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.
Alice's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Alice received a $502 initial payment.
"I operate a kiosk business in the nearest shopping centres. I was still opening it and did not have most of the household provisions. Due to this, I usually feel bad and demotivated seeing my customers go to buy some items from other shops. When I received my transfer, I decided to spend KES 40000 to expand this business by buying more stock and adding some clothes for sell. I decided to include clothes as a way of diversifying the items I sell so that I can attract different types of customers and increase my income. Also, I spent KES 9000 to purchase three goats and used the remaining KES 5000 on clothes and some food for my family."
Constance's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Constance received a $502 initial payment.
"When I received my transfers, I spent KES 25000 to purchase 7 goats. This are investments to me that I can rely on in future by selling them and using the money to pay school fees for my children. I am a tailor and the sewing machine that I was using had broken down and repairing it was more expensive than the cost of buying a new one. I was able to spend KES 13000 from my transfer to purchase a new one and some fabrics for this business. Also, I spent 2000 KES to pay school fees for my son who had been sent back home and spent the remaining KES 13000 on food, clothes and other household necessities for my family."
Rehema's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Rehema received a $485 second payment.
"My daughter is suffering from cancer, has been admitted at the hospital and her condition is still not better as she is in so much pains. I spent KES 15000 from the transfer to pay for her medication and saved KES 17000 for emergency purposes. I am glad that she is in the hands of professionals and I believe that she will soon get well. Also, I purchased three goats at KES 9000 as an investment. I will sell some when they will have increased in number and use the money to buy a dairy cow and pay school fees for my children. Lastly, I purchased some food and utensils for my family using KES 7000."
Mapenzi's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Mapenzi enrolled.
"Receiving this money means a decent and a spacious house for my family of ten. I have a big family but I only manage to sleep under a one bedroom house together with my husband and all my children. This has really affected our privacy given that I am forced to share the room with my grown up children. Immediately I receive the transfer from GiveDirectly, I will use 400 dollars to construct a three bedroom house which will be enough for my entire family. This will assure me the privacy I desire plus I will be happy seeing my children sleep under a descent and furnished house. I will use the balance to buy goats. I live in a dry area where goats can survive without any challenges. I will later sell the goats to educate my children and attend to any need in my family."
Kingi's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Kingi received a $502 initial payment.
"I was busy grassing my goats in the farmland when I had a message notification on my phone. I couldn't understand its contents and I had to return home for my helper to explain the message, Upon checking he realized that it was the transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt very happy for receiving my transfer an opportunity to transform my life for the better."
Dama's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Dama received a $502 initial payment.
"With my four children actively schooling at the moment, supporting them with all the required resources with the huge sum of school fees to pay had never been easier. I have twins attending the same secondary school, and the other two still in the local primary school all with unsettled financial obligations in their schools that I am yet to meet. With the first transfer, I dedicated KES20000 to clearing the previous term's areas, and KES30000 to cover the whole of the current term as each of the twins had to pay KES15000 to stay in school for the whole term. With another KES4000 of the remaining amount, I also ensured that I fulfilled the promise I had made in the local primary school where my younger kids are. Having cleared the all debts, I decided to obtain the school's stationery and foodstuff for the household with the last bit of transfer in my account. I am currently relieved, working comfortably on my farm projects as I hope to direct a huge part of the second transfer to the construction of a new house for my son who had been seeking a place to sleep in the neighborhood every night and also part of that transfer will specifically be obtaining at least a goat for each member of the household."
Hellen's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Hellen received a $486 second payment.
"Having a large family of six has been quite challenging meeting the financial obligations of every household member. All the four children are currently in school with the elder one taking a course in driving and mechanics, while the other three are still in secondary school. On receiving the first transfer, I decided to pay KES18000 for the elder son pursuing a driving course and also KES6000 for the other son in secondary school. I am glad that they are currently enjoying ample reading time without being sent home to collect their school fees like in the previous months. With the remaining amount, I added the foodstuff worth KES5000 to our store that will keep us going as we work hard to obtain more from the farm. I also dedicated KES10000 to seeking medical attention as I had been unwell and frequently visiting various hospitals for quite some time. I managed to get an X-ray examination and obtained medication that is so far allowed me to resume my casual chores and drastically reduced the visits to the hospital. Because all the children are actively studying and will always require school fees, I invested the remaining KES9000 on two goats that I am currently keeping in my field. The two will later be of great help in case of an emergency or any difficulty in raising full school fees for my sons."
Sidi's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Sidi received a $502 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am leading a happy life after fulfilling my dream of owning an alternative source of income for my family. Previously, I depend on firewood selling which was low-paying and sometimes I could spend the whole day without getting a customer to purchase them. Through the transfer, I was able to start goat rearing job that is easy to do and will supplement my earning from firewood selling."
Kadzo's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Kadzo received a $502 initial payment.
"I spent KES 25000 to support the education of my 7 children, 2 in secondary school and the others are in primary school. This is because they had a huge fee balance and I lacked money to support them. I also invested KES 22500 in livestock rearing by purchasing one indigenous dairy cow and one goat this is a reliable source of livelihood for the family. I will be able to sell milk to earn a living which I will use to cater for my daily needs like food. The remaining amount assisted me in paying medical bills for my brother-in law who was admitted in hospital."
Kadzo's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Kadzo received a $502 initial payment.
"I was at my farm at exactly 9 in the morning when I was preparing pasture for the goats when I heard my phone ringing. This was notifying me of a new message. Since I am illiterate, I decided to proceed with the task that I was handling but before I could finish, my son joined me. Later on, I asked him to check for me the content of the new message. I couldn't contain my joy after he said that I had finally received my first transfer. We even decided to go back home and shared the news with my spouse and others."
goat