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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Enrollment
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Completed
Newsfeed > Lilian's Profile
Lilian's family
Lilian
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Lilian's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($21 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?
I have two goals I hope to accomplish with this transfers. I would love to get my children through school. My husband is the one who is employed as a casual labourer while I am a farmer. His pay is sometimes delayed and this means I end up covering coast for important things like school fees for our children. My goal is to ensure this cash gives my children the chance to go through school. I also would love to start tailoring classes, I plan to use this cash to start of on the training so I am able to make an income for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of three young one with my second born having joined school recently in January. Most of my transfers go to taking care of my children's education. In November paid school fees of $10, in January I paid $4 to a kindergarten for my child's admission fee while paying that terns school fees of $15 and I also paid for my oldest $8 in school fees. I have also used this cash to buy animals, in November I got 4 chicken at $10 and a goat in December at $20. Food has also been something this cash transfers have given me an access to, spending $14 on food in November and a similar amount in December while in January I only spent $6.
 
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am on a journey to teach myself hairdressing while managing my animals at home. My goal is to save enough money by selling my goats and chickens to kickstart my own salon. This venture is not just for me; it's a path that will bring opportunities and benefits to both myself and my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I decided to enrich my chicken flock, increasing it from twelve to a proud fourteen, with the addition of three new feathered companions. I invested $10 wisely to buy new chicken into the existing ones. With three children to care for, one of them diligently in primary school, I made a thoughtful choice of spending $10 from the transfers to ensure my child is still in school by paying his school fees. The remaining amount of $14 was put to excellent use as I indulged my cherished children with a heavy meal. It was a well-considered decision that balanced our needs and desires perfectly.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I'm planning and hopeful that I will be able to buy cows and more goats. I believe they will be a source of income and this will bring financial freedom. I'm also planning to go to college. I have always had interest in beauty and hairdressing, and my main aim would to learn and perfect the skills so that soon I can open a business. Learning would cost me kshs.1500 every month and I will have to be in school for at least three months. I'm equally focusing on educating my children to the highest level of education. Currently the eldest child is the only in school since the others haven't reached the school going age. I'm hopeful that we will be able to continue paying school fees without any struggles
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have always wanted to rear chicken. For the first time, I bought 3 hens and 2 cockerels each costing kshs.200. That was a total of kshs.1000. The whole idea was to have the chicken hatch and increase in number. I got 15 chicks and shortly after I sold the hens and the cockerels at kshs.500 each. I then topped-up the amount and bought a goat at kshs.3500. I later sold another hen at kshs.500 and paid my child's school fees. My child had been returned home due to fees arrears. I'm so happy and I felt relieved that atleast I could afford to pay the amount. I'm currently doing farming, where I'm have planted maize, vegetables and green grams. I bought maize seeds worth kshs.2000 planting them on 2 acres piece of land. In addition to these, I bought vegetable seeds and green grams seeds worth kshs.400. This has really helped my household, since we never run short of food at home. I'm glad that I have found solution to my daily struggles. Life has become bearable and my household is at peace.
 
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 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?
My top goal this year will be making sure I can afford to pay my son's tuition, who just so happens to be enrolled in school. Fees have been a fairly consistent concern for my kid in the past, so I want to make sure that he won't have to deal with them this year and can finish his academic year uninterrupted. Since I personally don't have a job and my husband's job doesn't pay well either, I am hoping that I will be able to utilize this money to address this issue since nutrition has also been a chronic concern as a result of the drought. Last but not least, I'm also planning to purchase a few farm animals, such as goats and poultry.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My three children and I solely rely on my husband, a casual worker at a tent production company, for provision. He makes at most $60 bi-weekly, which cannot cover anything beyond the basics, such as food. This is is due to the high cost of living. By the time I received the cash transfer, Christmas was first approaching and his employer had delayed paying him. I deducted $22 from the transfer to shop for food ahead of the celebrations. Thanks to the transfers, my family enjoyed a change of diet on Christmas. Finally, I spent the remaining amount on four chickens, which increased my flock to ten. I aim to trade some of the chickens, when they mature, for a goat. Having a herd with a blend of livestock would grant me more financial security during needy times. 
 
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?
I love the fact that GiveDirectly offered to give us unconditional cash. The level of liberation from poverty that the project has resulted in our village is immeasurable. I had given up the dream of joining college because my parents could not afford the fee arrears I owe the school that has led the school to hold back my certificates. Thank God, I am hopeful that I will soon raise the required money, courtesy of GiveDirectly. Everyone in the village is thankful for the support and I have not heard of any complaints.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We have five children who are all in school, and we all depend on my spouse who works as a casual worker in one of the companies in town. I believe that his salary is not enough to sustain our needs because of how often I see him struggle and at times, end up in debts. When I received both the first and second transfer, I bought five chickens for rearing. They will be beneficial in the future after they have reproduced. I also bought foodstuffs worth KES 2000 and cleared the school fee arrears of KES 500 for my son who is in preschool. All these would not have been possible without the support, and we are thankful.
 
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?
I was actually on my way to bed that evening when the money came in and I was over the moon especially because I didn't expect that money at the time and I really needed it so it felt as though my prayers have been answered.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Tuition was one of my biggest challenges and still is from time to time but I was really glad that this money came in at the right moment and I was finally able to pay and my kid immediately went back to school.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The following day after receiving the funds my child was sent back home due to failure in settling the debt in tuition so I ended up paying KES 500. Afterwards I decided to use some part of the balance and I ended up buying a hen making me have three which I planned to invest in poultry farming. As for the other part of the balance which was KES 370 I decided to use it on nutrition so I bought a one kilogram of rice, half a kilogram of sugar, bread and cooking oil.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I had plans to join secondary school but my parents could not afford raising school fees, so I chose to become a tailor.However I ended up getting married before my dream was fulfilled. Life is not good, my husband who does casual labour sends home not more than 3 000 KES every month which cannot support me in undertaking the tailoring course I have longed to. I will save 2000 KES every month from the transfers for five months and get enrolled in a local vocational training institute. Becoming a tailor will enable me help my husband in providing for the family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It is a shock to see me standing when I am seven month pregnant. I am grateful and jovial for the good health because in my first and second pregnancy, sixth to ninth month were terrible. My legs were swollen making it difficult to move, I could not take anything and the abdominal pain was incomparable. My current situation is much better and I cannot shy off from expressing my joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Due to financial upheavals, my firstborn has not started going to school. My husband fell sick for about a month and the cash which was meant to take the boy to school was spent on his medication. We are still not sure if the child will be taken to school in this academic year since our plea for support from relatives fall in deaf ears.