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.
Branis's family
access_time 2 years ago
Branis enrolled.
"I am passionate about chicken farming because I feel it is not only easy to manage but also its products have a ready market. It is a source of pride and it makes me feel more of a woman than when I have none. I had a flock of 30 chickens but last year it was wiped out by a strange disease and this left me devastated. I have a desire to start it off all over again with 15 chicken at a cost of KES 500 each. I also intend to have a spacious structure constructed at a cost of KES 7500. Receiving this money will help me revive my poultry farming and this will be an additional source of income for me."
Jesca's family
access_time 2 years ago
Jesca enrolled.
"Receiving this money means a start of poultry farming. I am a business lady selling second-hand clothes in the market. My work is so demanding in terms of travel time and money. Having an alternative source of income will help me broaden this business and get direct orders of stock from the suppliers.I will be able to do this through starting up poultry farming with 30 hens at an approximate cost of KES 350 each.I prefer this because chicken rearing requires little space, less time when you have proper housing and adequate feeds.With this business I foresee incomes of KES 450 daily from the sale of eggs."
Karisa's family
access_time 2 years ago
Karisa received a $11 initial payment.
"I used to study tailoring but when my parents could no longer afford the fee, I was forced to drop out. Since I had learnt the basics of tailoring, I opened a shop to continue with my practice as a way to earn a living and perfect my skills. Since my shop is still new, I do not have many customers. Therefore, I still depend on my mother, who is a traditional wine Brewer, for financial support. I also practice poultry farming so I used the funds to buy three chickens at KES900, the remaining KES250, I bought a t-shirt and soap."
Eunice's family
access_time 2 years ago
Eunice received a $11 initial payment.
"I was cutting down trees, as part of my usual routine, to manufacture some charcoal when I got the message confirming the receipt of the funds. I dropped all that I was doing and headed to the house to share the great news with my husband. Jointly, we agreed to buy chickens in place of a goat since the money was not enough."
Daisy's family
access_time 2 years ago
Daisy received a $468 second payment.
"Our new goal is to fence the whole of our land and to start a better business that can sustain us. I want to do the fencing so that I can lock up the sheep in one part of the farm and leave them to graze. This way I will have time to do other things and not worry about them going to other people's farms to destroy crops. I usually go to the market on market day to sell the woven ropes that I make and to sell eggs from my chickens. I, however, do not usually stay up to the end of the day since I am constantly worrying thinking that the sheep might have gone away to cause some destruction. As a result, I always end up coming early hence fewer sales and money. We do not have the money to do the fencing but that will be topmost priority if we get the money needed to do so. If we manage to do this, I will hence be able to concentrate on improving my business. I plan to buy more chickens so that I can get more eggs for sales. With the expanded business, I will be able to get more income that will help me in payment of school fees for my five children who are in secondary school. Payment of school fees has always been our biggest challenge since we do not have stable sources of income. My husband usually goes to do casual work in a nearby county so that we can raise more money for school fees and the family upkeep."
Esther's family
access_time 2 years ago
Esther received a $27 second payment.
"With the GiveDirectly funds of KES 3000, I have been able to save up in order to pay fees for my kid(s) amounting to KES 600. Moreover, I have been able to add to food supplements at KES 1400 as we have been having abit of shortage. The remaining KES 1000 I bought 4 chicken which atleast lay eggs and offer an additional of the food supplements needed."
Shidha's family
access_time 2 years ago
Shidha received a $27 second payment.
"I have earned a living for the better part of my life by working on other people’s farms. When the drought set in, I lost my source of livelihood. I opted to make brooms for sale. One broom goes KSH 100. The materials required to make the broom come from the coconut tree leaves. Because of the drought, the coconut trees do not provide enough materials to use in making the brooms. This then means in a week, if lucky, you can make three brooms only. The money is not enough to feed my family and also save some to invest in other projects or pay school fees. When I received the transfer I saved KSH 1000 in a chama. The reason for saving is to gain a loan that I will use to build my house well. Because of the strong winds and the weak poles used to build the house, there are fault lines on the walls and the house can go down. In addition, I bought a chicken at KSH 700. I want to venture into poultry farming so that I can have an additional source of income. I also spent KSH 600 to start a small business for myself. I bought some Omena that I have sold to my neighbors. This will earn me profit and use it to cater to my needs. With the remaining amount of KSH 700, I spent it on buying food. The food stock in the house was getting finished and, to avoid starving, I opted to add more stock."
Kanze's family
access_time 2 years ago
Kanze received a $11 initial payment.
"Receiving money from GiveDirectly has been of great help to me and my family. I am an old woman. I do not have any work at the moment but to depend on farming when it rains. In which we are experiencing extreme drought. I hence have no money but to depend on my children and grandchildren to support me through life. The transfer assisted me so much in buying three packets of floor at Kes.345. Two chicken at Kes. 600 and paid the remaining amount for my grandchildren school fees. Thank you so much for the transfer."
Sarah's family
access_time 2 years ago
Sarah received a $468 second payment.
"When I received my second transfer, I spent KES 10000 on farming. I hired a tractor for land preparation purposes and bought enough hybrid seeds for planting. In addition, I bought some chicken at KES 3000 so that I can sometimes be selling eggs and use the money to buy some basic needs for my family. Also, I spent KES 6000 on new clothes for my children and KES 10000 on some foodstuffs and utensils. I still have KES 13000 that I am planning to spend on food and in case of an emergency."
Lilian's family
access_time 2 years ago
Lilian received a $468 second payment.
"We had a plan to start a poultry project before receiving our second transfer and on receiving them, we spent KES 35000 to build a chicken coop and buy some chicken. We settled on this since this project is profitable and one can run it alongside other projects like crop and dairy farming. In addition, I spent 12000 to fence my compound by buying barbed wire, poles and paid for the labor. We decided on this since our neighbor's livestock had been destroying our crops whenever we are not around since our compound and farm were open."
chicken