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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Newsfeed > Kachimbi's Profile
Kachimbi's family
Kachimbi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
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26th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 18 days ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My son will graduate next August, and my goal is to continue paying his tuition until he completes his studies. I want him to stay focused, free from financial worries, so he can perform well in school. I am confident that his dedication will pay off, giving him a strong chance of securing a good job and a bright future. I am incredibly thankful for the financial support, which has made it possible for me to invest in his education.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My youngest son is currently in college, studying to become a plumber. I support him financially by covering his school fees, which ensures he can continue his studies without any obstacles. Recently, I paid $60 toward his tuition, which has kept him on track with his program. I’m thrilled that he’s close to completing his course; this step will open doors for him to find a well-paying job and build a secure future. With the remaining $52, I bought food for my family. I run a small business selling tobacco, but it doesn’t bring in much income. My husband cares for our cattle, but we don’t earn from this, making it challenging to cover household expenses, especially food. The financial support has been a tremendous help, as it allows me to provide food for my family so that we rarely miss meals. I am deeply grateful for this assistance, which helps me meet our basic needs.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 5 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 invest heavily in purchasing goats. I am aware that the financial aid will eventually come to an end. To ensure my financial stability post-aid, I believe that investing in goats will help me remain secure. In the event I need money, I can sell some goats and use the funds to meet my needs or invest in other income-generating projects. I am very appreciative of the financial support from Give Directly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have a son who joined college in July last year. I paid his tuition with income from selling agricultural produce. However, due to harsh weather conditions, farming is no longer profitable, making it difficult to pay for my son's plumbing course. Thanks to the monthly cash transfers, I can partly cover his school fees. I spent $60 to ensure he continues his education without interruptions. I also used $14 to purchase new clothes, replacing my worn-out pairs, which has made me look more presentable. Additionally, I invested $14 in hens as a strategic future investment. Once they multiply, I plan to sell some and use the money to buy goats. Furthermore, I spent $14 on food for my family, ensuring we never lacked anything to eat. I am very happy and grateful for the financial support from the transfers. This assistance will help my son finish his college studies, ensuring his future success. Without it, financing his education to the end would have been very difficult for me.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 9 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 months, my intention is to buy additional goats. This will make them multiply, and when they do, I will be able to sell some and use the proceeds to meet my needs. I will have something to rely on to bring in some money even after the time limit for receiving the transfers expires. The financial assistance I have been receiving thus far has made me very happy. I am achieving my life's long-term objectives with its assistance.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Twenty dollars went toward helping my son Karisa, a college student enrolled in a plumbing program. I am happy that the knowledge and abilities he is gaining in school will help him land a decent job down the road. I purchased two hens for $8. I anticipate that they will multiply soon and I can earn some profit from them once I sell them. I spent the bulk of my transfers of $40 to purchase some food for my family of six members. Mostly, I rely on my son, who works as a shopkeeper. Buying food eases my son's burden, as he occasionally finds it difficult to make good purchases for the family. With additional transfer from my husband, I purchased a goat for $45. I am thrilled to have received financial support from Give Directly to enhance my life.
 
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 objective continues to be to guide my son through his college studies and ensure he successfully completes the program. Financing his education has been a persistent challenge, but the recent transfers have significantly alleviated the financial burden, making it more manageable. As a subsistence farmer, receiving this financial support has been a substantial boost and relief for us. I am committed to consistently clearing his tuition fees to prevent any interruptions in my son's education due to financial constraints.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I allocated a significant portion of the recent transfers to cover my son's college tuition fees. This has brought immense relief, as without this support, it would have been challenging to finance his education. Being a subsistence farmer with no regular income, raising the required fees was a constant concern. Thanks to the transfer, my son can now continue his education without any interruptions, alleviating my fears of him being discontinued due to a lack of funds. Additionally, I am pleased to share that I expanded my livestock by acquiring a goat for $40. It's a valuable asset, and I anticipate that as the herd multiplies, I can sell them to meet financial obligations. Lastly, I used some funds to purchase essential food items such as maize flour, beans, and sugar, along with household necessities like toiletries. Overall, the support has not only sustained my son's education but also contributed to the improvement of my family's well-being.
 
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?
Over the course of a decade, my livelihood has relied heavily on farming. However, due to inadequate rainfall, the income derived from farming has been steadily decreasing. As I approach the end of this year, my objective is to expand my herd by purchasing more goats. This endeavor will provide me with an alternative source of income in case my farming activities yield no financial returns.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With my June transfer, I allocated $40 to purchase a goat. By supplementing it with my savings of $6 from the previous month's transfers, I successfully acquired the goat. This acquisition paves the way for me to accumulate wealth. As the goats multiply, I can sell some at a substantial profit and utilize the proceeds to purchase additional goats, thus perpetuating the cycle. Through this endeavor, I not only have the opportunity to generate income but also build wealth through the expanding herd of livestock. This new venture serves as an alternative source of income for me, especially considering that farming is no longer profitable due to the prolonged period of insufficient rainfall. I am immensely grateful for the financial support provided by Give Directly. It gives me confidence that I will achieve financial stability and reduce my dependence on my son, who is a shopkeeper with his own familial responsibilities.
 
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?
Now that I obtained my first goat through the recent cash transfers, I hope to acquire more in the future. Owning this livestock will acquire me enough wealth that I can use to raise money for my family’s needs. Despite the strict financial obligations like food in my household, I wish to have bought two more goats by the end of the year. 
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have always wanted to own livestock, but a lack of finances has hindered me from acquiring them. Due to my advanced age, I mainly rely on my son, who works as a shopkeeper, to provide for my needs. As he has a wife and six children to look after as well, it’s challenging for him to provide for anything beyond food for me. Thanks to Give Directly’s financial aid, I acquired a goat through January’s cash transfer. My aim is to let it reproduce, grow the herd, and accumulate wealth which I can use to cover my future expenses. When I received the money in December, I was feeling unwell and needed immediate medical attention. So I spent everything to obtain proper treatment. Am glad that I have fully recovered. 
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time 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 group for assisting the village's most vulnerable families. I'm happy that the transfers I'm getting are restoring the smiles we lost as a result of the hardships we face in the village. Being unable to care for ourselves causes a lot of suffering for the elderly. The funds from the transfers provide us with a significant financial boost that helps us live better. I implore the organization to continue enrolling recipients to the programs, especially from the villages affected by the drought, in order to help improve the situation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I no longer work on the farm because of the negative effects of the drought. I heavily rely on my son to take care of our daily needs. He runs a store where he sells appliances and other household goods. My husband is too old and too ill to work and support the family. We have experienced many difficulties since the drought, including not having enough money to buy food. We have accumulated significant debt as a result of being forced to purchase food on credit. I chose to use my entire second transfer, plus an addition from the first, to purchase a goat for $40 in an effort to wisely invest the transfer's funds. I've been a farmer for more than twenty years, and I intend to use my experience to raise livestock to amass wealth. The goat will multiply and increase my initial investment in a year. I will have the choice to sell some of the goats and take care of the emergency if one arises.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Around 4 p.m., my phone rang with a message alert. Since I cannot read, I requested my husband to help me understand what the message contained. My heart melted with joy when he confirmed that I had received cash from Give Directly. I had been anxiously waiting for the money from the previous night after my husband received his share. I was ecstatic.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Hunger was a major concern in my household before the cash transfer arrived. For the last two days before Give Directly sent the money, my family had survived on a cup of tea due to a lack of money to buy decent food like maize flour. Gladly, the story changed post-transfer after I used it to secure food which served my household a couple of days before my son sent money for more. I am grateful because up to this day, we have never starved again.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My family of ten people solely depends on my son, who works as a shopkeeper in Mombasa, for provision. The little he makes is mostly not enough to fully meet the household needs, like food and school fees for the six children in primary school, given today's rising cost of living. In fact, the household had run out of food two days before I received the transfer. We drank only tea on those days to hold our stomachs together and avoid complete starvation. Thankfully, Give Directly sent the transfer before all my hopes of getting food were lost. I used the entire transfer to buy maize flour and sugar to last the family a few days while my son raised money for more.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My husband and I have decided to collaborate and buy some goats. Towards the end year, these are sold and the returns are not so bad. We can use those to start a sustainable business so that we never have to struggle with buying food again.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I find joy in being alive. It is enough sign that God still has good plans for me. I am hopeful for better days ahead.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My health is deteriorating by the day. I have episodes that have my heart racing. I feel very weak at this point. Sometimes, I also feel like I am losing my senses. I would like to seek medical attention but I do not have the resources.