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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Completed
Newsfeed > Sidi's Profile
Sidi's family
Sidi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Sidi's next check-in.
 
24th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
access_time 3 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My main focus is to ensure that my kids can receive a good education and have more opportunities than I did. Although I currently support my family by selling charcoal, I want to improve our financial situation. I plan to buy groceries from the market and sell them at a fair price in my village. By saving some of my current transfers from GiveDirectly, I hope to gather enough money to start this new business. This will make it easier for me to pay for my children's education. Furthermore, I'm considering other ways to generate income, such as investing in goats for future financial security. I'm happy that I've been able to buy a few goats so far, and I'm confident that this project will continue to progress. Since these transfers are not permanent, and I don't want to regret how I used them, I'm looking for long-term projects that will support me even when the transfers come to an end.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before receiving assistance from GiveDirectly, I used to support my five school-going children by burning and selling charcoal. This was very hard work and caused a lot of stress. My children often faced being sent home from school due to unpaid fees. However, since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly, our lives have changed significantly. It is now much easier for me to provide for my children's basic needs, and I no longer have to work tirelessly as I used to. With my most recent transfer, I spent $12 on food for my family, $40 on my children's school fees to clear a balance, and I also used $50 to buy two goats. These goats will be a future source of income, as they multiply quickly and I plan to sell their offspring to earn money to pay for my children's fees.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 5 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My biggest goal is to ensure that my children continue attending school so that they can help me in the future. Currently, I make and sell charcoal, but I want my children to have a better life than mine. I plan to buy yams from the market and sell them at a fair price to my fellow villagers. By saving from my business and with the help of transfers, I aim to raise enough money to help me start this business. This will enable me to pay my children's school fees on time and without any difficulties.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of six children, five of whom are school-going and the youngest is not yet of age. Upon receiving my transfers, I immediately spent $74 to pay my children's school fees. They had been sent home from school due to unpaid fees, but after receiving the transfer, I settled their dues and they were readmitted to continue their studies. With the remaining $28, I purchased food for my family for the week, bringing great joy to all of us.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 9 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The challenges I've faced with finances have driven me to explore investment opportunities in poultry and livestock. I hold a positive outlook that as they multiply, I'll have the opportunity to generate income through future sales. The proceeds will be dedicated to fulfilling my family's needs. I am deeply grateful for the assistance provided through these transfers, as they are instrumental in reshaping my life for the better.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband and I work on casual jobs that yield minimal income. I engage in the sale of charcoal, generating $40 monthly, while my husband operates as a hawker vending bottled water in Mombasa town, with earnings also falling below $40 per month. This limited financial means have posed significant challenges in financing the education of our five children. Consequently, a substantial portion of the funds received as transfers was allocated to settle outstanding school fees totaling $60, ensuring our children's reentry into school and the continuation of their education. Additionally, $22 was utilized to procure stationary supplies for my son, Kahindi, at the onset of the new academic term. In an effort to establish a poultry enterprise with the aim of expanding our income prospects, $12 was invested in the acquisition of two hens as a starting point. The remaining $8 was allocated towards purchasing sugar to meet the needs of our family consisting of eight members. Words fail to fully convey the depth of gratitude we feel towards the financial empowerment facilitated by these transfers, which have played a pivotal role in covering our children's educational expenses.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My primary objective is to provide a comfortable and uninterrupted educational journey for my children. The income from my casual job of burning and selling charcoal is insufficient to cover their school expenses. Similarly, my husband's casual work in town does not yield substantial earnings. As a result, we heavily rely on financial transfers to meet our children's school fees requirements. With six children currently enrolled in school, managing their educational expenses has proven to be quite challenging. My utmost aim is to ensure that they can continue their education without any interruptions or hindrances due to unpaid fees. This commitment is driven by a deep desire to see my children thrive academically and reach their educational aspirations. Witnessing their success in their academic pursuits is a source of great happiness and fulfillment for me as a parent
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am the proud parent of six school-going children who depend on me for their education expenses and general well-being. To ensure their uninterrupted education, I allocated nearly $100 from my recent financial assistance to cover their school fees. Among my children, one was grappling with a substantial backlog of school fees, which, if left unaddressed, would have forced them to stay at home. By significantly reducing this outstanding balance, my children can now comfortably attend school without any disruptions due to unpaid fees. This not only grants me the necessary time to prepare for the next term's fees but also brings me a sense of peace and security. Without this assistance, relying solely on my irregular employment opportunities to fund their education would have taken considerable time, potentially hindering their access to schooling. I am immensely grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, which allows my children to continue their education despite my financial hardships. Additionally, I invested $30 in purchasing a goat, which I am currently raising. This goat represents a valuable asset for me, and I have high hopes that it will multiply in number. I can rely on these goats in the future, potentially selling them to meet various financial obligations, including supporting my children's educational aspirations.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 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?
I aim to educate my children. I have five children in school and the budget for their school fees is above mine and my husband's earnings. My husband sells water in Mombasa and the money he earns takes care mainly of food due to the drought that was persistent. This being a basic need we found ourselves neglecting to pay school fees due to a lack of the finances and this would keep our children out of school. Now I see that through this transfers my children will get education and be able to have a fighting chance.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My expenditure of my Givedirectly transfers over the past few months have been majorly on food and school fees. I spent $10 paying school fees for my 3 children in March and I spent the same amount in April and May for them. I also spent $10 to take my child in form one in April to school but increased the amount to $20 in may for their school fees. I spent $7 in March on food, $7 in April and $4 in May. I also got some small fish to sell in March and April at $2. I got chicken that I now rear in March and April each at $3, $3, and $2.
 
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My priority is currently to see my children attending school comfortably without being discontinued due to a lack of fees. All my five children are currently in school and as a parent, my objective is to provide all they need to excel. This includes paying their fees on time. This has been made possible by the monthly transfers I get from GiveDirectly. It would have been difficult for me to raise the required fee by my own means, and my children would be frequently sent home.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband does not have a formal job and relies on part-time work to support our family of nine. Unfortunately, I also rely on burning and selling charcoal, a low-paying venture, to supplement my family's needs. I spent $34 from my recent transfer on a she-goat. I plan to raise livestock in the hopes that as they increase, I will be able to sell some to help fund my children's education. I currently have seven school-age children and have been bothered about how I will pay their tuition. I will be able to support them easily now that I have started a new venture in livestock keeping.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time 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, GiveDirectly did a good job by offering us an unconditional cash transfer. Each one of us was given an equal chance to choose what to purchase according to our heart's desires. Also, I learnt that the enrolment process was free and fair to everyone. I cannot point out anything that GiveDirectly failed us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $15 of my recent cash transfer on paying fees for my son who is in his first year of secondary school. I am so thankful to God because if it were not for this organisation my son would still be at home I had tried borrowing loans, to sort tot the arrears but in vain. Also, I saved $10 for our merry-go-round with my friends. This will cash will be of help especially when an emergency arises. With the remaining amount of money, I bought foodstuffs for my family and other household items.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I have lived a life of perpetual struggle because both my husband and I do not have a reliable source of income. When I received my transfer, I was overwhelmed with joy. It was at 4 pm and I was in the forest digging out roots for charcoal making. Realizing that I had KES 3000 in my Mpesa, I could not control my happiness anymore. I had to halt that work and go back home just for a day of rest. Honestly, I am super grateful to God for linking me up with the GiveDirectly program.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Due to my family's low level of income, I had been struggling to raise fees for my son. He is very bright and focused on his studies. I, therefore, would not wish to hold him back at home during school days. At the time I received my transfer, he had been at home for three days. Courtesy of the transfer, I was able to pay part of his fee arrears, and I feel happy to see him off to school. It relieved me from the stress of looking for his fees. Therefore, seeing my son go to school daily is the biggest difference in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My firstborn son, who is currently in grade six, had been sent home because I did not have enough money to pay his fees. I immediately spent KES 2,000 on his school fees after receiving my transfer. He had been at home for three days because we were trying to raise his school fees. He took such a long because neither my husband nor I had part-time jobs to supplement our income. I primarily make charcoal, which does not generate enough money to support my children. My husband also relies on a part-time job of pulling a handcart, which does not pay well. In addition, I spent KES 200 on a hen, with the remainder going toward food for an eight-person family. I'm glad I took advantage of the transfer.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a mother of 6 children. 5 are already schooling. Raising their tuition fees is a nightmare for me. I am just a charcoal burner, making a negligible 1,000 KES a month. Being required to pay 15,000 KES after every 4 months, my little income cannot match up. I plan to venture into poultry farming business. I will use 10,000 KES to construct a poultry house, 10,000 KES to buy 100 chicks, and another 10,000 KES for chicken feed. In four months, the birds will have reached the market size. With a bird retailing at 600, I will be making 60,000 KES in four months. Putting into consideration the cost of production, I will be remaining with 30,000 KES as the profit, which is a very good amount to help me pay school fees for my children. I will keep doing this business because I have seen how beneficial it is through my neighbors.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My child, Kahindi, started high school this month. It was a proud moment for the family because he is the firstborn. He will act as the role model for the rest of his siblings.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of money has caused me so much stress. It is very hard to maintain family welfare with no source of income. There are times I sit home with sick children and lack food to eat because I have no money.