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.
Sidi's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Sidi received a $543 initial payment.
"I have some houses in Mombasa that I have been renting out each at 1000KES. They cost was low just because I had not cemented the rooms. When I received my transfer, my first plan of action was to cement them. It has really paid off because I have already increased the rent. Each tenant is paying 2000 KES and they are not complaining because their houses look decent. To me, this means a lot because my source of income has increased. I also bought a solar lantern because I have been using a torch. Sharing a torch was difficult because everyone wanted to do different things and we had to share one torch. I am glad that my house is well lit and I do not struggle using the torch anymore. I finally bought two bulls. This will help me to cultivate my land and even carry water from the water point."
Sarah's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Sarah enrolled.
"The biggest hardship I face is lack of enough money to enable me build permanent iron-roofed house for comfortable shelter. I have tried labouring for long but all in vain, So my children always fall sick due to constant rain water falling in them whenever it rains."
Sidi's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Sidi enrolled.
"Charcoal burning being our main source of income can no longer be depended on due to scarcity of trees and the hard labor it requires which mostly results in health complications. This makes limited financial resources the biggest hardship that we face. Last month, just before the end of first term exams, my son who is in secondary school was sent home to collect his fee balance so he can be allowed to sit his exam. I literally had to beg the headteacher to allow him in school and promised to clear it in May when they re-open for the second term. Also, despite it being the rainy season, we are yet to receive rainfall. This has made water a very scarce commodity in our village, I have to walk for three hours to access the nearest water point. Most times when am very tired due to the nature of my work, I have to spend fifty shillings per twenty litre jerican to be fetched and transported using a motorcycle while normally, l would buy a jerican at ten shillings. "
Fatuam's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Fatuam received a $544 initial payment.
"I spent part of my first transfer on purchasing two bulls that I plan to use on ploughing my land. I am also thinking of hiring them and ploughing other people's land so as to earn some money. Part of the money was spent on buying a new battery for my solar panel which has not been working for over a year now. I also bought a large quantity of water in our nearby town called Bamba. Lack of money made me walk for a long distance in search of water. This was always tiresome and I could only manage to fetch two jerrycans after wasting a whole day going to and from the water point. I am glad that I can use my time well to do other household chores. I finally used the remaining amount to buy food that would last us for a while."
Mustafa's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Mustafa received a $545 second payment.
"My life is different because I no longer fetch water from the river which is located several kilometres away from where I live. I used to strain a lot by walking for long distances before getting tot the only source of water we had around. Moreover, I am so proud of owning this solar powered panel that I purchased using GDs transfers. Using the solar panel is very convenient as compared to using the paraffin lamps that chocks the users and generally prove to be harmful to human beings health due to the soot emitted from such lamps."
Dama's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Dama received a $544 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am more peaceful and happy. I managed to invest the money I got which I believe will sustain me for the longest time possible. I bought two goats and two bulls. I have already started using the bulls to cultivate my land. Initially, I had to part with a few coins in order to hire someone's bulls so as to help in ploughing my piece of land. The bulls have also reduced the burden of carrying water from the various water points that are normally very far. I improvised a carrier that the bulls can use to carry water and I am happy that now I can collect a number of jerrycans at ago using the bulls unlike before where I could carry only one on my head.."
Dama's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Dama enrolled.
"I wake up as early as 6:00 am and go to fetch water from a water pan that is very far from my home. I end up spending more than two hours on the way and by the time I return home, I am usually very tired. After taking breakfast, I go to the fields where I spend the better part of the day tending to the process of preparing the furnace to burn my charcoal. These whole process is normally very tiring and by the time that I return home in the evening, I normally feel so happy because I finally get to rest."
Maritha's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Maritha received a $252 second payment.
"I have a plan of starting a small scale business that I can rely on and use to sustain my family far much better than what the fishmongering business has been generating. The problem with relying on the fishmongering business is that it is unreliable, for instance, currently, there are restrictions on fishing because the number of fish have reduced significantly, so for the next few months we will have to do without the business until such a time when the fishermen are allowed back into the waters."
Esther's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
Esther received a $445 second payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is that, I have owned 2 piglets that I intend to keep for my children's education. I am also having new beddings, a water drum, four jerry cans and I was able to seek proper medical treatment for myself and children with this transfer. Previously , I used to sell the tittle food I had for paying medical bills and school fees."
David's family
access_time almost 5 years ago
David received a $253 second payment.
"We normally ex[erience a lot of water shortages in this area which makes life difficult. My dream is to have the water piped all the way to our house so that we no longer have to be experiencing such difficulties in accessing water."
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