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.
Furaha's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Furaha enrolled.
"I would like to start a business selling vegetables, cooking flour and other essentials. I believe this is the best way to keep my money and also to multiply it so that the profit can go into some other projects that are not income generating like repairing my house. These items that I intend to offer are the most selling in the village because everybody else uses them. Some of the proceeds will also go into educating my children who are still at primary level for now."
Amina's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Amina enrolled.
"Everyday here is a nightmare! I have a good house and I can afford quality food for my family, but we're always constantly reminded that we do not belong. This piece of land is owned by my husband's brother who allowed his brothers to build houses upon his late father's request. But now that the father is gone, he's always harassing them to go look for their own places. It would be wise for us at this point to just save up and buy a piece of land to build a home we can call our own."
Juddy's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Juddy enrolled.
"When my father-in-law became sick in the year 2017, he sold part of the land which we were living in and it was in another village. It was sold to settle the huge medical bill but unfortunately, we lost him 3 weeks ago. We were forced to relocate to another land which is near his homestead and build a small hut. The hut is too small to accommodate a family of 4 yet is used as a kitchen and at the same time as the main house. Our dream has been to put up a better and bigger house using the transfer from Give Directly. At an estimated cost of KES 30,000, we intend to build a better house and live a fulfilling life. I was super excited when I learned that Give Directly was making their entry into our village knowing that our dream will soon materialize."
Grace's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Grace enrolled.
"Food insecurity is the current challenge I am facing. I am a mother of 3 children. I own a small business where I sell household items mainly cutlery. This business approximately earns me a profit of 3,000 KES per month. This amount is very little to fully sustain us for one month. My husband who works in Lamu as a welder tops up the amount, but because he is not permanently employed, he sometimes fails to support us. This leaves us with only the 3,000 KES to depend on. To avoid going to bed hungry, we sometimes have to skip the lunch meal."
Margret's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Margret enrolled.
"I am a widow with 5 children living a destitute life. My husband was murdered in 2014 because of land conflict and I was forced to return to live with my parents. I have been struggling doing small business of cooking lunch to the teachers of my nearby primary school so that I can earn a living with my 5 children. I started a clothes business recently which I see it has a good profit and I am planning to expand it by investing much capital so that I can earn a huge profit than what I am earning. I started the cloth business with 10,000 KES and I am getting a profit of 2000 KES per month. Receiving this money means I will increase the capital to my clothes business so that I can earn a huge profit than this.I will also renovate my house and buy beddings so that my children can sleep comfortably."
Eunice's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Eunice enrolled.
"Poverty is the mother of all the challenges that I'm facing. I'm a housewife who is married to a casual laborer. My husband earns as little as ksh1000 a month. This cannot afford us basic needs and pay school fees for our kids. My six years old has never stepped into a school and I had no hopes of taking him to school until I was enrolled in this program."
Catherine's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Catherine enrolled.
"My area is prone to drought and often I have to get someone to fetch water for household use. I have one water tank which I use in collecting rain water but recently there has been no rains and my household lacks water. I have to either fetch water in the morning before going to school or after and I'm normally tired from my teaching job in the evening. I wish to have sufficient water for my household by buying another tank to add to the one I already have. The estimated cost for the tank is KES 15,000, and the remaining money from my first transfer I will pay school fees for my 4 children who are still in school."
Joyce's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Joyce received a $489 initial payment.
"While looking after my cattle at 9 a.m, I heard my phone beep. I was met with a lovely surprise when I checked my phone and saw that I had received KES 55,000. I was so excited to finally start the construction of my new house."
Betty's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Betty received a $489 initial payment.
"Before receiving this cash transfer, my family had to buy milk every morning, at KES 35 a litre. This is costly for us because we have no source of income. This situation has caused us a lot of distress in the past. But I'm glad to note that things have changed. We bought a dairy cow that has been supplying our family of four with enough milk. We can save the money we would spend on the same to meet other needs. Thanks, GD!"
Theresa's family
access_time over 2 years ago
Theresa received a $284 initial payment.
"I really do miss my dead husband. I now understand what men go through. I have to be strong and take care of my kids. With the first transfer that I received, I was able to pay my children, especiallly the School fees of my daughter who is in the 12th grade. I feel excited because she has done very well and brought proud to me and her late father. I bought the others kids their Uniform. Moreover, I bought two bundles of Zinc to improve my house. The roof of my house is currently a Tatch. It has been so deplorable to the extent we have to place dishes all over in all the rooms when it rains. It has been a goal for as well. The leakages to the roof of my house has been seriously bad. I am so excited to be empower and that the decision to change my life rest with me."