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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
attach_money
 
Transfers
check
Completed
Newsfeed > Lilian's Profile
Lilian's family
Lilian
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Personal services (self-employed)
faceAge:
29
workCampaign
FSD / Urban Youth
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
attach_money
 
Follow to be updated on Lilian's next check-in.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($40 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Due to the low income from inconsistent casual work of garbage collection in my area, I was not able to raise enough money for our daily needs. As a result, I used to struggle to meet my family needs such as fees arrears. In most cases, I would have to talk with the teachers to allow my children in school as I look for the money to pay. I ended up having so many debts which I could not pay back with my income. I was overwhelmed with responsibilities until I started receiving these transfers. At first, the amount was very insignificant because of the responsibilities but as I used it on a monthly basis, I have managed to clear all the debts and I do not struggle anymore as I used to. The far I have come makes me have confidence the future will be better because of the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to start a business. Currently, I depend on a small income from casual work of garbage collection which is not very consistent. Due to many family demands and very minimal income, I used to struggle financially hence I would want to have a stable income to help me sustain my family needs with fewer struggles.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on paying back a loan I took from Mshwari to pay school fees for my child in primary school. She had been sent home for fees arrears on her first day in school this year. I would not want to have such kind of embarrassment hence I decided to take a loan so that she can go to school. I am glad I did not take long to pay back the loan because of the transfers I received from GD.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($39 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have not always had an easy life as I mostly do casual domestic jobs that are mostly unavailable, limiting my earnings. This made it tough for me to acquire most of my needs or even support my family untill I started receiving a monthly income from Give Directly. Having an assured amount monthly has always put me in a better position to provide for my family, taking care of my personal needs without asking for my husband's support and making decent savings monthly. I even have a business plan which I hope to achieve before the end of the project because I know the transfers will provide the required capital. With the little income that I had before, this is something I would never even dream of.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I have always wanted to open a cosmetic shop which I have been saving for since I started receiving these transfers so that I could eventually quit the casual domestic jobs that I have always depended on. Unfortunately, I recently lost my grandfather and I had to spend most of my savings on his funeral arrangements which has taken me back to the drawing board. I have to start all over again with the savings so that I can eventually set up the business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had just a lost my grandfather weeks before I received my most recent transfer, so all of the money I received this month together with most of the savings I have been making from the transfers was spent on the requirements for the funeral arrangements.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($49 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, my life is different from how it was in that, I have been able to take care of my needs easily. Like recently, I managed to buy body oil and pay tithe in church. Before the transfer, It was a struggle because I have been depending on my husband for financial support and meeting some of the needs was difficult because the money could not be enough most of the time. I am also glad that I am focused on saving money. My ultimate goal is to open a cosmetic shop so as to get income out of it
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I do not have a new goal. I still want to continue saving a large portion of my transfer with the aim of putting up a cosmetic shop. With time, I will use the profits to enroll for a saloon course. I know that when the two business merges I will have achieved the ultimate goal that I have been yearning for a long time since with two business running, I will be financially stable.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I kept a larger portion of my transfer as savings in the merry-go-round. My aim is to start a cosmetic shop by December. I have already done a lot of research concerning the business like the approximate cost that might be required to start the business and the items that I will be selling. I know that before starting it up, I will have more skills that will help me to manage it smoothly. I have not seen a cosmetic shop in the neighborhood. Most people have to go to Town where most cosmetic shops are located. I am certain that this business will do well.
 
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($50 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
At the moment, I have two goals now that I have started receiving the money from GiveDirectly. First, I want to actualize my dream of opening a cosmetic shop. After this, I will expand this business by opening some branches in different places. With this, I will have been able to diversify my sources of income as well as provide employment to some youths. Secondly, I am planning to pursue a course in beauty and hairdressing since it has always been my dream to be a beautician. I will use the money I will be saving from my business to pay for my tuition fee. After I have actualized this, I will open a saloon in one of the cosmetic shops which I will be operating. This will help me generate more income on a daily basis which I will in turn use to improve the lives of my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving payments from GiveDirectly is that I have been able to save some money unlike before when I used to spend all the money I would get from my daily hustles. I will use this money to start a business which will help me have a constant source of income. I will also be using the money to meet all my family needs on time and I believe that this will change my life completely.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It has always been my dream to open a cosmetic shop but I had not achieved this because the little income I get from my daily work is not even enough to cater for my family needs. I have been doing a survey in my region on the type of business with less competition and I settled on this because I found out that none exists. When GiveDirectly came to enroll us, I took this as an opportunity to achieve this and because my group was told that we would receive our transfers on monthly basis, we decided to form a merry go round group so that one can use the money to do something better. When I received my recent transfers, I took 4000 KES from it as my contribution to our group. I gave out part of the remaining amount as tithe as a way of thanksgiving to God for His blessings through GiveDirectly. I also spent some amount on buying two kilograms of sugar for my family.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
It was early in the morning as I was preparing myself for my daily activities when I realized that I had an unread message as I was going through my phone. Upon checking to know its content, my heart was filled with happiness as the message indicated that I had received some money from GiveDirectly. This money brought happiness into my life at that time because I knew that I would be able to offset all the debts I had using it.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My plan is to save money for four months and then open a new business where I will be selling milk using ATM for milk and lastly leisure because I have children who I want sometimes to enjoy themselves.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is gun violence because a lot of youths are engaged in crime and they end up losing their lives. Sexual violence is also a concern because many girls have given birth while they are still young and in school and most of them end up engaging in prostitution because of lack of finance and lastly unemployment because without any source of income a lot of people are stressed and they engage in negative activities in order for them to get food and rent.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambitions are to develop in life by moving out of the slum and live in a good environment for my family. To buy my own houses for rental and also own my own house and lastly become a successful business woman with different types of business all over Nairobi.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I wake up prepare for tea,clean the house relax in the house until a customer shows up in my house because I knit womens hair outside my house. When I get a customer I make their hair until lunch I then take a break take food then resume to my customer until evening then I enter my house and prepare for food for my family and then I sleep. On my free time I watch movies and talk to friends who are my neighbors.