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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Completed
Newsfeed > Charo's Profile
Charo's family
Charo
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Charo's next check-in.
 
29th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 9 hours ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming year, my main goal is to ensure that my son, who recently completed Form Four, joins college. Education has always been a priority, and I want to give him the opportunity to pursue his dreams. To make this happen, I plan to save $20 every month. This may take time, but I am committed to it because I know this investment will change his future. Once he joins college, it will provide him with a better chance at a successful career, besides motivating his younger siblings to work harder in school. Watching their brother achieve his goals will set a powerful example, and it will inspire them to push themselves and aim high. I look forward to seeing my son thrive in college and become a role model for his siblings and others.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a father of ten, and as someone who relies on casual jobs at construction sites, I work hard to provide for my family. With the last three transfers, I prioritized what was most important to keep my family going. First, I spent $34 to obtain birth certificates for my children from the immigration offices. In our country, everyone must have this official document, and I wanted to ensure my children were registered with the government. This step not only secures their future but also helps them access essential services like registering for their national examinations. I then used $35 to pay for my children's school fees. Education is a top priority for me, and I want to ensure they have the opportunity to learn and build a better life for themselves. With the remaining $30, I bought food for my family. It is important that they are well-nourished, especially as my children continue to grow. These expenses were necessary to take care of my family's immediate needs and to lay a foundation for their future, and I am grateful for the support I received through these transfers.
 
25th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 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?
My goal in the coming year and beyond is to clear the $20 fee debt that my daughter owes her school. This will ensure she gets her results and can proceed with her college education. Her aspiration is to become a teacher. To achieve this goal, I plan to use my subsequent transfers to finance her college education. I am very happy with the financial support this far. It has enabled me to support my children's education despite my financial struggles and low income from selling charcoal.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a casual laborer selling charcoal, making ends meet has been challenging due to the struggles associated with the job and the little income it brings. These financial challenges have affected my children's school attendance. My eldest daughter, who completed her secondary education last year, suffered the most as she was often sent home due to the huge school fee balance at that time. I am glad she completed her secondary education and is awaiting to join college, thanks to the financial support from the transfers. I spent $15 to pay school fees for my five children currently in primary school and purchased a new shirt for my son to replace the old and worn-out one he had. My youngest child fell ill, and I spent $34 to pay the medical bills incurred during his treatment. I am glad his health has improved and he is doing well. I also purchased a goat for $34. The goal of purchasing the goat is to grow the current herd that I have. As they multiply, it will double my initial investment and also act as a fallback plan in the event of an emergency. I am very happy with the financial support so far. Seeing my children go to school is fulfilling, and this is thanks to the financial support from Give Directly.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 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?
My main goal is to send my son to college. Having just completed secondary school, he is set to begin college this year. I am dedicated to financing his education, including covering his tuition fees and providing all the required books. To facilitate this plan, I intend to invest in livestock and also utilize the upcoming transfers. As the livestock herd expands and I sell them for profit, it will create supplementary income, which I will use to fund his education. Providing him with a college education will bring me immense pride and joy, marking a significant accomplishment for our family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a casual laborer, I rely on selling charcoal and undertaking odd jobs to provide for my family of twelve. Previously, life was challenging; we often faced food shortages, and I struggled to afford school fees for my ten children. However, I'm grateful that our circumstances have improved. Now, I can comfortably purchase food and cover school fees. Education is a priority for me, so from the received transfers, I allocated $68 to settle a debt for my son who recently completed school. The remaining $34 was used to pay school fees for another son starting a new term in primary school. I am delighted to be a beneficiary of this program as it has changed my life.
 
18th 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?
As the primary breadwinner for my family, I rely on various casual jobs such as charcoal making and house construction to support my wife and ten children. The cash transfers have significantly alleviated the burden on my shoulders, particularly in terms of providing for my family's education needs. Looking ahead, I aspire to continue supporting the education of all ten of my children. I pray that at least three of them will excel in their studies and secure promising jobs in the future. The success of these three children will not only brighten their futures but also uplift the entire family from the challenges we currently face. My ultimate hope is to eventually transition away from strenuous casual jobs and enjoy a more stable and comfortable life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I utilized the recent cash transfers primarily for my farm, focusing on weeding the maize crops, which are currently at the flowering stage. I spent $20 to hire individuals to work on my farm and ensure the proper growth of the crops. Seeing the progress and growth of the crops brings me joy. With the festive season approaching, I saved $14 to prepare for expenses like new attire for my children for Christmas Day. Additionally, I addressed a significant concern regarding my child who has accumulated tuition arrears since completing high school last year. When he was still in school, raising funds for his tuition through charcoal making was a struggle which is why the balance accrued over time. The school has withheld his academic certificate due to the outstanding balance, and I used $68 to reduce the debt, bringing it down to $50. My goal is to clear this balance in the coming months so that my son can obtain his certificate and progress further in his education.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 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?
The impact of education on my young children is of utmost importance to me. My primary objective is to provide them with the finest educational environment possible. To achieve this, I am committed to covering their school fees and acquiring all the necessary stationery they require. To support this endeavor, I plan to invest in livestock. As the herd grows and I begin selling them at a profit, it will generate additional income. This extra income will serve as a means to secure future school fees for my children, even beyond the period of financial stipends. By ensuring this stable income source, I can guarantee a bright educational future for my children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As the breadwinner of my family, I am responsible for supporting ten members, including my wife and nine children. To make a living, I engage in various jobs as a casual laborer, such as selling charcoal and constructing houses. However, the income from these jobs is not substantial, leading to struggles in meeting my family's needs. Despite these challenges, I am determined to ensure a better future for my family. Out of the nine children, eight are currently enrolled in school. Fortunately, we have been receiving financial support in the form of monthly stipends, which has been instrumental in keeping our children in school and reducing the frequency of them being chased out due to unpaid fees. This support has also improved our meal intake, and we no longer go hungry due to a lack of money for food. Based on these recent positive developments, I decided to invest in a goat using my July transfers. The goat was valued at $45, and I contributed additional funds to make the purchase. I believe that acquiring the goat is a wise investment for the future. Not only does it provide practical benefits, but it also offers me something to take pride in, even after the financial aid eventually ends in the upcoming years.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 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 want to be able to financially support the education of my five children, most of whom are still in elementary school. Right now, the eldest graduated from high school but has not been able to collect his academic certificates because of an underlying tuition debt of $350. Settling this debt would relieve me, as it would give me the peace of mind to commit to his sibling’s tuition. 
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Making ends meet for my wife and five children is getting increasingly difficult by the day. My casual jobs in home building are scarce, forcing me to rely on charcoal-burning activities to make money. Because of the activity's low returns, it is hard to cover basic requirements such as food and school costs. When I got the latest funds, I decided it was critical to pay the $15 tuition balance for three of my primary-school children. Likewise, I spent $5 to enroll the two youngest sons in kindergarten; I'm relieved they're settled now. In addition, I sent $6 to my wife as transport fare to return home after she delivered our newborn daughter. She had traveled to her maternal home a few months ago, where she would receive proper prenatal care. I am grateful that the cash transfer played a huge role in bringing my family home. Lastly, I used the remaining funds to buy food that would push my family until I made more money from my hustle.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After clearing his last primary exam, my son is yet to move on to secondary school. I want to use the transfers to pay for his schooling in order to cover the rising tuition and other school costs. I run a little business selling charcoal, and if I combine the proceeds with my monthly stipend, I'll have enough money to cover their tuition payments on time. I will be pleased to provide my children the best education possible so that I can guarantee a better future for them.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Immediately I realized that I had received the money I decided that my first priority would be my daughter's education especially since she was about to finish highschool. Therefore with that being said, I ended up spending KES 2,000 on her tuition especially since she was almost on the verge of being kicked out. I then went ahead to spend KES 700 on buying medicine so I could treat my animals because I owned five goats and two sheep. Lastly I used the remaining balance of KES 700 to purchase twelve kilograms of maize because there was hardly any food since we barely made any harvest due to drought.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 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?
In my opinion the organization is doing an excellent job by trying go help us financially. Before getting enrolled I was really struggling financially since I only get casual jobs to assist me on providing for my family but I consider myself lucky because the funds I receive from GiveDirectly help me on covering for the wants of my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As soon as I realised that the transfers had been sent out, I decided to begin paying tuition fee for one if my oldest sins who happens to be in high-school. I opted to first settle his fees because he had called about a day prior informing me thatcthe school was about to send him if I did not pay for some part of his debt and as soon as I received the funds I paid KES 2,000 for him so that he could stay in school. Afterwards I paid KES 500 in school fees for my two other sons who were in elementary school since they also has a debt. I was left with about KES 500 which I decided to use on nourishment for the family and so I bought maize weighing ten kilograms since it was more in quantity compared to maize flour and less costly.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the field raising livestock because I had not gotten a job. I received a text message and, upon checking, I found out that I had received my first transfer. I was overwhelmed by emotions, as I remained speechless for more than a minute.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The huge fee balance that my son owes to the school has given me sleepless nights. It stressed me every time he came back home because of school fee arrears. I am grateful I felt an enormous difference in my life after paying school fees for my son through the money from the transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have four children who are students and fully depend on me. He is in his final year of secondary school. The other three are in primary school, class 8, class 7, and class 5 respectively. The one in secondary school owes the school KES 45000. I cannot pay the school fee debt because I do not have a stable job. I am a casual laborer working on building people’s houses and selling charcoal. I earn very little (500 per day) from the temporary jobs that I engage. In addition, I take a long (1 week) before I can secure another job which affects my level of income. When I received my first transfer, I cleared part of the school fee arrears that my son owed to the school. I am glad he was allowed back in school to continue with his studies.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have Seven children who are in primary school. I'm delighted that my daughter is About finish secondary school this year, she has passed through so much, and I wouldn't want her to drop out. Upon receiving the transfer I plan to give priority to her pay school fees and any other need she may have.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We joined a project where we received goats for rearing and already they have given birth and we thank God for the blessings.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Currently we are living in tough economic times, getting three meals a day Is very challenging, most days we sleep hungry. We also have to walk long distances to get water for washing, cooking and feeding our domestic animals.