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 > Serah's Profile
Serah's family
Serah
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Serah's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 30 days ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to join college. I completed my high school in 2022, and I am saving towards joining school in August. Despite initially aspiring to study pharmacy, financial constraints led me to opt for tailoring, a field I am passionate about. After completing my tailoring course, I plan to invest in a sewing machine and start my own business. I intend to locate it in town to attract more customers. Once I have earned enough, I will pursue my dream of studying pharmacy to achieve my ideal life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my transfers, I immediately allocated $20 towards my brother's secondary education fees, ensuring his educational journey remains uninterrupted. I then dedicated $4 to fulfill my personal needs, such as purchasing sanitary pads, to maintain confidence and hygiene. The remaining amount I wisely set aside the remaining $10, for my own future studies.
 
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am currently working as a house help because I could not land any descent jobs due to my level of education. I completed secondary school a while back, but has not managed pursue further education due to lack of funds to cater for the fees. So as not to stay idle at home and also to have a chance to support my struggling family and also raise some little money for my future dream of joining college, I decided to take this job. With the savings from my monthly transfers and the salary I earn from this job, I have managed to raise enough money and will finally join college next year. I have decided to take a fashion and design course which is more affordable and takes a very short period of time to complete even though my desire would have been to enrol for a course such as Community Health. A course on fashion and design promises a great future as the industry is ever green and a chance at self employment is not such a bad idea. With my savings so far, I will be able to fully cater for the required fees and also most of my personal requirements. The transfers that I will be receiving will also be of great support for my basic needs and I can rest assured that I will complete the course without depending on my already strained family which gives me a sense of independence and confidence that whatever I put my mind to, I can achieve. Once done with the training, I will start saving in order to set up my own business where I will also be selling African fabrics.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have a plan of joining college next year, but because my family is not able to raise the required amount due to low income, I have been saving part of my monthly transfers ($25) through my brother's bank A/c and a merry-go-round group. I have been saving part of the transfers in my brother's bank account because that way, the money is completely inaccessible to me which restricts my expenditure and helps me focus on the goal ahead. Whatever little I have left after the savings is usually spent on foodstuff and other personal requirements. I am currently working as a housekeeper, but my salary is not that much, so when I add a bit of my monthly transfer ($5) to my salary, I am able to send my mother back home a decent amount for their basic needs.
 
10th 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?
After completing my enrollment and fulfilling all necessary school fee payments, my intention is to save up and acquire a sewing machine. This way, I can engage in regular practice during my course and even during school breaks, thereby generating income by sewing clothes for others.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I allocated $18 from my June cash transfer to a merry-go-round savings group This will assist me in funding my enrollment in a tertiary institution for a tailoring course starting in July. Up until now, I have managed to save $150 out of the total target of $350. Knowing that I will receive a monthly transfer, I plan to discuss an agreement with the school to pay the remaining balance whenever I receive the monthly transfer. Additionally, I contributed $10 towards my sister's hospital bill, while the remainder of the transfer was used for purchasing food.
 
6th 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?
It is now 1 year and beyond since I completed my high school education and currently doing nothing. My main goal is to continue with my education and I have been saving part of my transfers to help me pay my school fee. I also want to open a business and employ someone and the income from the business would also help in paying part of my school fee as I continue with education.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I completed my high school education last year(2022) and due to the financial challenges, I had never been lucky to further my education and pursue a course of my choice. Getting into this program would be one best way of seeing my dreams come true. I have been saving a greater percentage of the transfers that I have been receiving and with the most recent one, I managed to save KES. 2500 to cater for my school fees in the future since I am planning to join a college in September. I also spent KES. 500 on paying school fees to one of my nieces and the remaining amount of KES. 470 to cater for the medical bills of one of my sisters.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly did well to provide the funds in my village because most of us who could not complete school can now go back to school or college. Personally, all my plans to attend college would not exist if they did not enroll me in the program.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Financial constraint is one problem faced by my family due to lack of employment. I am born into a family of ten children and it has been a struggle to complete my high school education. I have planned to save and enroll in an Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE). I plan to complete my diploma and seek employment to assist my parents in educating my siblings. All my cash received of $30 is being saved towards my college tuition fees. I am planning to join early next year which will cost me $300 per year.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I learned that I had received my transfer, I felt so excited. I had planned to use the transfer to pay off my college fees because I had some fee arrears. Immediately I talked to my mother, who had been taking care of my ailing younger sister, and I changed my priority. Upon realizing that her condition was not good, I diverted my attention. I am glad that she is now improving. I am more at peace and proud of GiveDirectly for the financial transfer. The last time I talked to her, she expressed that the transfers from GiveDirectly have to a given extent put a mark on her life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Since I diverted all my recent transfers to meeting some medication costs for my sister, I feel that was the honorable thing I could do then. With the transfer, I consider contributing to her medication as one of the biggest differences the transfer has in my life. I feel so good whenever I hear her talk, smile, and sound strong. What a joy to be among the countable people that have contributed towards putting a smile on her face. I am indebted to GiveDirectly for the unconditional cash transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have my younger sister that has been suffering from growth in the breast. The situation worsened to the point that she got admitted for a surgical procedure at Kenyatta Hospital. Due to the high cost of medication, our family got drained financially. Therefore, when I received my transfer I sent it all to my mother. She has been taking care of my sister. I am glad that at the moment, the procedure has been done successfully. She is now feeling better than before. She has a steady improvement. I thank God for such kind of help that has enabled me to contribute towards saving a dear life.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I'm the seventh child out ten in this family. My father runs a shop and a kiosk to provide for his family while my mother is more of a housewife occasionally helping him in the shop. I finished my high school education a year ago and I haven't mange to join any college because he doesn't have funds for that right now. This is mostly because he still has my younger sister who finished class eight two years ago and yet to village polytechnic, and also a younger brother who's currently down with kidney cancer awaiting operation to remove the affected organ in four months time. Sadly enough, I have no option but to struggle and make things work out for me on my own. Receiving this money will just grease this process. I want to first spend my transfers to start a business preferably mpesa or general shop as a way of building more savings to get college fees so that I can later enroll for Early Childhood Development course.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was very happy when I received my results for the national examination that marks the end of high school education. I really celebrated a pass for obvious reasons; first, I only attended classes for the first third of that year before a strike broke out and interrupted everything. Secondly, I did not get to go back after the strike because my father could not afford to pay 25000 KES that I owed then.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest challenge is inadequacy of financial resources. I finished my high school education a year ago but haven't join a college die to the fact that my father isn't able to afford it. He is currently focused on funding my younger brother's medical needs. The boy is hospitalized as we speak taking rounds of chemotherapy while awaiting an operation to remove one of his kidneys.