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Sidi

Country:

kenya

Occupation:

Casual labor

Age:

Campaign

Kenya Large Transfer

Upcoming Stage

Next Payment

Follow to be updated on Sidi's next check-in.

Initial Payment

Transfer Amount

55000 KES ($403 USD)

26 days ago

Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?

I was busy attending to my crops when a neighbor passed by and asked whether I had received money from GiveDirectly. I had my phone but I couldn't comprehend the messages. When I finally went back home, I called my helper who checked and confirmed that I had also received the transfer. I was greatly overjoyed because I never expected to get such a huge financial support that GiveDirectly sent. I could now think of building a new decent house after living in a grass thatched hut for years.

Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.

Before I got enrolled into the program, I was staying in a small grass thatched hut, had no plan of upgrading to a better house. It was also leaking when it rains and at times I was forced to look for shelter elsewhere and my belongings would be soaked by the rains. When I received the transfer, I managed to buy iron sheets and building poles and built a new decent iron roofed house. This has been my dream which I couldn't fulfill at my own cost. I couldn't afford to buy even a single set of the building materials. I am no longer worried of rains now since I am staying in an iron roofed house like my fellow villagers.

What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?

I spent a bigger portion of my first transfer on buying building materials which include building poles and 25 iron sheets in order to build a new house. I have been living in a grass thatched house that was in a bad shape, and leaking uncontrollably whenever it rains. Also, I was replacing the grasses every month which was tiresome. I am at peace now that i managed to build a decent iron roofed house, which has greatly relieved me of the stress of replacing the grasses every month. Apart from the house, I also spent Ksh 4000 and purchased a goat. I had some but later I sold them to settle my financial needs, and I am glad that starting again. I am keeping this goat and let it reproduce and have many of them. I can readily sell the offspring to settle my financial needs. Lastly, I bought foodstuffs such as maize flour and paying for daily household expenses. This ensured that we do not lack food, since I bought enough that could last for more than a month.

Enrolled

5 months ago

What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?

A new semi-permanent house is the greatest desire that I have had in my life and this is because, over the years, I have not lived in an iron-roofed house. My main dwelling at the moment is grass-thatched which is leaking when it rains. With this money, I intend to spend a big portion of my transfer $600, to make my dream come to reality. In addition, I will buy a new bed and a mattress to replace the old ones which do not give me nice sleep. This will cost me utmost of $100. On the other hand, I will spend the remaining amount to cater to my other basic needs like food and new clothes. Thus, this is generally what receiving this money means to me.

What is the happiest part of your day?

The delicacies! During the Christmas season, my daughter who was working as a house help bought 1 bale of maize flour, 4 packets of wheat flour, and other ingredients that we used during the festive time. This was a surprise to me because, throughout the year, I had missed such an occasion where we share a meal with my extended family. It was through the celebration that I enjoyed different meals. Hence, I consider this as what has brought joy to my life.

What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?

Charcoal work being a job that is not favorable to many people due to its intensive nature has been the main source of income that I have depended on for a long time. This job being tiresome and energy-draining has affected my health and I am no longer productive a situation that has compelled me to majorly depend on my son who is a casual laborer. Since his support is inconsistent, sometimes I forfeit meals and this has equally made me look emaciated. I, therefore, consider myself to be facing a financial crisis, which stands out as my main challenge.