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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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Ismael's Profile
Ismael's family
Ismael
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Motorcycle or bicycle taxi
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Ismael's next check-in.
 
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?
The lesser communities have been uplifted and given a chance to hope for a better future as the unconditional transfers ensure better planning and great investments among the people.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Getting by the days has been a major challenge as jobs have been hard to come by and also finances have been scarce. I am married to one wife and together we were blessed with one child whom sadly passed on. On my end, I am a mortocycle taxi rider where I ferry people and goods to different destinations at a fee which I use to provide for my wife and I since she has no job. Receiving the KES 3000 brought a major difference to our lives and really helped. I bought some maize flour for our home at KES 1250 as the food we had previously was already finished. More to that, I spent KES 1750 getting myself some four pairs of new trousers as I had a shortage of clothes to wear even when going to work.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
To express the happiness I had after I received these funds is close to impossible. This is because I was feeling stuck at the time. This was the second day without any earnings from my work as a boda-boda driver. For this, I was very worried I would not have the money to take home again. Which will only mean going to bed on an empty stomach. There was a sudden shift in my mood when I saw the message confirming the receipt of the cash. So, my first decision was to use some of the transfer to start poultry farming which would help in boosting my finances. For the remaining amount, I bought some maize flour as at the time we did not have any food in the house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before I started receiving these funds, there were days when I would have needs to meet but due to the limitation of funds, I would put on hold some of those needs and only focus on the most important ones. For instance, when I need to buy clothes and food, I will focus on purchasing food instead. Now that I have these funds, I will boost my finances after I start the poultry farming business. This will give me the means to start a saving routine towards purchasing a motorcycle of my own. Where one sells at KES 120000. I hope I will fulfill this in one year. Therefore, there is a great difference in my life now that I am receiving these funds, I am more hopeful and determined that I will meet my goals.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used to be a father of one, unfortunately, my baby developed some heart problems. It became worse last year and he succumbed. This left my wife and I devastated. Even so, I never gave up. I kept working to provide for her plus improve our lives with the faith that my family will grow. Presently, I work as a boda-boda driver using someone else's motorcycle. From the profit I make in a day, I only get to keep 25% of it, the remaining amount then goes to the fuel money and the owner's share. So, when I received the funds from give directly, my plan was to start poultry farming in order to improve my earnings. To realize this, I need 10 chickens. Since I can't buy all of them at once, I started by purchasing 1 at KES 350 and the rest I will keep buying using my next transfers. I also had run out of food in my household. Thus, the decision to purchase maize flour with the remaining amount.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means self-employment. I work as a motorcycle taxi driver. Despite being in this industry, I do not own a motorcycle. I have to borrow one for me to work. The disadvantage is, the owner takes the bigger percentage of what I make. This leaves me with a tiny amount. I intend to save his money up to 15,000 KES. This amount is enough to buy a motorcycle on higher purchase. With my motorcycle, I will be able to make enough money to sustain my family comfortably.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was the happiest person over the festive season of 2021. I am a motorcycle taxi operator. Due to the many movements that come with the December holiday. I made a lot of money. Customers were in plenty. I was making approximately 1,500 KES a day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The motorcycle taxi industry is now shaky. The customers are very few. With a higher number of motorcycles, fighting for clients is the order of the day. Currently, I make 300 KES per day at most. When I fuel the motorcycle, I remain with very little money to buy food for my household. We are now used to involuntarily taking two meals per day.