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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.
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Newsfeed > Benson's Profile
Benson's family
Benson
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
45
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Benson's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I have a plan of buying farm inputs to use in the long rains. I have been using local inputs but since I started using hybrid seeds and fertilizers, I have realised improved harvest and I would still want to continue in the same way.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I can get quality medical attention for myself and my family. In the past, I used to go to local hospitals and since I did not have a good income to help me go to good hospitals for treatment. In most cases, I used to prefer traditional medicine which was cheaper than going to the hospital. As a result, I ended up using a lot of money for treatment which should not have been the case if I would have gone to the hospital. Therefore when I started getting my transfers, I decided to get a National Hospital Insure Fund card which I have been serving on a monthly basis and my family is now well covered. Anytime there is someone sick in the family, they get a good treatment and I don't have to treat the same ailment over and over again.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I plan to buy building materials such as iron sheets, timber and nails which I plan to use in building a shed for my goats. Currently, they share the same kitchen where my children are sleeping and I do not feel its comfortable for my children. I would want to give them the best and make them feel at home. They have always understood why it happened but I would not want to have lots of excuses on the same.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
There are a lot of improvements that I have seen in terms of what I have been able to get from my farm within the previous four months. Initially, I used to cultivate a one-acre piece of land but currently, I am able to cultivate more than one and a half acreage of land which yields a bumper harvest.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I want to make sure that I invest more in agriculture by buying modern fertilizers and hybrid seeds which I know will give me a good yield come next year when we will be harvesting. I am normally left with the little amount after paying for my medical insurance contributions but then I have to make sure that I make the most out of the little that I am normally left with.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I can say that the biggest difference in my life is that I have been experiencing a lot of financial relief in terms of finances. For instance, I have been paying my NHIF dues every single month which leaves me with some little cash to take care of other financial needs in the family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I plan to invest more in agriculture because it is the only way through which the family can become food secure going into the future. Based on the plans I have in place, I have to make sure that I use modern farming methods so that my yields or harvests can increase over time.
 
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, my life is different in that I have been able to buy a goat. That I'll later sell when they will have reproduced and use the money to buy a dairy cow. With the dairy cow, I believed their will be enough supply of milk to sell to other people in the village thus increasing my daily income. This will help me get enough income to cater to my family necessities and emergencies whenever they arise.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have no additional goals at the moment since we are in the farming season and people are running up and down preparing their farms for planting. I would not wish to be left behind, so I am using more of these transfers to hire labourers to till my farm and also buy fertilizers which will eventually boost my farm produce.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the next four months is that I have been able to buy a goat. That I'll later sell when they will have reproduced and use the money to buy a dairy cow. With the dairy cow, I believe there will be enough supply of milk to sell to other people in the village thus increasing my daily income. This will help me get enough income to cater to my family necessities and emergencies whenever they arise.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that I shall have saved and with the savings, I will use to start breeding chicken to make an extra income. The profits from the sales of the eggs and the chickens will enable me to start bigger projects such as rearing livestock and I will cut the cost of buying milk.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
The other difference in my life because of GD transfers is that I have a goat in my home. It has been my dream to have at least one type of livestock in my home but it has not been possible due to my low income from casual work of water vending in the village only during the dry season. I knew with livestock, I will have an investment which I can sell to raise money to solve family needs and the other will reproduce to eradicate my poverty. This is a big step in my life and I know I will achieve my goal through this one goat.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to buy farm inputs such as hybrid seeds and fertilizers which I want to use on my farm. This will give me a good harvest to help me feed my family well and even sell some to raise money to pay school fees for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have been able to service my Nationa Hospital Insurance Fund card in time without delays. This has helped me give quality medical healthcare services for my family. I would not want to have a situation I had before the transfers where I could only buy painkillers for my children because I could not get the kind of money needed to give quality health care services. I want to raise a healthy family which I know will help them improve on their studies. Anytime they are sick and do not get quality health care, they fall sick regularly which affects their performance in school because they spent a lot of time at home.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I plan to pay school fees for my children. I would not want my children to be sent home every now and again for school fees. I will use the transfers to pay their arrears bit by bit until I clear all the fees balances so that they can have humble time to study and get good grades.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that my health has improved, I am less stressed and very active.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to build an animal shed hence there will be good security for my animals and my animal will be healthy stying in an enclosed place.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is that I no longer strain when taking care of my needs unlike before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that, I will have bought a lot of cattle hence more value for my money.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($5 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I currently have no new goal apart from the ones I had earlier. These were get my family a medical cover, this way we secure our health and expand my farming activities to have food security.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am planning to acquire ma medical cover this will improve and ease our access to health facilities. This I would not have been able to acquire if it were not for GD.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months expect to have good health consistently having acquired medical cover. Secondly I see myself having better life in terms of having food security from the farm harvest. This will be achievable after expanding my farm activities.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving payments is am able to have good health. I am planning to have access to medical care. With good health you are able to do a lot of things including farming which is my major occupation.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I am facing in life is unreliable source of income. I am unable to pay my children's school fees timely.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening, this is when I serve more customers which means I get more profit.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on; buying building materials, pay labor for the construction of my main house since the one I am living in is not spacious enough for my family.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is having started a posho mill business which is my supplementary source of income.