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 > Riziki's Profile
Riziki's family
Riziki
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Riziki'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?
I have a norm of prioritizing my family’s basic needs such as food, shelter, and education. So, earlier when I received my transfer, the first expenditure was on school fees. My children had spent almost three days out of class due to pending arrears, which prompted me to pay KES 1200 to their school and they resumed studies. I bought new school uniforms for my son worth KES1000. I committed most of my recent transfer towards buying a goat for KES 2000 that will hopefully reproduce and increase my income sources. The rest of the money, KES 1000, went towards food.
 
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?
I spent my most recent transfers to buy for my two children beautiful clothes during the Christmass festive season. This costed me about KES 3,000. They looked pretty beautiful and were so excited to have new clothes. In fact, that was the most colourful festive season I had ever had with my two little children. Without the transfer, I would have not been in a position to buy for them new clothes.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The sustainability and growth has been quite tremendous both financially and mentally and I am so glad that finally my children are going to fit in just like the other children and I am so sure they will be very elated.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
This organization for lack of other words feels like it was almost heaven sent because prior to being introduced to it I depended on my husband mostly including my five children as well meanwhile my partner works for a mattress company that pays very little wages, but now with the funds I have also managed to chip in financial and in turn not exhausting him completely and this has given me some form of empowerment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am yet to withdraw the transfers because I feared that if I had cash at hand then I would get tempted to spend it but this coming weekend I plan on using the money to purchase school uniform for my two children who are in kindergarten because since they began school in January, I had no money to buy school uniform for them and even after I got money I had more pressing issues to take care of like their nutrition. So I pleaded with the administration to let them attend school until I got money to buy them the attire. I plan on spending KES 1,000 for the both of them and then the rest of the money I intend to buy a goat which will cost around KES 2,000 to KES 2,500 comparing to the size of the goat itself and since I already have another goat, my plan is to let them produce then maybe in case of financial strain I could sell and help myself.
 
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?
The message arrived at around nine in the morning when I had gone to the farm. I was ecstatic because I knew it would help in a way especially when it came down to the meals in my house and also when it came to paying for the fees of my children so as to avoid any further debts.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Food is scarce in our area especially with the ongoing drought so this funds enabled me to sort out the food problem and I could worry less because sometimes we skipped having lunch so that we could have something for dinner instead.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After I received the money I wanted to purchase a meal that would last my family amd I a while so instead of buyung maize flour at the store I went ahead and bought a bucket of maize that cost me KES 970 and I took the maize to the mill to get refined which came to KES 130. I also went ahead and paid KES 400 for tuition from the previous term for my children who were in kindergarten since I wanted to avoid the debt from piling and I added a bit of my savings and lastly I bought laundry detergent that cost me KES 100.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Improving food security for my family is my greatest desire. This could be attained by scaling up farming but I don't have the means to. I still use the traditional hoe to farm and the much I can manage is only one acre. This piece produces food that sustains us for four months and we have to buy for the rest of the year. I have always wanted to own a pair of oxen and receiving this money will bring my dream to reality. I purpose to save 2000 KES monthly to raise the 30000 KES required for this project. This will enable me to till four acres every season, and not only will I increase food production, but also generate income by hiring the animals to my neighbours.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Taking a nap in the afternoon with my eight-month-old twins makes me very happy. They are very stubborn and putting them to sleep is something I always long for. It also helps me to take a break and have a rest.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband who is a casual labourer is the only provider for a family of eight. Life is hard for us because the 2500 KES that he gets biweekly is not enough. This is supposed to meet all our needs including school fees for our two children. The budget is too tight and we cannot save anything out of it.