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 > Felix's Profile
Felix's family
Felix
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Workshop/industrial (self-employed)
faceAge:
25
workCampaign
FSD / Urban Youth
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Felix's next check-in.
 
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($40 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I did not have a stable source of income before this project as I only depended on casual construction jobs that usually pay very little. When I started receiving the transfers, I was able to set up new business for an extra source of income. Even though the business is not quite stable yet, I am able to earn a little amount from it which supplements my daily income from construction jobs. I have also had an easy time paying my rent through the transfers which has greatly reduced my stress as a low-income earner.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I started a small business selling bulbs and other electricals as an extra source of income when I started receiving the transfers. The business not yet stable enough, therefore, I have not been able to rent a stall, hence operating the business in a hardware owned by a friend of mine. I have to pay him for using his space and also has to operate during his timelines as the owner of the shop which affect the business. My plan is to expand the business by adding more stock and renting a shop where I can operate the business on my own terms.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the money recently sent to me to pay rent, part of it to buy foodstuff and other household requirements then used the remaining amount to clear my child's school fee balance for the term so that he would not be sent home for delaying with the payments.
 
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($39 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before I could struggle to do hard and low paying causal jobs in my community. This was so engaging and the certainty of getting it on a daily basis depended on chances meaning at times I could even get a deal once a week. I have a family to take care of and meeting the needs needed me to strain a lot. Today, I have been able to enroll for a metal fabrication training where we are given commissions that I use to pay school fees with. Currently, with GiveDirectly's transfers and shares from the business I am able to provide for the family without straining hence pursue my education that seemed challenging before is the biggest achievement .Thanks to GiveDirectly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is expand the bulb business in the nearby hardware which we have a partnership between my friend and I so that we can be able to get more profits. At the moment, customers are adding up every day due to the availability of items they need which motivates me every single day.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend my most recent transfer to restock the business where we sell bulbs. This will boost the income from our business hence I will no longer struggle to pay rent and buy food for my family after getting my shares. I also used the remaining amount to add onto my savings for that month and paid my house rent.
 
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($48 USD)
access_time almost 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 has taken a trajectory ever since I started receiving the cash from Give Directly. Right now I am able to provide for the family without straining like I used to do before. There were moments in the past when I used to borrow money from friends and relatives in order to keep my family going but ever since I started getting money from Give Directly, everything has changed. The business has been generating enough money that keeps us going smoothly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
There is a business that we have been running with my friend for the last several months. My goal right now is to try and find a way in which we can expand the business so that we can be able to get more profits going into the future. So far, the project has been successful but then we need to expand it more because the customer base seems to be growing every day.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I gave a huge portion of the money to my wife who traveled to our rural home where she went to attend a funeral of a relative who passed on. I gave her Kes 4600 Kes which left me with only Kes 400.
 
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($49 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My goal is to build a house in my rural home since currently I do not have a house at home. I will use the saving from my business to buy the building materials. I am also planning to pay school fees for child who will be joining kindergarten next year.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My life is different in that I have expanded my business where I sell bulbs. In the past I used to get little income from the business and could not meet all my family basic needs. I am now happy since the income from the business is enough to meet all my family basic needs. I no longer do casual jobs to earn a living and I can now have enough time to run my business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend my most recent transfer to expand my business where I sell bulbs. This will boost the income from my business and I will no longer struggle to pay rent and buy food for my family as I used to do in the past. I also used the remaining amount to buy food for my family since I have been struggling to buy food with the little money I got from my business.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
It was six o'clock in the morning when I woke up, upon checking my phone, I was happy to get a message notification that I have received my transfers from Give Directly. I informed my wife about the good news and she could not hide her joy, she bowed down and prayed thanking God for the blessings in our life.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Once I get the money I Will create a saving mentality so that I reach a certain target. The moment i attain my target i will borrow a loan from my group to add to the money i would have saved then buy a new motorcycle for myself. With the other savings i would have gathered i will be able to open another business for my wife of selling second hand clothes. This two businesses will be able to sustain our family financially henceforth economically.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is health crisis because it makes one use most of his/her resources that they had saved for a very long time. I remember there was a time my bigger sister felt dizzy and fell in her house on fire,we had to use our resources we had to facilitate her medical and up to now she has never been fully recovered. In our country, medical is very expensive and securing a good hospital is very expensive as well,most of the time doctors will always strike with so many excuses though some are genuine.
What are your greatest ambitions?
In the near future,I would want to have expanded my motorcycle business,running a kind of a company whereby I am able to create more employment opportunities to young men within my location. I am also planning to shift from my area where am currently living, go to reserved areas(ushago) build a good house for myself and my family and live there for good.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
On my usual day, i wake up like 5am in the morning then prepare myself ready for bodaboda(motorcycle business) Normally i do not take tea in the house because i usually have customers rushing for work and i have to take them. Mostly I work morning hours like from 5am to 11 am then i go back home to relax since there's no job at those other times. I will resume again at around 2pm to 8:30pm in the evening then I go back home calling it a day. On my free time i stay in my house listening to music and chatting with my family to create a stronger bond. Sometimes i go to watch football at football arena with my friends of whom i haven't seen for a week or so.