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 > Sidi's Profile
Sidi's family
Sidi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Sidi's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($21 USD)
access_time 3 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The monthly contributions I contribute to the savings group have proven to be beneficial for me. I utilized the accumulated funds to enhance my living conditions by installing a robust and durable metallic door for my house. Anticipating my upcoming turn to receive the transfers, I am eager to allocate the funds towards acquiring a mattress, a purchase that would significantly contribute to ensuring a comfortable sleeping environment for myself. The financial support I am receiving through these transfers is immensely appreciated, and I am grateful for the positive impact it has had on my living situation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Clearing a $20 debt that my son owed to his school from the previous year became a priority upon receiving my transfers. This action ensured his uninterrupted continuation of studies. In another instance, my daughter, who is in secondary school, contacted me in need of pocket money. I promptly sent her $5 to address her immediate needs while away at school. Additionally, I contributed $4 to cover my grandchild's school fees when the mother faced difficulties in making a timely payment. This step was crucial in enabling the child to return to school and resume her education. Expanding my livestock holdings, I acquired a goat for $34, bringing the total to six in my herd. I am delighted to witness the growth of my herd, anticipating future income when some of them are sold. Allocating $38, I purchased food for the family, ensuring that our nutritional needs were met without any lapses. Additionally, I saved $5 within a savings group comprised of seven members. The funds acquired from this group will be earmarked for purchasing a mattress in the upcoming months. I express deep appreciation for the financial support provided through the transfers, which has proven instrumental in addressing various needs and aspirations.
 
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My aspiration is to become the proud owner of a small herd of goats. These goats will be more than just livestock; they will serve as a financial safety net in times of need. I envision them as a source of stability and a resilient asset that can help me overcome any unexpected financial constraints that life may throw my way. With dedication and careful planning, I aim to build a sustainable goat-raising venture that not only supports me but also provides valuable resources for my family's well-being.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the unconditional cash transfer was nothing short of a blessing for my family. With it, I immediately prioritized securing the future of my two children, both in secondary school. I spent around $20 to pay their tuition fees, a burden that had weighed heavily on me for months. With this financial support, I no longer had to constantly worry about how to make ends meet, and this newfound stability translated into a more conducive learning environment for my kids. The stress of tuition was replaced by the joy of watching them focus on their studies, knowing that I had invested in their education. I also set aside $10 for our merry-go-round back in the village, a financial support system that's been a lifeline for me during tough times. With the remaining $4.7, I made sure to buy vegetables and cereals for my family of four. My husband's income as a casual laborer had never been enough to make ends meet, and as a substantial farmer, my earnings were modest. We had been living a life of constant financial struggle. However, with this cash infusion, I felt a glimmer of hope that our family could finally breathe a bit easier.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 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?
I have been operating a small shop in the village which has been my major source of income. With my son having being retrenched at work, this has been our only source of income. We would depend on it for household needs and school fees. Since then the shop business has not been doing well. and mostly affected by inadequate stock. I'm planning to restock the shop and continue farming which I believe will go well. Since with a bumper harvest we will not experience food shortage in my household. If all goes well, spending on food will be a thing of the past. I am also planning to buy more goats in the near future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have two of my children enrolled in high school. I'm so glad that I spent my most recent transfers on paying their school fees. Raising school fees has not been easy for us, as my husband is a casual laborer. We would mostly depend on my eldest son to assist, but he was recently retrenched at work. We are happy that for the first time, the two are comfortable in school after having their fees paid on time. More often, they would be home due to a lack of school fees. Fending for my family has not been easy, even providing for the most basic needs has been a problem. The transfer has been helpful, we bought enough food for my household as well. This will last us for some time, some of these were bags of maize. We are grateful that, despite this difficult situation, the transfers have also enabled us to live comfortably. In addition to all this, I also purchased a goat at Kshs.2800 I now own five goats, which I have acquired by saving the transfer every month. I am keeping them in my homestead as an investment. I expect to generate income through subsistence farming since I'm not in any form of employment. I'm sure this will give me financial freedom.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
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?
Since goats make the best long-term investments, I have always been passionate about raising them, but I've never had the money to do it. Every year, they give birth, and as the year progresses, so do their offspring. I want to buy three for upbringing now that I receive a monthly payout. If everything goes according to plan, I will have more of them in two years, which I intend to sell later to help pay for my kids' school expenses.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My spouse, who was the main breadwinner, recently lost his job, and since then, my small business of selling snacks and the money I receive on a monthly basis have been supporting us. Although finances has been tight, I am happy about the transfers. I spent $54 of the last three months' disbursements on my kids' school costs and $48 on groceries for my family. Without the support, it would not have been simple, therefore we appreciate it.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my view, GiveDirectly has mastered the art of alleviating poverty through direct cash transfer. Since I was enrolled in the program, I have an assurance of receiving a monthly transfer for five years. It is a unique model employed by GiveDirectly and it has a long-term positive impact on all the recipients who will be using them to meet their immediate needs, ranging from food to fee payments. It does well in giving unconditional cash transfers because it has helped me to pay part of my children's school fees. In contrast, I think that GiveDirectly does not do well in not making a comeback to the same locality it had previously.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband's primary source of income is house construction. I decided to do mixed farming because I lack the necessary skills to work in a formal job sector. As a result, I rely on both subsistence farming and livestock raising. Although this investment has provided me with some income on occasion, it has not been sufficient to support my family. As a result, when I received my transfer, my children were behind on their fees, and I was concerned about how to pay them. However, with the transfer, I set aside KES 2,000 for that fee payment. We used the remaining KES 1,000 to buy 10kg of maize flour for my family because we didn't have enough food. I am relieved because I still have food in my house.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The funds were sent out quite late in the evening and I called my grandchild to help me read the message since I couldn't do it myself and I was elated to find out that it was the transfers reason being I really needed the money and I had already not eaten for a couple of days.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I was really grateful for the mere fact that I could manage to send my children back to school because I believe that education is very important when it comes to shaping up their future and for them to have a better future than the one they have right now is by investing in education so that they could prosper.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Unfortunately two days prior to receiving the funds my kids have been kicked out of school due to the failure of settling the debt I owed the school, but luckily GiveDirectly came through for me and I ended up using a KES 1,000 out of the transfers I had received to pay tuitio for two of my children. Afterwards I decided to deal with issues concerned with nourishment so I ended up using KES 1,600 in purchasing six packets of maize flour due to the fact that it was two days since we had a meal. I used the remaining balance of KES 400 and decided to buy two hens as an investment in poultry farming.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My main source of income is charcoal burning. I make 500 KES per suck which is good money considering that I live in the village but the challenge is that it is not daily which makes it difficult to plan with it. The most important thing that I have always wanted to do is to make sure that I educate all my children so they can be able to provide for themselves in the future when I am no longer around. Unfortunately, the money I make from the business is not enough to meet all the responsibilities in the house and give them good education as well. These transfers will, however, change my life and that of my children because I will be putting aside 2000 KES every month for their studies and using the remaining balance on food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My children living in town brought joy and happiness to my life in December when they surprised me with a suck of rice. This was something I had taken almost a year without eating. Aside from food I was also glad that they came to see me and brought their children with them too and had a good time together as a family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
With the tough economic situation in the country, the prices of commodities have hiked which has made things worse for me because I do not have a consistent income. Lack of money to purchase food for my family left me with no choice but to opt for a meal per day so I can spare some for the next day. I never wished for my children to live this kind of life which is full of frustrations. My current challenge is therefore lack of money to meet the household responsibilities.