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 > Bahati's Profile
Bahati's family
Bahati
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on Bahati's next check-in.
 
25th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 3 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My personal goal is increase my animal. I have 3 chicken and 2 goats which I purchased using my transfers. Having animals changes my finances completely. I sell charcoal, this means I go into the bush to look for tree stumps, dig them out and the burn them, Most times its difficult to have sufficient charcoal to fill a sack. My plan is to start breeding the animals for sell. This way I can focus on increasing their numbers so that we are able to sell them for money.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Givedirectly has made us a very proud people. Most of us never had animals, most of us who are much younger in the community do not have animals because the purchase of these animals are an expensive affair. However since I started receiving transfers from Givedirectly I have been able to afford to purchase chicken and goats. I used $17 to buy chicken, $25 to buy a goat and got some animal feed at $5 while getting the goats some medicine at $5. I am still making some savings in a savings group to help me continue facilitate this dream and I saved $10. I was also able to buy uniform for my younger sister at $15 and food at $20.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 7 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 focus is on substantial investments in livestock procurement. I aim to diversify my holdings by acquiring goats, sheep, and cows. By rearing and subsequently selling these animals, I anticipate substantial profits that will greatly contribute to supporting my family. As a single parent, I am profoundly grateful for the assistance provided by the transfers, which has enabled me to provide for my two children with care and stability.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a single parent raising two children, I support our livelihood through the sale of charcoal and poultry, including hens and ducks. To enhance my income, I ventured into poultry farming, using funds from the transfers. With $19, I invested in three ducks and three hens, aiming to rear them for profitable sale once they reach maturity. Additionally, I allocated another $19 for animal feed to ensure their healthy development. Despite these investments, I ensured that my family's immediate needs were met, spending another $19 on food. Gratefully, the financial aid from the transfers has consistently ensured our sustenance. Furthermore, I allotted $15 to purchase new clothes for my children and myself, appreciating the opportunity to improve our quality of life. The ongoing support has profoundly impacted our well-being, instilling hope for a brighter future for myself and my children.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 10 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As the festive season approaches, I intend to allocate a portion of my transfer money to purchase quality food and celebrate with my family during the festivities. Furthermore, I aim to save enough to enroll my son in school next year, as he will be ready to start his education. To ensure that I can financially support my son's education in the future, I plan to increase my investment in purchasing livestock. Once they multiply, I will sell some of the livestock and use the proceeds to cover his school fees. The financial support from the transfers is deeply appreciated, as it has significantly improved my quality of life, lifting me out of misery.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Following my separation from my husband, I returned to my parents' home where I heavily rely on them, as they are casual laborers, to support both myself and my young baby. I made significant investments in purchasing livestock—a goat for $25 and three hens for $12, with the hope that they will provide income once they multiply and are sold in the future. Additionally, I assisted my mother in purchasing food for the family, amounting to $50, ensuring that we never went without food, thanks to the availability of money from transfers. Furthermore, I bought new clothes for my baby, as he had very few left to wear. I am deeply grateful for the transfers, which have ensured that the needs of my family are met.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 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?
This year and beyond, my primary objective is to make significant investments in livestock, particularly in goats. By doing so, I aim to establish a reliable income stream that can cater to my present and future needs, which I'm currently struggling to meet. Goats appeal to me as an ideal choice for investment due to their easy availability, rapid reproduction rates, and promising potential for generating favorable returns.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In July, a significant portion of my transfers, totaling $19, was allocated to purchasing food. As a single mother with one child, I currently reside with my parents. My primary source of income is derived from selling charcoal, but unfortunately, it is insufficient to meet all the needs of my family. Consequently, I heavily rely on the support of my parents to sustain both my own necessities and those of my children. The acquisition of food was of immense assistance to our family, ensuring that we never went without nourishment. Apart from acquiring food, I also invested $15 in purchasing a hen and a duck. These poultry acquisitions are a strategic investment for my future. I anticipate that they will multiply over the coming months, providing a reliable source of income when needed. By selling some of the offspring at a considerable profit, I can address my financial requirements effectively. This venture offers a promising opportunity to secure financial stability in the long run.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 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?
I hope to accomplish raising poultry and livestock. Since I am a single mother and my child is barely two years old, I know that this is the most viable investment I can afford to start. I also aim to raise some money for buying new clothes and bedding. The ones I currently have are old and uncomfortable to use. I have used them for so long, and they are no longer presentable. A new set of clothing will contribute towards improving my presentability.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Immediately after I received my recent transfer I spent $24 on maize flour. We did not have food in the house because we had no money. I always burn charcoal to raise money to support my only son, Abubakar. Since I am a single mother the responsibility squarely lies on me only that once in a while my father steps in to bail me out when I am financially down. For the rest of the transfer, I spent it all on acquiring water for domestic use. Water has been scarce, and getting it is always expensive for me. Other recent transfers came in handy to help me get food and some domestic birds. I am glad that I have three domestic fowl.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
At the moment, my concentration is more on my farm, which is why I intend on buying a couple of goats and some poultry as well. This is because they're quite affordable, and they always come in handy during a time of financial struggle. Apart from that, I am also thinking of starting my own business where I sell groceries, preferably from the comfort of my home, because at the moment I make money from burning charcoal, and it's hardly ever enough. I also happen to be a single parent, so I also plan on using that money to cater for the basic needs of my child and myself, which include clothes and nutrition.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Our family of seven includes my son, my parents, and three siblings. Our father, who sells charcoal, supports us all. Since he does not produce enough money from the charcoal business to cover all of our requirements, he is overburdened. We were happy to hear that Give Directly would be providing us with monthly assistance because it would help my dad financially during these trying times. Due to the drought we are currently facing, water and food are becoming more scarce and expensive. I spent $74 on food and water using the transfers from the previous three months. I spent $20 on new clothes for my son and I to replace the old ones we had outgrown.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is doing good work by giving people cash and letting them decide on their usage. They have given everyone even the low-income earners a chance to improve their lives in different ways. I have witnessed children consistently going to school courtesy of the organization. So far, there is nothing they are not doing right.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Currently, we have been struggling to meet the most basic needs such as food and in most cases, we live by a meal a day. We parted ways with my spouse, so I relocated to my paternal home where we rely on my father. He burns charcoal for sale but the KES 400 that he makes weekly is not enough to meet our needs. Therefore, I bought 12 Kilograms of corn flour the most expensive commodity currently at KES 1500 with the recent transfer. We were all joyous as we shared a meal knowing that we still have enough stock for the family. I still have KES 1500 set aside for daily household use, especially for water since we budget for it too.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had been looking forward to receiving the transfer that would help me get out of the hardships. I danced with joy when I finally confirmed receipt of the funds since I would be able to buy food and pay off my bills.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Prior to the transfers, our household would frequently run out of food due to a lack of funds to purchase it. As a result, we skipped essential meals and slept hungry for several nights. However, since I received the transfer, things have changed; my family has never gone a day or night without food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My household rely on my father who makes and sells charcoal for a living. When things prove futile from his hustle, we are forced to skip meals or, worse, sleep hungry. To avoid becoming a burden to him, I began selling charcoal as well, but the daily earnings of KES 100 are insufficient to sustain our family of nine. I am occasionally obliged to borrow food or money from friends and neighbors on the condition that I reimburse them later. So, when I got the money, the first thing I did was buy KES 1,500 worth of food to last at least a week. I also spent KES 1,400 on new clothes because my old ones were tattered. Because my job requires me to cut tree stumps, which always tears my clothes, I felt compelled to replace them.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been selling French fries to school pupils and the villagers too. The business was giving me a daily profit of 1000 KES which is a good income considering that I live in the village. However, things changed a few months ago when our economy was affected and prices of the commodities rose including cooking oil which is what my business depends on. I had to shut it down because I started to make losses rather than profits. This demoralized me and almost gave up since I had no other way of making an income yet I have a child who depends on me. Receiving this money, however, is coming at a time when I needed a financial boost so that I can recover from the losses I made and restore my business. I plan to use the first transfer to stabilize it before venturing into other things.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I first started selling French fries in December after I returned to my maternal home. I thought that it would not give me good returns but I still decided to give it a try because it was the only business I could think of that required a small capital to start. I was surprised that after a few weeks I began making huge profits that I could not imagine that it will make. This made me happy because I was able to help my parents with some household responsibilities.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a single mother with no source of income life has not been easy. I had a business that was giving me a daily profit of 1000 KES but unfortunately, it collapsed due to the poor economy that affected the prices of commodities. Since then I have been struggling to take care of my son however, my parents offered to help but I feel that I am giving them too much burden because they also need to look after my young siblings. It is frustrating and stressful knowing that there is nothing I can do to help them with some responsibilities.