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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Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Shida's Profile
Shida's family
Shida
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Tailoring
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Shida's next check-in.
 
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 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?
Despite residing in a two bedroom house, I currently accommodate both my two daughters and two sons. However, due to my husband's absence for work, my sons spend in one bedroom while my daughters share the other with me. To break this arrangement, my new goal is to construct an additional bedroom for my daughters. I am optimistic that this goal can be achieved next year. By providing a separate space for my daughters, I aim to enhance their privacy, comfort, and overall well-being within our home. This expansion project holds great significance for our family and will contribute to creating a more suitable living environment for everyone.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Being a member of a saving scheme, I consistently save $10 per month with the intention of accumulating extra funds for investment. I have successfully acquired three goats through this saving scheme, which holds promise for future income generation. I have four children who are currently attending school, and I allocate $24 from my monthly transfers to cover their school fees. Initially, it was a challenge to afford their education. The GiveDirectly financial aid has alleviated the financial burden and provided stability, enabling my children to receive an education without struggle. GiveDirectly has played a significant role in improving our lives, and I am grateful for their assistance.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 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?
As my four children are gradually growing up, it's becoming less suitable for them to share sleeping quarters with me, as my need for privacy is not being met. My intention is to construct an additional room to provide separate sleeping spaces. Alongside this, I have aspirations to invest in acquiring livestock, which will serve as a valuable asset in the future for covering educational expenses for my children. I am sincerely thankful for the assistance we've received, which has ensured that my family never goes to bed hungry during times when we've had to purchase food at significantly inflated prices from local shops.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
During the rainy season, I engage in subsistence farming and livestock raising, while my husband works as a casual laborer. With my August transfers, totaling $10, I bought five packets of maize flour. Unfortunately, our farm's maize crop wasn't ready, compelling us to purchase food to meet our family's needs. I allocated $10 to a savings group and used the funds to acquire six goats, all of which were bought with the transfer money. I saved an additional $5 with the intention of settling a school fee debt for my primary school-aged children before the upcoming term. Additionally, I spent $1.5 on a new pair of shoes for my son. The remaining funds were used to purchase essential items like sugar, soap, and detergent for our family. I'm extremely grateful for the financial assistance we've received, as it has made a significant difference in improving our family's well-being.
 
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 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?
Building another room has always been my top priority since our two-roomed house is small and cramped. My boys share a room, and the two girls share another, which isn't ideal. Thanks to GiveDirectly's financial support, I am now able to make this dream a reality. I am grateful for their assistance, and I can't wait to build an additional room for my two girls. This extra space will provide them with the comfort and privacy they deserve, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to improve our living conditions.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used the money I received from GiveDirectly to pay for my child's school fees, which cost $10. Additionally, I added $10 to my merry-go-round, a savings group that comes in handy whenever I am in need. The group comprises seven people, and I usually receive $80 from it. Aside from taking care of my family, I also look after my livestock, including two cows and four goats.
 
9th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 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?
My house is becoming small for my growing family of four children and two parents. Since there are only two rooms, the two boys occupy one chamber, while the girls stay in my room. I would like to extend an extra space for my daughters since they will need more privacy as they get older. For the last ten months, I have been saving part of each cash transfer through a self-help club to accumulate enough funds for the project. Once I withdraw the savings in March, I plan to begin the building exercise.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When my husband lost his driving job a year back, life started hitting my family hard since he was the breadwinner. Earlier this year, he went to Nairobi in search of more opportunities but has not been successful to date. He takes on casual tasks to fend for himself and hardly gets more to send home. As a result, I burn charcoal to provide for our four children here in the village, which barely covers food costs. Since the little I get is mostly spent on food, it is hard to settle school fees for the children. That is why I spent $10 from the cash transfer to clear school fees for three of my children who had been sent back home that day to collect the funds. Aside from that, the household had run out of maize flour that afternoon and I replenished more, worth $14. I decided to contribute the rest to a self-help group for saving purposes.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As soon as I received the funds from the Organization my immediate priority was to ensure that I pay tuition for my children especially since they were on the verge of being kicked out of school, therefore I ended up paying KES 1,000 for the four of them. Afterwards I was left with about KES 2,000 which I decided to utilize in matters concerned with nourishment, so I ended up buying a bag of maize flour which contained a dozen packets and this is because on most occasions we survived on very little food.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, helping needy people like us is what GiveDirectly does well. I am personally grateful to be a beneficiary of the program which has improved my livelihood through the transfers. We have never had a program like this where the transfers are given unconditionally. Through these transfers, we have been able to fulfil our basic needs like food which is currently our major challenge. The subsistence farming that we usually engage in has failed due to drought thus we are left to rely on the transfers to buy food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband was working in the transport sector and has been the breadwinner in our family. However, he was retrenched months ago and life took a new turn. He was unable to fully support the family in terms of basic needs like food. Receiving the transfer was a huge relief for me because I was able to buy enough food for my family. I had also bought food on credit and I'm glad that I settled the debts through the transfers. In addition to this, the transfer helped me to settle my children's school expenses. They were resuming classes thus I spent Ksh.1600 to pay fees and did enough shopping on stationeries to allow the comfortably continue with their studies.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was just at home fetching water for the basic use and had left my phone in the house when the MPESA message was sent. When I went back to the house and checked on the text, I was so happy and a wide grin could clearly be seen on my face. I withdrew the funds the same day and bought food for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Going hungry I can now say is a thing of the past as the funds have enabled me stock up food in the house to last us for a while all thanks to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Having no constant source of income except selling charcoal at times and my husband's job being terminated, life has been hard to get by especially since we have four children in the house. Food at some point got finished and we had to see the days through without a proper meal. The KES 3000 from GiveDirectly really rejuvinated our spirits as we were now able to buy food and not sleep hungry any more.
 
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have longed to replace my iron sheets as they are old and have smoke residue on the inside as I used to cook in my house. Receiving this money means I will spend 1,500 KES every month to buy two pieces of 2.5-metre iron sheets for ten months and then replace the old iron sheets.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The brightness of my fourth born. I enrolled her at Ikanga primary last year (2021) in August. When she comes from school she normally shares with me what she was taught at school and often uses English when she wants a utensil. This makes me happy and hopefully as I know the future will be bright.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of school fees. I have no job and the salary of my husband is little and it cannot cater to all the expenses of the family. We are left with very little to use on school fees for our four children and of late they have been sent home for fees often.