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 > Ali's Profile
Ali's family
Ali
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Raising livestock
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Ali's next check-in.
 
10th 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?
In the upcoming year, my objective is to expand my current residence, as the existing one is small and inadequate for my family of six. I have been diligently saving towards this goal, with the hope of commencing construction by next year. The prospect of having a larger space brings me great satisfaction, ensuring that my family is well accommodated. I consider GiveDirectly a blessing, as it has played a crucial role in supporting and facilitating my goals.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
To sustain my family of four children, I engage in the sale of charcoal for a living. Recently, my business has faced challenges, requiring extensive marketing efforts to attract clients. This struggle has affected our ability to secure enough food, resulting in days without sustenance and making providing for my children particularly challenging. However,I am grateful that my kids are now attending school and have consistent access to food, while my business has stabilized. Allocating the entirety of $102 received in transfers, I invested in livestock, acquiring two goats and one sheep. This strategic move is a step towards a worthwhile investment, as rearing and eventually selling these animals will pave the way for obtaining cows in the future. I anticipate benefits such as milk production and sales from this venture. The assistance and support received have brought me happiness, and I am grateful for the positive changes in my life.
 
6th 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?
Towards the end of the year, my aspiration is to invest in livestock, primarily focusing on goats. The idea is to raise these goats and encourage their reproduction. As their numbers grow, I intend to sell a portion of them and reinvest the proceeds in acquiring a dairy cow. With the cow, I'll have an additional income stream from selling milk. By following this plan, I aim to achieve financial stability and effectively support my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My wife and I make a living by selling charcoal, which involves a process of digging out tree stumps, burning them, and patiently waiting for the charcoal to form, taking at least four days. Despite the effort, the returns are meager, posing a significant challenge in meeting our family's needs. Recently, a substantial portion of my July income was dedicated to paying off the school fee arrears for my three children. Their accumulated debt had led to them being sent home and missing a day of school. Thankfully, they are now back in school, pursuing their education. Apart from the school fees, I also spent $14 on purchasing food. In the previous month, we endured almost five days without proper meals, which greatly affected my children's well-being and even prevented them from attending school due to hunger. I am relieved to see my family now content, as we have an ample food supply, ensuring they won't miss any meals in the foreseeable future.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 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?
I value education as well as the well-being of my family members. Therefore, in the coming year and beyond, I hope to see all my school-aged children enrolled and continuing with their education. I believe that offering them an opportunity to go to school and learn is the best gift I can give them. They will gain a lot from it in the long run. Also, as long as I continue to get monthly transfers, I will make sure that they are always used to cover my children's educational expenses.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly, in my opinion, does well in alleviating poverty by providing unconditional cash transfers to the less fortunate members of society. No one is forced to participate in its cash transfer program because it offers all potential recipients the necessary information. It focuses heavily on cash safety messaging and how to detect and avoid fraudsters to protect us from such vices. Also, by including everyone in the communities where it works, GiveDirectly can improve its operations. Ensuring that everyone receives the transfer can contribute to making sure that everyone's life is improved.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I do not have a job, my wife and I decided to burn charcoal to generate income for family support. I find it difficult to pay school fees for my children, so when the transfer payments started, I was incredibly thankful to God. Transfers from GiveDirectly are like a gift from God to us. My family has undergone considerable improvement as a result. For instance, compared to before I started the program, I do not struggle as much. From the recent transfer, I used $20 to cover my daughter Mapenzi's and my son Charo's unpaid school fees. Both had $20 in outstanding school fees. After paying the fees, I spent the remaining cash on more food to help alleviate the present famine situation.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1480 KES ($12 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the field, at around 6 p.m., looking after my goats when my phone rang with a message alert. Since I cannot read, I waited till I got home later to have my helper check the contents of the message. A wave of joy and relief rushed over me as I received the news from my helper. Getting the money meant that my children would finally resume classes after days of missing school due to unpaid fees. Am eternally grateful to Give Directly. 
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Right now, the biggest difference I can attest to following my first cash transfer is keeping my children in school. Prior to the transfer, they had stayed home for two days because I lacked the money for their fees. No week would pass without them missing out on classes. Gratefully, this has never happened after I paid the debt using part of the cash. 
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
To fend for my family, I make and sell charcoal, which earns me around $12 per month. This income is not enough to cover school fees for my two children and put daily food on the table. As a result, hunger is a concern in my household, which leaves us starving for at least ten days a month. When I received the cash transfer, my two children had missed classes for two days due to overdue tuition balances. Immediately, I spent $10 to pay the deficit and they resumed classes. Am relieved that they have never been sent back home for school fees since that day. I spent the remaining amount on food as my family had slept hungry the previous night. Though the food did not last long, am happy it quenched our hunger that day. 
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I'm a casual laborer in the village partly employed by someone as a gardener and a messenger earning 5000 KES monthly, and also taking up other casual jobs elsewhere in the village in my spare time to supplement. But still I'm always limited because I have a deformity on my small finger of the right hand that makes it quite painful to be doing these physical jobs. The finger is permanently folded so it's hard to hold a tool for long. When I get this money, it will relieve me off the school fees burden. I have one wife and three children who're all schooling paying 1000 KES each every academic term. I haven't been able to pay this regularly and still feed the family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
A week ago I had some assignments that involved cutting building poles for a particular person who was suppose to pay me 200 KES for every bunch. But when he returned in the evening he was really impressed with the much I was able to do for the day that he decided to just pay me 700 KES without counting in bunches. I was really happy considering that what I managed was obviously less than three bunches. This doesn't happen a lot, even working for such kind of people is just a luck.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest challenge is lack of a reliable source of income. I have lived in this village all my life and I have never had a meaningful job that can earn me a reasonable amount of income. Currently I'm employed as a gardener and a messenger earning 5000 KES monthly and on the side I do get some other casual jobs that can get me between 200 to 400 KES weekly whenever I'm lucky enough. This is rather too low for someone who has a family as it's never reliable as well.