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
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Benson's Profile
Benson's family
Benson
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Janitor/porter (works for others)
faceAge:
36
workCampaign
FSD / Urban Youth
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($488 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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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 a better plan for myself in terms of employment. I decided to take a loan for a motorcycle which I am yet to finish repaying. I know that when I will have full ownership of the motorcycle, I will be getting money which I can even use to achieve my long term goals unlike depending on casual jobs which are unreliable.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I do not have a new goal at the moment. I am determined to repay a loan that I had taken for the motorcycle. I do not want to be employed forever and this is why I want to work hard and offset the full amount that is remaining.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Surviving through tough times made me a jack of all trades. Sometime back, I was a barber and the money was not enough, I ended up being jobless. I also tried to be a driver but thought of having my own business. When I got enrolled in the program is when I knew that I really needed to buy a motorcycle. I took a motorcycle which I have been paying in installments. This recent transfer was not any different. I used a larger portion of it on repaying the loan. I am determined to finish it so as to beat the deadline. Apart from that, I paid for my rent and my mother's too. Some went on shopping and renewing my driving license.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
37152 KES ($360 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?
In the past when I did not have any source of income, I used to have a lot of stress. Things were not working out for me and my family and I would struggle so much to put food on the table. This is because I did not have any source of income. When I received my first transfer, I thought of a better way to establish myself financially and decided to buy a motorcycle so that I can get an income from it. I am glad the stress I used to have because of finances is no more. I feel the little I get will increase the moment I will finally clear the loan I took. Thanks to GD.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
Currently, my only goal is to continue paying for the loan I took to buy the motorcycle. I would not want it to be taken because I failed to pay for it yet it has been very helpful in terms of the little income I get from it on a daily basis.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on paying back loan which I took from our merry-go-round group to buy a motorcycle. I did not have any source of income before the transfers and I really needed one because things were not working out for me. This is why I chose to take a loan and buy a motorcycle to use for taxi business when I received my first transfer. The rest of the transfer I used on paying my house rent, buy food for my family and save the remaining for future use when in need.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($194 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to start a barbershop. I have the skills but I have not been able to apply them due to lack of enough money to put up the business. I am optimistic that this business will expand with time and I anticipate employing one youth to help me run the business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is the hope that I have for operating a better business going forward. I had trained as a barber but I had not put it into practice. I am looking forward to opening a barbershop which I am optimistic will do well and give me more income that will change my living standards.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a large portion of my transfer on starting a business of selling t-shirts. Unfortunately, I was harassed by the County Askaris and they took all my stock. I have gone back to casual jobs but I have not lost hope about my business. I have hopes of going back to the business because after tasting the benefits, this is what I still want to do. I intend to comply with all the necessary requirements that will enable me to operate the business without any form of interference.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer I felt very happy. I was handling my garbage collection job and since I was busy, I hardly had any time to check the content of the message. When I finished working, then that is when I took my time and read the message. I felt so happy because I knew that I would definitely meet my goals which I had always desired to accomplish.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My first priority is to invest in a new business. I want to start selling sandals around Mathare, Mlango kubwa. I collect garbage around Mathare and when I am done I go to matatu stages to look for work as a driver, to relieve other drivers mostly in the afternoon. To do away with all this hustle, I would like to start something of my own so as to ensure I have an income at the end of the day to feed and shelter my family. Secondly, I want to re-open my barber shop. I had opened one at Pangani but it did not do so well. The rent that I paid was higher than the profits I made and I could not sustain it. I plan to open one close by at Mlango Kubwa, Mathare and work towards ensuring it is successful,this money will help boost the business when it is low. Lastly, I want to pursue my music career . I am an artist and I have two albums that are waiting to be released. All I need is the finances to release the albums. My music has great content that I would love to share with people, messages of hope and restoration. I was a street child for about seven years and I would beg just to put food in my stomach. As I grew older it became hard for me to beg since people would chase me away, so I started singing on the streets to get money. Later, I was taken to a childrens home for five years but I left and went back to the streets and joined a gang for about six years. One day we were caught by the police and I was shot on the leg, my friends were shot dead, and by Gods grace I survived, that was my turning point. I turned to music as a way out as I worked my way to get a decent form of employment.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is unemployment, I am a casual worker, I collect garbage around Mathare and at times work as a driver although it is not consistent, lack of a stable source of income is a great concern for me since I will not be able to provide food and shetler for my family. I fear being locked out of my house because of not paying house rent, it is important for me to have a place where I can lay my head to rest after a long and tiresome day, to have a peaceful night as I await the following day.
What are your greatest ambitions?
I want to be a great musician and a music teacher. I want to open my own studio where I can nurture talent for those who cannot afford to release their songs. I love music and when I look at most musician they lack content in their music. I would like to nurture them and help them write songs that have good content and a messaging for people.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
On my usual day, I wake up at around 6:00 am, and report to work. I go look for a cart to go collect garbage with and work untill 10:00 am. I go back to our group hall and help out where I can, if I do not get work to do, I go home take a shower and leave to go hustle at Huruma, at the matatu stage as a reliver of other drivers who have been working since morning. I work till 3:00 pm and I go back to our group hall. I train some children football once they are out of school, after that I take them to the library to read and when I am done I take some piano lessons at a friends house. Later, I go back home, take my dinner and retire to bed. I rarely have free time since I am always hustling but when I am not working, I play the piano and record my songs.