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 > Alphonce's Profile
Alphonce's family
Alphonce
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Construction (works for others)
faceAge:
21
workCampaign
FSD / Urban Youth
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Alphonce's next check-in.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
36800 KES ($368 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is now different in that I now have a business. My days are busy with something constructive unlike before when I would sit around most of the time waiting to be called for any available jobs. I also have some income everyday, unlike before when I would depend on unpredictable jobs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goals are to invest in farming in my rural home in Gem constituency in Siaya county. I intend to plant water melon in my home for commercial purposes. Water melon farming has recently become quite a marketable venture.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my second transfers to open up a restaurant at Muthurwa Market in the Central Business District. I secured a stall in the Market and I equipped the stall with seats, tables and cooking equipment. I was previously engaged in casual jobs; mostly construction jobs, which were not so reliable as they could be scarce at times. It has been a struggle to provide for my family of two children with the little income I would make from these jobs. I would spend most of my time hanging around with my peers in my neighborhood as we waited for these jobs. I was never comfortable with this way of life, I felt ashamed to sit around in the streets most of the time. But now I have my own business where I spend my time attending to customers and trying to grow the business. I also get some income everyday out of the business unlike before. My life has truly changed.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($196 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I am planning to start a hotel business because I have a lot of experience since I was once employed in a hotel. I also have a lot of interest in doing the job. I was very keen on how the daily operations were being done hence I believe I have the right knowledge and experiance to start my own.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Life was not that easy because I did not have any source of capital since I used to depend on casual jobs that were not well paying and also unreliable. Paying rent was a big obstacle due to little income I used to get from those casual jobs, as a result, I had three-month rent arrears. I was living a stressful life because getting money to settle that debt at once was a dream to me and to make it worse. The more I could stay there the more it adds up. It had reached a point I was given only one more chance with my landlord to clear the debt or else he was going to kick me out of his house with my family. I thank Give Directly because they came to my rescue during this horrible situation I was going through. Even my neighbours could now gossip about me and my wife, I had totally lost my self-esteem. The moment I received the transfer I paid house arrears first because that was the only stress I had, I could not even sleep when I thought that one day I was going to be kicked out by the land lord. This is the greatest difference in my life, I no longer have stress and I now have a voice to talk to my neigbours too.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had rent arrears that were really giving me a lot of stress and in fact, the Land Lord promised to kick me out of the house by the end month. The moment I received my transfer I used part of it to settle the rent arrears worth Kes 6000. I have a plan of starting hotel business though currently, most items like utensils are very expensive due to Christmas season since many people are buying. I decided to save the remaining amount of money in my mpesa account towards that project that I am planning to start in the month of January next year. I have some good knowledge on that business because I was once working for someone for two years. Demand for foodstuffs in slums is very high and I believe my financial life will change positively because of the business.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I was very excited when I got the message indicating I had received money from GD in the morning. I left it in my MPesa account for a period of one week because I did not want to show my friends that I had money.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Reason why I prioritize my plans the way I did is because I found a place to locate my kiosk business in landmawe next to muthurwa market where demand is favourable i.e mechanics in garages and railway maintenance who walk long distance to look for food secondly I have a farm always interested of planting vegetables , also to have poultry keeping business my village due to high demand of chickens during occasions.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is gang violence and crime because once there is these violence, community as whole usually loose in terms of development and innovation due to threat and fear within the community
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambitions has always been being engineering ever since I was young but due to lack of money I couldnt afford the fee hence I have to drop so now if money comes I will use it for my businesses ie kiosk, agriculture and livestock farming back to school and achieve my dream.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
How I usually spend my day, in the morning I help my wife in house chores then go and socialising with friends at gambling site, may be if there is football match I can go at our site watch then go back home to watch News.