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.
Milianotwinomujun's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Milianotwinomujun received a $464 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my life is that I have received financial support that will fulfill my future plan of acquiring a motorcycle. Before receiving the cash transfer, I always had a future plan of starting up a boda-boda transport business. However, I did not have any financial support to accomplish that dream. Nevertheless, I am very grateful that GiveDirectly has made this dream come true for me."
Everlyne's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Everlyne enrolled.
"My biggest hardship I'm faced with is lack of income to feed the family. My husband used to ride a motorcycle where he could get money to support the family but the owner of the motocycle took back his bike."
Joshua's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Joshua enrolled.
"My first priority is to invest in transportation business. I will buy a motorcycle and use it for transportation of people and goods around Mathare. From the research I have done, motorcycle business is one of the source of income to many youths. I will be able to employ myself and improve my standard of living from the profits I get from my business. Secondly, I will open a boutique shop in Mlango Kubwa, Mathare. I will be buying second hand clothes from Gikomba market. The population is high thus providing a ready market for my business and I therefore expect to have more profit in return. Thirdly, I will use the remaining transfer to buy food, so as to have something on my table on a daily basis."
Elizabeth's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Elizabeth received a $540 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now own a pair of oxen. I have been having an interest in rearing for a very long period of time but due to my low capital, I could not afford it. The oxen will help me in my farming. Having my own oxen will relieve me of the cost of hiring from my neighbors which were very expensive. Most of the times I could not afford it. I will also be able to increase the acreage of my farm and this is an assurance that the level of food production will increase. I am also planning to hire them to my neighbors at a fee which will be a source of income to me. Through that, I will be able to easily pay school fees for my children and cater for other basic needs." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
John's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
John received a $22 sixteenth payment.
"In the next six months, I am planning to continue spending my transfers on bus fare to school as I have been doing with the past transfers. This has been helpful and I would want to use it in the best way to achieve the best results at the end of my academic period." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Francis's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Francis enrolled.
"My first priority is to expand my side hustle business of selling sweets and sugarcane. I work in construction sites and the money I receive is not enough to cater for my family upkeep. I would want to expand my business of selling sweet and sugarcane to a retail shop to supplement my income that I get from constructions sites. I will open my business in Kosovo, Mathare. Kosovo is a densely populated area that provides a ready market for my business. Secondly, I will save the remaining part of my transfer, the profit that I will get from my retail shop as well as my income from construction sites to invest in motorcycle business in future. I would want to buy a motorcycle and use it for transportation of people and goods. From the research I have done here in Mathare, motorcycle business is a major source of employment to many youths. I will therefore, have an opportunity to be self employed and quit working on construction sites because of the harsh condition I normally subject myself as I am always forced without protective gears and no medical cover incase of an emergency. I expect to generate more income from my motorcycle business which will improve my standard of living and that of my family."
Carolyne's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Carolyne received a $49 eighth payment.
"I have plans of buying a motorcycle which I will hire out for transport business. A motorcycle is quite expensive and I never ever thought I would be able to buy one, but these transfers have given me the chance to do so through proper savings. I also have an opportunity to take a loan and buy the motorcycle because I know I will manage to clear it through the monthly transfers. Motorcycle business is quite a lucrative one in this area since most people have not ventured into it because of the actual cost of purchase which is why I am thinking towards it."
Neema's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Neema enrolled.
"Receiving this money means my dream of investing in a motorbike taxi is finally coming to reality. Currently, I depend solely on my husband's earnings, and given that he is a driver, his income is hardly enough to meet the household's needs. The only mode of transportation here is a motorcycle, this is a sector I want to venture into, particularly transportation of charcoal to Mombasa town. On a good day, one can earn up to ksh 2000. If I combine this with what my husband brings home, the issue of financial instability will be addressed. Again, I want to invest in agriculture, particularly maize farming and to achieve this, I will use part of my transfers to purchase oxen to assist in timely cultivation and ultimately get better yields." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
George's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
George received a $22 twelfth payment.
"I have a new goal of saving and buying another motorcycle to help generate more income for my family" (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Dennis's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Dennis received a $22 sixteenth payment.
"My life is currently different in that I now have more income of my own and self reliant than I was four months a go. I can proudly say I am working towards leading an independent life free from over reliance on my parents and other well wishers. I am now proud that I have been able to assist my parents in gathering for my own personal needs and given them enough time to look for school fees and gather for the other household member needs. They have also been able to facilitate their own income generating activities. I have also been able to clear a loan that I had borrowed to buy a motorcycle and I can now start saving more money from the proceeds of my motorcycle business. I already have plans of buying a second motorcycle and even make more income for myself and raise the living standards of myself and my family."
motorcycle