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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Newsfeed > Sadaka's Profile
Sadaka's family
Sadaka
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Sadaka's next check-in.
 
33rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 17 days ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
With my children in school, my top priority is to ensure they continue their education so they can achieve their dreams. To support this goal, I plan to use a portion of my transfers to pay their school fees while also establishing a reliable asset that will help cover their educational expenses as they advance to higher levels. I have always envisioned this asset to be a livestock venture. My plan is to continue saving a portion of my transfers to buy more goats and chicken, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in both number and value. Eventually, I aim to trade some of these livestock for female cows, which will also reproduce. This way, I can rely on my livestock to support my children's education as they progress through school into higher education levels. I am truly grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has provided us. It is helping us realize that a better life is possible, even in our current living conditions.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With five children in school, ensuring they get education is my greatest priority, as I believe it will provide them with a better future and better lives unlike what we have. Recently, I used $49 from the transfers I received from GiveDirectly to pay their school fees and purchase books. This ensures that they won’t be sent home for unpaid fees or missing stationery. Additionally, I spent $30 to buy a goat, adding to my existing livestock. I hope this goat will multiply, increasing in number and value, which will help me during emergencies in the future. I also allocated $19 to buy food for my family since we had exhausted our food supplies and needed to ensure everyone stayed healthy. Finally, I used the remaining $4 to purchase soap and oil to promote cleanliness within my family, making sure we all looked smart and presentable. I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, which is helping us navigate our current challenges and work towards a better life.
 
30th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 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?
This year, my primary goal is to establish a thriving goat-rearing business. To achieve this, I plan to strategically utilize the GiveDirectly cash transfers to acquire and grow my livestock holdings. I intend to use a portion of the transfers to purchase more chickens and goats. My plan is to allow these animals to multiply and increase in number and value over time. As the chicken flock grows, I will trade them for additional goats. This will allow me to steadily build up a substantial herd of goats, which will serve as the foundation of my livestock farming enterprise. The goats will provide a reliable source of income, as I plan to sell them when needed. This revenue will be used to fund my children's education and support the overall well-being of my family. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for providing me with this transformative opportunity. The cash transfers have empowered me to break the cycle of poverty and create a better future for my family. By prioritizing my children's education and building a sustainable livestock business, I am confident that I can equip them with the tools they need to thrive in the years to come. Through this strategic approach to livestock farming, I am excited about the prospects that lie ahead. The GiveDirectly support has given me the means to turn my aspirations into a reality, paving the way for a more prosperous and secure future for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a lifelong aspiration, I am working towards becoming a successful livestock farmer with a large herd of goats. To achieve this goal, I have been strategically allocating my GiveDirectly cash transfers towards acquiring goats and chickens. I spent $30 to purchase additional goats, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in number over time. Furthermore, I allocated $18 to buy chickens, which I plan to allow to reproduce, eventually trading them for more goats to expand my herd. These livestock investments will serve as a reliable source of income in the future. By selling the goats when needed, I will be able to support my family's various needs. Recognizing the importance of education, I prioritized spending $50 to pay the school fees for my four children. This ensures they can continue their studies without interruption, investing in their future and the future of our community. Finally, I used the remaining $4 to supplement our existing food supplies, providing my family with additional nourishment.
 
26th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 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?
My goal for this year is to establish a goat-rearing business. Once the project concludes, my children will have a stable income source to support their education. I will be utilizing my transfers to achieve this aspiration. Education holds a lot of importance for me, as I did not have the opportunity to attend school myself. I firmly believe it will empower my children with better opportunities in the future. I am genuinely thankful for this chance to uplift my children and provide them with a brighter future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used to earn a living by digging out tree stumps and selling charcoal, but I had to stop due to its adverse effects on my health. To support my family of eight, I switched to selling fish. The introduction of these transfers significantly improved our situation. Since I can no longer engage in physically demanding work, these transfers serve as a great supplement to my income. Now, I can afford to pay school fees and buy food for my children. I allocated $34 to clear a school fees debt for my daughter who had completed Form Four, enabling her to collect her school completion certificate. Another $34 was used to enroll my son in Form One, covering expenses like books, pens, and shoes. The remaining $34 was used for buying uniforms and paying school fees for my younger children in lower primary. Despite the current challenges, I am committed to providing my children with an education for better opportunities in the future, and I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for empowering us through these transfers.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 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?
In the coming year, through the monthly transfers, my goal is to expand my livestock rearing business. I believe this will generate a steady income. Not only ensuring that I can consistently pay for my children's school fees but also provide their other basic needs more comfortably. Additionally, I intend to build a more spacious house for my family. Our current living space is quite small, and I want to provide my family with a more comfortable home. The financial stability these transfers have given us is a stepping stone toward achieving these dreams.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With five of my children in school and one about to graduate from high school, I ensured paying their school fees was my top priority. Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I was able to use $50 from the transfers to pay their school fees. This took a significant burden off our shoulders giving us peace of mind, knowing that our children were comfortable in school. With the remaining $50, I made an investment by purchasing two goats. I believe this will provide us with a steady source of income in the long run. Not only will it support my family's needs, but also contributes to securing my children's education in the future. Before we started receiving the transfers, my husband and I struggled to make ends meet by engaging in a labor-intensive work of burning trees for charcoal production. It was a challenging job, earning us $24 after a month. This income was never enough to sustain our household. GiveDirectly has truly made a positive impact on our lives, providing us with the financial stability we needed to secure a brighter future for our family.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 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?
I have school-going children, and paying for their school fees had been quite a challenge, a situation that makes me stressed most of the time. My main goal is, therefore, to see my children go to school without frequent interruptions of being sent home for school fees. To achieve this, I have started a chicken-rearing project that would help me to generate income that would be of help in terms of paying for their school fees. I also plan to be saving part of my monthly transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been facing financial challenges owing to the fact that my husband and I depend on odd jobs to earn an income. I have six children and providing some of their basic needs had been quite a challenge. Recently three of them had been sent home to collect school fees, but I did not have the money to settle their pending balances. Food, on the other hand, was also not easy for me to get, but GiveDirectly came to my rescue because the transfer that I received was of great help. I managed to pay school fees for the three children worth $14, bought enough stock of maize flour worth $10 and since I also wanted to start a chicken rearing project, I managed to buy two chicks worth $10 and I would forever remain grateful for the support.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 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?
Most of the time I look for work and occasionally I find a site where we dig up all the unwanted plants and are paid $4 after a long day's work. My greatest wish is for my children to graduate from high school with honors and flourish in life.I want to first make sure I keep my children in school by paying all their school fees and then open for myself a shop where I will be selling food stuff to my local villagers. With the business I will open, I will make sure I make huge profits so that my family will continuously be eating three meals in a day.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of seven children and my husband happens to be our bread winner. He really works hard to ensure that we get all that we need at the time we need them. Life is difficult and especially now that it has taken years to rain, we barely get to eat three meals in a day. I am really grateful to GiveDirectly that I can easily contribute something to the betterment of my family. The moment I received my transfers, I spent $9 to buy food for my family and we really ate a balanced diet that made us feel so happy and satisfied. My three children are in primary school and one is in high school and they had not settled their tuition fees. I spent $10 to settle their fees and the remaining amount of $15 I also paid for my son who is in high school. I really want my children to finish school and get a good grade and become great people in life.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After I had the opportunity to withdraw the transfers, I ended up using KES 1,000 by purchasing two hens because I was planning to begin a project where I invested in poultry farming for financial gain. Afterwards I decided to use another KES 1,000 to settle a debt in tuition fee for my daughter because it had been three days since she had been to school. I ended up with a balance of KES 1,100 which I decided to use on nourishment by purchasing five packets of maize flour because we barely had any food left in the house.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As soon as I received the recent funds from GiveDirectly, I decided to pay school fees for two of my children who were still in high-school. They had just been kicked out of school because I had not settled a debt of KES 22,000 in tuition fee. I had other children in elementary school but my biggest concern were the two who were in high-school because the debt was huge. So upon receiving the transfers I paid KES 2,000 and although I was not even close to finishing the debt, atleast my children would be allowed back to school. Afterwards I took the KES 1,000 and bought five packets of maize flour because at the time there was barely any food left in the house.
 
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?
My priority has been to educate my children. So, I will say give directly has done very well in supporting us. Now I have funds to pay for my children's school fees to add to it, I also have the means to renovate my house. I am yet to see any area of improvement when it comes to give directly's services.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have two children in secondary school and three children in primary school. For the ones in secondary school, they had arrears of KES11,000. When I received my first transfer, I paid KES2000 to reduce it. For the ones in primary, I paid KES500. The remaining KES500 I used to purchase food. with the second transfer, since my house needed some renovations, I asked a builder to fix it. His charge was KES4000 so we agreed that I pay KES2,000 then pay the remaining balance later. I then bought food using the remaining KES1,000 for my children. These funds have been helpful in settling my bills which has been a challenge to meet using the pay that I get from charcoal manufacturing.
 
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?
When I recieved the transfer, I was very happy. I now had money to pay for my children's school fees. I then knew I could take them back to school and buy food.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have now been able to take them back to school. This might have not been possible had I just depended on employment. It'd have taken me very many days to raise their school fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 2000 to pay for my children's school fees who are in High school and had been sent away. They had been home for 4 days before receipt of the transfer. I was very happy when they went back to school. I then used KES 500 to pay exams for my children who are in Primary school. The remaining went towards food and household items.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will help in construction of my house which fall almost an year ago. I have been sleeping with my four children inside the kitchen. Besides the room being small we are oftenly suffering from chest problems attributed by smoke.My cloths are also full of soots and we are also insecure sleeping next to fire. The GiveDirectly transfers, about 50000 KES (accumulately saved for one year)will enable me erect a two bedroom iron roofed house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It happened three months ago. After spending a whole day in the sun removing and packing charcoal, I was able to make a sale of four sacks of charcoal which gave me 1400KES. On this day I was able to buy wheat flour and beans. Feeding my family with such a meal allowed me to be recognized as a loving and caring mother especially by the younger ones.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Am married in a polygamous family with my husband having no stable source of income. My family relies on charcoal burning, with a maximum earning of 300KES per day.Besides food being in scarcity, getting school fees for my children has also been a great challenge.