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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Completed
Newsfeed > Douglas's Profile
Douglas's family
Douglas
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Agriculture (self-employed)
faceAge:
35
workCampaign
FSD / Urban Youth
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Douglas's next check-in.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($38 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?
The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I am able to pay school fees for my daughter. She had to join school late because I did not have a sustainable income which could meet our needs and even pay for her fees. The business was not doing well and yet it had to pay rent, buy food and other needs into the family. Since I started receiving my transfers, I was able to take her to school and in as much as it has been a struggle, I feel things are moving in the right direction.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
The only goal I have now is to continue boosting my cloth business by adding more stock. This has been my main source of income and though I have been doing it on the streets, I would want to make it more stable to an extent where I rent a premise. This will help increase my sales which will be an increase in income from the profits.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on paying school fees arrears for my daughter who had been sent home already. At the time when I received my transfer, she had stayed home for a week as I was still looking for the money to pay for her fees. Thank God GD came to my rescue.
 
12th 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, my life is different from how it was in that, I am no longer stressed about how I will pay my rent since I now have the means to do so. Before I started getting the monthly transfers, my family used to eat vegetables so as to reduce the budget in order to pay rent. I feel happy seeing them healthy. We can now afford to have a well-balanced diet with the money that I get from casual jobs. I am happy that I do not squeeze my budget since the monthly transfers have sorted out my biggest worry of paying rent.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to venture into the farming business. I am planning to invest in planting onion or maize which normally takes three months to be ready for harvest. I love the idea of employing myself since these casual jobs are unreliable. I feel that this will end my struggle to make ends meet for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfer to pay rent. I do not have a permanent job and rely on casual jobs to earn a living. For this reason, I prefer paying the rent as soon as I get money to avoid embarrassments that people go through with the landlords when they do not pay money on time. I finally bought food that would sustain us for some time.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($48 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?
Had it not been GiveDirectly coming to us, then I would still be struggling to pay for my rent. I majorly depend on casual jobs that do not have a constant income hence raising house rent on time had been a challenge since we mostly spend the little income I receive on my household daily needs. Ever since I began receiving my monthly transfer, I have never defaulted on my rent giving my family a humble and peaceful place to live in. To me, paying my rent timely has brought the difference so far. Also, this money has greatly helped me in paying for school fees for my children, since this is the only way I will give them a bright future which has always been my great goals.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I am in the process of saving some money to enable me to start a business in the near future. I would really like to invest in something that would at least be bringing a better income to me to cater for the growing financial needs in my family. I feel my new goal now is to save enough cash for this purpose.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KSH 2000 of my most recent transfer in paying for my house rent. I am glad that GiveDirectly transfers have helped me to pay my rent on time. I struggle to build a better future for my children and giving them a good education is my priority thus I cleared school fees for my children at KSH 2000 for them to comfortably continue with their studies without interruptions during school days. Lastly, I did enough shopping on basic needs like foodstuffs and clothing for my children, as well as paying for other household expenses hence will have a humble time going forward to look for more income for other family necessities.
 
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 now that I have started receiving the money is to relocate back to my rural home and start to do some farming. City life is very expensive and drains a lot of energy. One can never progress in life especially if you do not have a stable job. Everything in town has to be bought including water. My goals now that I have started receiving the money is to relocate back to my rural home and start to do some farming. Life is cheaper in the rural areas plus I don't have to pay rent or buy water since such are locally available at my disposal. By doing so, I will have saved myself from shame and embarrassment from my neighbors. I will also be able to cater for my family without much difficulty.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving payments from Give Directly is that I am always at peace since I am able to pay my house rent on time. I normally worry a lot when it comes to settling bills especially paying rent because my landlord is never understanding. I feel relieved ever since I started receiving help from this company as it has given me a helping hand in settling my bills.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my most recent transfer to pay my house rent. I was down financially and the landlord had threatened to close my house. I must say the cash came in handy and saved me from the shame of my house being locked and being laughed at by my neighbors who think that I am not responsible. It could be so embarrassing I don't know where I would have gone. I used the remaining amount to pay school fees for my children who had been sent back home since I had not paid even a single penny as their school fees.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I was woken up by the message notification on my phone and I went direct through my inbox to check who the sender was. On checking it, I could not hold back the happiness and joy that instantly filled my heart as I realized that GiveDirectly had sent my first transfer. I could not sleep anymore as I knew that I would soon accomplish the things that seemed impossible to me.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My first priority will be investing in my business, therefore, I will use part of the transfer to add more stock that will bring high profits to my business. Secondly, i will prioritize buying at least two goat in upcountry, where it will act as an asset and also in coming days numbers will increase. That i can sell and earn more money. My third priority will be buying uniform for my children, because I have always wanted them to look presented in school.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is violence, violence has always been my nightmare since 2007, because I witnessed some of my neighbors killing each other with weapons, only because of political differences. I have never forgotten that day, it has affected me psychologically, even up to date, if I see my friends arguing I would rather walk away.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition has always been to be wealthy. Where I would want to uplift my living standards by increasing the number of livestock that I keep and to expand my current onion business to other markets.Thus I will have to put more efforts.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I usually wake up at 9:00am, then take my breakfast. As a footballer, I go to play until 1:00pm, this will depend if the teams are many. I go back home take shower and relax as I watch the latest movies. If our group scheduled any meeting I join them, because it takes at least two hours. At around 4:00pm I go back home and relax with my family.