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 > Sidi's Profile
Sidi's family
Sidi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Sidi'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?
The house I live in now is quite old and small. I have had the intentions of wanting to renovate and rebuild it but then again the only major hindrance I have had is that I am financially incapable of doing so. Lucky enough I got enrolled in this program I made up my mind to seize this opportunity and finally rebuild my house. Out of the money I received I went ahead and used KES 1,000 to purchase timber. I then went ahead and paid tuition fee for two of my children because they had been kicked out of school two days prior due to the debt that I had not settled. Lastly I took the remaining balance of KES 1,000 and used it to take care of nutrition for my kids and I since I was the breadwinner after my husband passed, so I bought ten packets of maize flour.
 
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Having had difficulties in clearing my childrens' school fees, GiveDirectly came through in assisting with the 1st transfer of KES 1200 with which I was able to clear part of the balance. In addition to the 1st transfer, I received a 2nd transfer of KES 3000 with which I split half of the amount to clear the remaining school fees balance as the other half I used to purchase food supplements for my home. Lately I received a 3rd transfer of KES 3000 which I was able to fully stock the food items in the house as what we had earlier on was nearly draining out.
 
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?
This program really came at the right moment especially since not only me but also our community was experiencing a lot of financial hardship and most of us were starving but we are very grateful for the assistance that we are receiving and in turn are developing ourselves and our community
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Just a day before receiving the transfer my kids had actually been sent home from school because of the debt in tuition fee that that had so when I received the money I went ahead and paid school fees for the three of them and offered the school KES 2,000 and finally my children were allowed back to class. As for the rest of the money I went ahead and bought ten packets of maize flour which cost me KES 1,000 because the drought has really affected us and I was actually worried that day that my children would go to bed hungry but lucky enough I received the funds.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My neighbours are actually the ones who informed me that they had received the money so on hearing this I asked one of them to check so as to confirm and after seeing I had received the money I was so pleased to the point I felt like embracing someone due to the excitement.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Settling my debts in tuition fee were a big plus for me because I had no idea how I would eventually pay it off yet I had no money and I thankful I could at least manage to get some food for both my family and I.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The day the money arrived was such a coincidence because my child had been sent home from school due to the debts I had not settled so I paid KES 500 to the school and they went back to the institution that same day. Then I also bought five packets of maize flour for KES 500 and then took the rest of the money and bought sugar and laundry detergent both at KES 100.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I would want to live in a spacious house with iron sheets. Currently, I reside in a leaking 3metre by 4metre makuti thatched house which serves as a bedroom, store, and kitchen. Getting this money will enable reconstruction. Moreover, the cash will also cater for fees since I have five children in primary school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Once I have worked and received some income (knowing am going to have food for my children and myself) is what brightens my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a widow with six children. I was married as a fourth wife at a young age to an elderly man. He passed away ten years ago. Doing casual labor on farms and fetching water for other people is what I do for a living. My daily income is approximately 100 KES. Travailing to ensure I provide my children's school fees and meals is the challenge I currently face.