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 > Rama's Profile
Rama's family
Rama
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on Rama's next check-in.
 
25th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 1 month ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the upcoming year, my main goal is to enroll in a driving course at college. The course lasts for three months and costs $170. I plan to use the monthly transfers to cover the cost of the course. Completing this course will enable me to pursue employment opportunities in the transportation industry. By the end of the course, I will have the necessary skills and certification to work as a professional driver, providing me with a stable source of income. This step is essential as it will help me achieve financial independence and support my family in the long term.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a married man who struggles to make ends meet by selling fruits in town. My biggest challenge has been not having a proper place to call home. With the last three transfers, I used $68 to complete the roofing of my house, which had been incomplete for a while. Before this, I was living in my brother’s house, and it never gave me peace of mind, especially after recently getting married. Having a home of my own was my priority, and now that the roofing is done, I feel a great sense of relief and pride. Finally, my wife and I have a place we can call our own. With the remaining $34, I paid a carpenter who was making the door for the house. I wanted everything to be complete and secure, and now the door is ready, just waiting to be fixed. It feels like a major milestone, knowing that I achieved all this using the monthly transfers. I am delighted with the progress I have made that has brought a new sense of stability and joy into my life.
 
22nd 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?
I currently reside in my brother's house, but I desire to have my own comfortable living space. Living with my brother and his wife can sometimes make me feel uncomfortable, so I have decided to build my own two-room house. I support myself by selling apple fruits, and with the income from these sales combined with the financial support I receive from GiveDirectly, I plan to pay the house constructors to begin building my new home. Once my house is completed, I look forward to exploring new business opportunities to further improve my livelihood and secure a stable future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I currently reside in my brother's house while he lives in town. Recently, I began planning to construct my own two-room house. I have been steadily purchasing materials, and I am delighted to have acquired twenty-five metal sheets, which marks a significant step towards starting the construction.With my recent transfers, I purchased an additional four metal sheets for $68, bringing the total to twenty-five. I also bought metal nails and building sticks for $19. This progress in acquiring materials for my house fills me with hope, and I am committed to continuing the construction to provide a stable and comfortable home for myself. Additionally, I allocated $15 to purchase food for my family, ensuring their well-being during this period.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My primary focus remains on completing the construction the house, I'm still acquiring the necessary materials until every corner of my house stands strong. Once that is done, with the GiveDirectly transfers I'll venture into livestock farming, for a source of income. I'm grateful and filled with hope for what lies ahead.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I've been living at my brother's house for quite some time now, and although he's been nothing but supportive, I felt it was time for me to build my own house. A place where I can finally start a family of my own. With $102 from the GiveDirectly cash transfers I've received over the past three months, I was able to purchase the necessary building materials. As a casual labourer, my income has always been unpredictable. Without the GiveDirectly transfers, I wouldn't have stood a chance in affording the materials needed to construct my own home. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I've been able to make significant progress towards my goal. The feeling of excitement and gratitude overwhelms me, I'm filled with joy knowing that I'm one step closer to achieving my goal.
 
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 focus right now is on building a new house. I've been staying in my brother's house for an extended period. It becomes inconvenient when he visits the village with his wife every two months, as I must find alternative shelter. Building a new house used to be financially challenging for me but with the cash transfers, I see an ideal opportunity. I plan to construct a two-room house with iron sheets and mud walls. I've already started purchasing the required iron sheets, and I aim to accumulate all the necessary building materials before beginning construction. Once the house is complete, I aspire to start my own apple-selling business in town. Currently, I'm operating my brother's apple business, and I'm inspired to venture into my own business to increase my income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since June this year, I have been using $30 from each cash transfer to purchase iron sheets and the remaining $4 for nails. My goal is to acquire the necessary building materials before starting the construction of my own house. Currently, I reside in my brother's house, which works well when he's away working in town. However, he visits the village every two months, and it becomes inconvenient when he visits with his wife, leaving me without a sleeping space, and I have to seek shelter elsewhere. To avoid this, I'm directing the cash transfers toward acquiring the building materials for my new house. I'm also running my brother's small business of selling apples in town, using the earnings for my immediate needs and possibly investing in livestock while saving the cash transfers for house construction.
 
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 currently reside in my brother's two-room house. However, I am determined to construct my own house that reflects my aspirations. With dreams of freedom and the desire to carve my own path, I am embarking on a transformative journey to create a home that mirrors my vision and provides the comfort and space I seek.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In the realm of apple selling, I embarked on an extraordinary journey to build my own house with the transfers I get monthly. With my sights set on building my own house, I purchased two metal sheets using $23 and I have already acquired ten metal sheets so far. Armed with $5 worth of nails, I ensured the sturdy construction of my dream project. This marked the beginning of my transformation from apple seller to aspiring builder, as I embarked on a remarkable adventure fueled by determination and resourcefulness. Along the way, I bought chicken for $3.50 that I added to the ones that I currently have so that when faced with challenges I can easily sell them and get money to solve my problems. I wisely allocated my remaining $2.50 to sugar and flour so that I would have something to use for the month.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 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 build my own house. I am currently living in my elder brother's house that he lent me. I want to at least have a house of my own. I will need an approximate of 24 sheets of iron to build this house. Iron sheets are expensive and they are the reason I am yet to build. I am planning to use GD transfers this year to achieve this iron sheets so I can build and I will build as I buy the material. I have so far bough nails worth $4 and 3 iron sheets at $30 and will add to this number as the year goes by.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My transfers have been going into buying the same things in December and January. I spent $27.5 December to buy a goat and in January the goats had become more pricey and were now going for $28. I also bought chicken in December at $3 but in January as with goat prices this also had gone up by $0.5 and were now $3.5.I am buying this animals so I can have something to show for the GD transfers I am receiving. In February I changed my spending to redirect the money in getting some construction material since this year I want to build my house. I bought 3 iron sheets and nails which were $30 and $4 respectively.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 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?
I applaud the organization for their tireless efforts to assist the vulnerable members of society. For me personally, having the money will be crucial to achieving my long-term objectives. I will be better able to find a well-paying job and help my family once I have acquired all the necessary skills. I implore the organization to continue the good work so that we can improve our lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I successfully completed my high school education two years ago. My family's financial situation made it impossible for me to continue my education at the university. I chose to work part-time jobs, such as selling charcoal and operating a motorcycle taxi service, to support my dependent parents and younger siblings. I was thrilled to be accepted into the program because it gave me the chance to enroll in a driving school and advance my knowledge of operating long vehicles, like trucks. I'm confident that having a driving license will make it simpler for me to find a job that will pay well and allow me to support my family. I spent $12 on food in addition to my driving school tuition. It was advantageous to purchase the food because my family didn't go a single night without eating. I'm appreciative that the transfer allowed me to support my family and enhance my driving abilities.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I received the money I was actually in town trying to find any form of casual job to earn me some money and at around eight in the evening is when I realized that GiveDirectly had sent the money. It was honestly very exciting because I didn't expect it at all and apart from that I also needed the money as well.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am really glad that I could finally invest in poultry farming because so far I have five hens and since I don't have a job I'm looking forward to growing this project gradually but eventually it's going to help me cater to my day-to-day needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As soon as I realised I had received the money I went ahead to buy hens because I had planned to invest in poultry farming so that they could help me financially in the long run. Therefore I ended up buying two hens which cost me KES 500. I also decided to buy me a new pair of pants which cost me KES 300 specifically because the last time I bought myself clothes was quite a long time ago and most of my outfits were torn and worn out. Lastly I used the remaining KES 400 to buy two packets of wheat flour, a half a kilogram of sugar and tea leaves so that I could at least have a meal in my home.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
For the past five years, I have been living in my brother's house. Life has never been easy because I lack privacy in his house. Efforts to build my own has never bore fruits since the peanuts I am earning from casual labour are not enough. Receiving this money would mean an immediate solution to this problem as I plan to build a two bedroom house at cost of 60000 KES. This house will guarantee me safety and privacy. I also have plans to venture into livestock rearing whereby I plan to buy 6 goats in 8 months time. This investment will go along way in being a source of income for myself in future. The rest of the money will be spent on food and other basic needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was diagnosed with Tuberculosis last year. This affected my health til I was not able to do my casual jobs in the city. I sought medication and luckily enough I got healed. I felt happy and grateful for the gift of life and I am now back to the normal, doing odd jobs in the village. This brought so much happiness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of stable job has rendered me very poor. I can not fend for myself despite that my parents are also expecting some financial support from me. This condition has stressed me so much.