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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Completed
Newsfeed > Charo's Profile
Charo's family
Charo
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Charo's next check-in.
 
26th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 23 days ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the future, I would wish to have a business selling household items such as sugar and matchboxes since it will be a source of income for my family. Am now tilling the land with the hope that when I get good produce I will be able to save the amount of transfers to use the amount to start my business project.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have always wished for children to get educated so that in the future they get good jobs and relieve me from these harsh and tiresome jobs that I do to put food on the table. Being a casual house constructor with unpredictable patterns of jobs earning at least $70 in 2 weeks on which sometimes you can stay a whole month without a job made me use $90 of the quarterly transfers to pay school fees for my 3 children in primary school who were at the verge of missing exams due to the school fees arrears, this restored their joy after they realized that the debts were cleared and they will freely do their exams in peace. I used the rest of the amount to buy food to ensure that my family did not go a day with hunger.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 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?
The challenges I've faced in managing my finances have motivated me to pursue the establishment of a business in order to enhance my earnings. In the upcoming year, my intention is to utilize my transfer by initiating a venture focused on retailing food essentials like sugar, tea leaves, and maize flour. This endeavor will not only generate income but also contribute to the welfare of my family. I am deeply appreciative of the support provided by the transfers, which has ensured that my family members have had access to sustenance and that my children have been able to continue their education.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In my role as the primary provider for my family of ten, it is crucial for me to attend to their fundamental requirements, encompassing the procurement of food, settlement of school fees, and acquisition of clothing. To avert the risk of starvation during a period of job scarcity, I acquired 12 packs of maize flour, which sustained my family's sustenance. Upon receiving my transfers, I promptly settled a $14 debt and obtained additional provisions valued at $34. Additionally, I made a partial payment towards the school fees for my four primary school-going children, ensuring their uninterrupted education. Despite having paid $54, a remaining $10 fee will be addressed next year when they resume their studies. I am appreciative of the invaluable assistance provided by the transfer funds, which has significantly alleviated my family's financial strain and facilitated the fulfillment of their essential needs.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to focus on crop farming. I hope that if we succeed to realize a good harvest, my family will have sufficient food. As a result, I will be at liberty to spend my transfers not only on food, but also on other family projects. I aspire to start a small shop business within the village where I can realize family supplementary income. I know it can provide a regular source of income that will go a long way in improving our living standards.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my recent transfer, my family did not have food. I have a large family of 9 members, and I do not have a regular source of income. I over-rely on farming and other casual jobs. So when I confirmed the receipt of my monthly transfers, I used $24 to buy food and other household items. We have been experiencing starvation following the previous drought, and it is always difficult to raise school fees. Therefore, part of the transfers I always spend on paying school fees for my four school-going children. I am grateful the transfer has been a boost in my family.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 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?
In my family, I am the sole breadwinner. My wife is a housewife and does not have any source of income. She fully leans on my support. As I continue to receive my transfers, I have developed a goal of starting a business for her. I am optimistic that it will create an opportunity for her to raise some income. As a result, the family will have an alternative source of income to help meet the competing family needs. She is likely to succeed in this because she had done business dealing with the sale of vegetables.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
From my recent transfers of $34, I spent $20 on paying school fee arrears for my four school-going children. They had a fee balance of $60 that I could not raise by then. I struggled to raise their fee because I over-rely on casual and house construction jobs. However, such opportunities have been rare to get. Since I did not have food in the house, I also spent $14 on foodstuff for my nine-member family. I was worried about how I could manage the situation owing to the current severe famine in the area due to drought. The previous three months' transfers also helped me in paying school fees and buying food for the family. Life has been bearable courtesy of GiveDirectly's transfers.
 
10th 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 $20 on paying the hospital bill for my father who was admitted. Unfortunately, he passed on last week. The total hospital bill was $70 my relatives and friends contributed the balance. I am so happy because we were able to sort all this out on time. The remaining amount of money I spent on food and other basic needs that we were missing at home. I am so grateful because were it not GiveDirectly this could have been so hard for us.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
At some point before receiving the transfers, my family and I were going through a difficult time financially and one of our biggest challenges was nutrition. The situation was terrible especially considering that our kids looked up to us to take care of them. So when the times were too tough and my children and I were almost starving, I went to ask for items from a shop nearby on loan so that we wouldn't have to go hungry. Therefore when I received the recent transfers from GiveDirectly I immediately went ahead to pay the debt at the store when I had initially taken six packets of maize flour, so I paid KES 600 to settle the debt. Afterwards I took the balance of KES 2,400 I was left with and bought a bag of maize flour which contained a dozen packets so that my family and I would not have to worry about a meal for sometime.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give Directly does well by providing transfers to people, which is an absolute assured source of cash. Although the amount is not as much as we could have wanted, it is enough to sustain the needs as we pull strings to make our ends meet. I do not see anything wrong with how Give Directly works
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Recently, my mother suffered a waist injury and I had to forgo paying school fees in order to settle her hospital bill. Currently, I have outstanding arrears amounting to KES 4,000 to settle at my children's school. I am quite intentional when it comes to deciding what necessity to prioritize over another. Unless otherwise, my children's education and meals come before anything I could possibly accomplish. So I spent KES 1,700 on their school fees and KES 2200 on purchasing food.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
On this very day, no one had requested my carpentry services. I also had no money to buy food for my family. To ease my mind from the pressure, I went to shepherd my livestock. I then received a message confirming the receipt of the funds. I felt lucky because I knew I was going to sleep hungry that day. So, the first thing I did with the funds was to buy half a kilogram of sugar and a packet of maize flour.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am yet to note any difference as it is my first transfer. But I believe with time, I know there will be some changes in my life. Even so, I can now borrow knowing that I will be receiving some money monthly which I would use to pay my debts. Presently, I have a debt of KES4600 that I am expecting to settle using my second transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Sometimes back, my mother fell and injured her hip bone. Having been my dependant, I was left to take care of the hospital bill that amounted to KES4000. Working as a contractual carpenter, my salary is often inconsistent. There are also times when customers are late with their payments. Since I had a hospital bill to cover, I was unable to pay for my four children's school fees that accrued to KES5000. So, when the first transfer came in, I used KES600 to reduce the arrears and bought maize flour with the remaining KES600.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I would like to save up my transfers to be able to buy a power saw so that I can split more wood efficiently to earn more money that can take care of my family. I have been splitting wood for about ten years as my main source of income, but of late I can not keep up with the industry standards because I'm still using the traditional saw. It takes too long to complete one job and work for too little. But purchasing a power saw would improve my efficiency and earn me more customers hence more money. This way I would be able to effectively take care of my family of nine.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I recently harvested about seven litres of honey from my bee hives and sold it all at 4900 KES. This was my happiest moment because I was able to buy my children school uniforms, pay part of their school fees as well as buy three chicken to rare.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have problems getting pasture for my cattle and this means I have to travel long distances everyday to be able to find grazing fields. This sometimes takes a whole day hindering my chances of involving myself economically elsewhere to be able to afford food for my family of nine. It's a hard balance because if I get to graze my animals then the family goes hungry.