they remain in a school, I struggle to pay school fees in time. With unemployment, it has been a nightmare for me. My children frequently skip school attributable to huge fee arrears.