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 > Jumaa's Profile
Jumaa's family
Jumaa
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Jumaa's next check-in.
 
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the better part of my life, I have been selling local brew in the village to earn a living. The business was good until the drought started. The palm wine I haves is too little, and this affects the income I earn. This has made me struggle in a paying my bills and buying food for my family. When I received the funds, I was thrilled and spent KSH 2000 to buy food for my family. The remaining stock of food in the house was very little, and I had to add more. Besides buying food, I spent the rest of the money to pay school fees for my child, who is in primary school. End of term exams were around the corner and to ensure he was eligible to sit for the exams, I had to clear the school fees arrears.
 
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer to buy food stuffs costing KES 1,000 which my family used during Christmas festive season. In addition, I saved KES 1,500 with an inspiration of beginning to buy building materials. I am currently living in a small and old house that does not serve my family well. I look forward to building a new spacious house which can comfortably accommodate all 5 people constituting my household.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does a great deal because for instance with the money I received my child was able to remain in school and I could even afford a meal which at the time was proving to be quite a challenge and to even go further eventually next year my house will be all done and I could not be more grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The effects of climate have been very severe this year especially because we have had dry seasons but this time they has been barely a drop of rain which caused a lot of harm especially in our farms because all the crops died and that is why after I received that money I went ahead to buy five packets of maize flour for KES 500. I also paid KES 500 in tuition fee since my child had debts that I had yet sorted. As for the remainder of the money which was KES 2,000 I put it in my savings account because I had future projects in mind including renovating my house.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the message very early in the morning so you can imagine how it was such a nice way to begin the day for me, because my pockets were empty that day. I was so happy that I kept telling all my companions about it you would have almost thought it was an advertisement or perhaps I was preaching the gospel.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
First and foremost I was very grateful because I could manage to buy clothes for my family especially my children, because the clothes they had on most times were in tatters and very embarrassing to them in fact their uniforms were the only outfits that they had that seemed to be still intact. Also I did not have to worry about a meal anymore because I am a palm wine tapper by profession and I do have good days and bad days most times but the wage is still minimal.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Immediately after I received the money I decided to first start by buying clothes for my family and I because prior to receiving the money most of the clothes we wore were ripped because I could not afford to buy new ones especially for my children. So I went ahead and purchased some attire which cost me KES 500. Then I also proceeded to cater for my sons school fee since I had debts that had been carried over into the new term which was KES 1000 and I paid for half of it leaving a balance of KES 500 that I promised to deal with later on. Lastly I bought almost twelve packets of Ugali that would sustain my family and I for a while which went for KES 1200 and as for the rest of the money which was KES 800 I decided to save it in case we needed anything else later on.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Purchasing a piece of land was my aspiration since I get married. I am a father of three children and currently reside in family land. I desired to own land because my family has started to grow and preserve it for their inheritance in the future. I work as a palm wine tapper which earns me a little income that is only sufficient to cater to buy food. For that reason, I plan to use the transfers to buy three acres of land that I will use to build a home and at the same time to practice subsistence family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I leave early in the morning to search for a job. I get back home in the evening with something to feed my family this, makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I work as a palm tapper in this village. I completed class eight 2010 of which my father didn't afford to take me to secondary level because our family was big and he was the only sole breadwinner. I was left with the option of tapping palm trees as a source of income. In a day, I earn 350KES and is not frequent, sometimes I cannot afford to buy a quarter packet of the floor, thus we sleep on an empty stomach. The last time I bought new clothes was three years ago, it's shameful as a man to walk almost naked, my family has only one pair of clothes each that means one for church and the other one for normal days. I was not even dreaming that one day I could get this opportunity to be enrolled in this wonderful program. I foresee my children's having a bright future.