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 > Grace's Profile
Grace's family
Grace
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Grace's next check-in.
 
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 4 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My main source of income is selling Chapati and Swahili dresses in our village. I recently closed this business so that I would concentrate on farming and take advantage of the rains that we've been experiencing lately. My husband is a matatu driver and the pay is not lucrative. With our five children in school, he has been straining financially hence I am planning to start investing in livestock keeping. Currently, I am aiming to start buying goats in bits and my target is to buy at least one goat after every two or three months. With this, I'll be able to help him with some of our bills when need be.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My son sat for his KCPE examinations recently and I am glad that he passed well and I believe that he will be joining a good secondary school. In preparation for what was a head of me, I had started saving part of my transfer so that I will later use it to pay for his school fees. Due to this, from my transfer for the last three months, $ 60 went to the savings kitty. In addition, I used $ 28 to pay for his school fees and that of his siblings and in the purchase of some reading materials. using the remaining $ 14, I sourced for laborers to help me in tending for my crops at the farm. I am forever grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me to achieve what I would not have achieved so far since I depend on my small business of selling chapati in our neighborhood.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
At present, my primary objective is to continue financing the education of my five children, all of whom are currently enrolled in school. I am committed to sharing the financial responsibilities with my husband to ensure our children's needs are met. With his income from his job as a driver and my earnings from making and selling donuts, we have been able to primarily cover our family's food expenses. Paying school fees had been a challenge before the cash aid program began. I am grateful that the cash transfers have enabled me to participate in a local savings club, assisting in covering some of our children's school fees. Additionally, I have been able to secure loans from these clubs to meet the tuition expenses. I am filled with hope and optimism that the cash transfers will continue to bring about positive transformations in my family's life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My son completed primary school last year and subsequently enrolled in college this year, as his academic performance did not secure him a spot in high school. Therefore, my primary focus has been on supporting his college education, along with the educational needs of his four younger siblings who are in lower grades. Two of them are set to join high school and junior high school next year, which presents us with increased financial demands. Despite the challenges, my husband, who works as a driver, has been contributing to the family's food requirements, even if it means having only one meal a day due to his limited income. My goal is to supplement our finances so that we can ensure our five children receive an education without interruptions. To this end, I have been saving the past three cash transfers, totaling $102, to settle a loan I had taken from our savings club to cover my children's tuition fees, which allowed my eldest son to be admitted to college.
 
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?
My main goal is to see my children have a smooth learning process without being sent home for school fees. I have two children who are yet to join high school; one is currently in class eight and one is in class seven, and I want to ensure that I have the money to take them to secondary school by the time they will be done with primary education. And to achieve this, I want to save part of my monthly transfers and also set aside part of the proceeds from the business so that I do not get overwhelmed. In addition, I have also started livestock rearing(goats) that I would sell in the future to help me with school fees payment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfers that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly had been of great help in terms of paying for my children’s school fees. I have 6 children who are currently going to school and getting enough money to pay for their school fees had been quite a challenge for my husband and I. My eldest son completed primary school last year but with the lack of money, he did not manage to join high school. I have been saving part of the transfers and also getting some little income from my food-selling business to enable me to take him to acquire some skills in electrical wiring where I added the entire amount of the recent transfers that I received of $34 and I was more than happy to get him enrolled and was so grateful to GiveDirectly for the much support.
 
9th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 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?
After completing his primary school education, my son Simon, unfortunately, did not earn an entry into high school given his low performance. He alternatively decided to pursue a driving course. As a parent, there is no greater relief than seeing the happiness and contentment of my children. Therefore, my plan right now is to support Simon’s quest by sourcing and paying for his college fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the money, my son was about to take his eighth-grade national exam. His school required him to pay $3 which would cover his lunch for the three days he would take the test. Because his father did not have enough money at the moment, I stepped in and covered the cost. My husband works as a driver and most of the time the salary he earns is enough to meet food needs. In case urgent needs arise, like my son's lunch fees, I try to support them. I am happy because my business selling detergents, which I started using the transfers, is doing well, allowing me to meet small needs. Also, I bought a goat for $30 to expand a goat-rearing project I initiated with previous transfers; now the herd has grown to four. My goal is to rear these animals, so that as they breed, so does my wealth accumulates. I am so grateful that Give Directly made my dream of livestock keeping a reality.
 
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?
Schools had just recently resumed from a short holiday but unfortunately a day after resuming classes my children were sent back home, that is why as soon as I noticed the transfers had come through, I went ahead and paid KES 2,500 for five of my children and then used the rest of the money that remained which was KES 500 and left it in my savings account in case of a rainy day.
 
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?
The transfers received have literally changed lives in a positive way, as people are now able to sustain their families by providing basic needs and more to that, live comfortably by investing in different projects.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the KES 3000 from GiveDirectly has been a major boost and a great source of happiness for everyone. I am a small scale business lady who sells fish and vegetables. My husband is a public service driver and our breadwinner. With his job not being constant, and offering a fluctuating income, the amount we receive at times is not enough to sustain us through the month as we also live with my father-in-law under the same roof. We have five kids together whom are all in school and for them to be able to attend classes, fees arrears have to be cleared which I set aside KES 2500 from the amount I received; KES 400 to clear the amount of four children and KES 2100 to clear that of one child in PP1 class. The remaining amount of KES 500 was used for some funeral expenses directed to my brother-in-law who had passed on.
 
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?
On this very day, I was at home going about my normal duties. When I saw the message confirming that I had received funds from give directly, I felt contented. My desire to self-employ myself through poultry farming was finally coming to pass. I would now be contributing toward meeting the family's expenses. I shared the news with my brother-in-law who was also happy for me. Little did I know my joy was going to be short-lived because he passed away the next day. So, I instead used the funds to cover some funeral expenses.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Even though I never got to fulfill the desire I had to use the money to start a poultry business, these funds have really helped me out. If I hadn't received it then, we would have gotten stranded to ensure that my brother-in-law's funeral runs smoothly. I was able to buy some food for the visitors. I still believe that with my next transfer, I will get the opportunity to fulfill my wish. Even in my mourning state, I can attest that there is a great difference in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I recently started a small business where I sell fish(omena) by the roadside. I used a capital of KES 200. This I did after I had put my poultry farming business plan on hold. I had intended to use the money I received from give directly to buy 4 chickens. With the objective of supporting my husband with some of the bills. Especially, our five children's school fees. Unfortunately, the following day, my celebratory mood changed to a somber one. I had lost my brother-in-law. So, with visitors streaming in to bid him goodbye, there was a need to purchase some food. I, therefore, decided to make my contributions using the funds I got.
 
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Education for my children is my top priority. I am a mother of 5 children who are all in school. Being unemployed makes me struggle to keep them in school due to huge fee arrears. My husband who works as a driver tries to support them but it is overwhelming. A bigger percentage of the income he makes ( 9,000 KES per month) goes into buying food, leaving a tiny amount for the tuition fees. This money will help me support my children's education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am the caretaker of my husband's three cows. In the last year 2021, a life-threatening drought hit this area. Many people lost livestock due to inadequate, pasture and drinking water. Luckily, the three cows survived until it rained in late December and in the early days of January 2022. I am very happy because the cows are now in good health due to the plenty of water and pasture.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Imagine being jobless and having a family of 5 children, all being in primary school. Seeing them struggle with education due to a lack of tuition fees is devastating. My husband is the family's breadwinner but with such a huge burden, it becomes overwhelming to him. My husband works as a driver in Mombasa. The income he gets all goes into food, leaving very little for school fees.