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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
attach_money
 
Transfers
check
Completed
Newsfeed > Onyango's Profile
Onyango's family
Onyango
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
25
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
attach_money
 
Follow to be updated on Onyango's next check-in.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, I have been able to collect a good number of iron sheets which I expect to use in building my homestead with what has remained is only the money to pay laborers. I feel this is the biggest difference in my life since with the scarce resource I have, I could not have met the full cost of building materials. I thank GiveDirectly because, through the transfers, I am hopeful that I will be able to construct a new iron-roofed house to live in.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I don't have a new goal in the next four months since I am focused on completing my homestead. I have felt the pressure of our customary laws that requires us to leave our parents home once we are grown up. I know once I have completed this will relieve me of the burden and open up chances for other goals in my life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Even though I have been lucky to be working in a nearby private school, meeting my household's daily basic needs has not been easy. With the high cost of living my salary has not been enough to cater to both daily basic needs and save or invest. The biggest difference in my daily life is that have been able to engage in development projects like buying some iron sheets with the intention of using them to build a homestead. I am happy to have accumulated this since I couldn't have done it if it was not for GiveDirectly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
It is always my plan to reduce daily household expenditures and increase my income on savings. I expect in the next six months to improve my farming with the use of monthly transfers. I expect to employ modern mechanism in my farm like the use of hybrids inputs and machines in land preparation. This will improve my yields hence will have enough food and surpluses to sell to increase my income.
 
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I have been using the cash to buy building materials such as iron sheets, nails, and timber which I feel has seen me take a big step towards getting a new house. Were it not for the cash transfers from GD, I do not think it would have been possible for me to get the materials because my little income cannot be enough to buy all those items.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have been buying a few building materials and I think I would like to increase the quantity of the materials so that I can be able to construct a new house within the next few months to come. I have a family that is expanding so I need a large house that accommodates all of us without feeling squeezed in a small and uncomfortable structure.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The cash has been of great help to me and so far I have seen a lot of changes in my life one of them being the ease of family burden on my part. Initially, I used to be the sole provider where I had to chip into my pocket and pay for all the bills in the house but today I get a little support from my wife who also gets monthly transfers from GD. The amount of money that I earn as my salary is too low and has never been enough to sustain the family but today with the additional cash that I get from GD, I can be so proud to say that I no longer feel so burdened like it used to be in the past.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I want to have household items such as new seats, tables, and wardrobes. I also need to add more beds and beddings for the kids who currently sleep on old mattresses which according to me is not such a good thing to be proud of.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is now different in that I now have comfortable sofa seats and a mattress. I now sleep well unlike before, the mattress was worn out and thin. It felt like sleeping on a bed without a mattress. I could wake up so tired with a backache which is no longer the case given that I have a new mattress.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Currently, I have no new goals apart from the plan I had of building a bigger house to enhance the comfort of space. I will move on with the plan as I had set before to completion.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Upon receiving my transfer, I bought a new mattress and a set of sofas. I have been sleeping on an old and thin mattress. One could think I was sleeping on a bed without a mattress. This caused me to have backaches but now that I was able to buy a new mattress, I enjoy my sleep and I no longer experience the backaches. The sofas I had were also old and broken, this did not paint a good picture whenever I had visitors around so I decided to replace them with new ones. Now my living room looks beautiful and I can comfortable welcome visitors at any time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I have been buying building materials. In the next six months, I will have built a bigger house which can host my family. This will enable us to enjoy the comfort of space.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I was able to buy a few household items such as a new sofa-set in addition to buying a ploughing hoe.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My wife and I will be able to start a business so that we will not rely on other people to give us employment opportunities.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is now different because I am able to make financial plans without any problems.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I am aiming at going to college if at all I will be able to save extra cash that will enable me get enough cash that can pay the fees for the rest of the days.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that i have faced is not having a reliable source of income to enable me to provide for my family's needs. For a very long time, both my mother and wife were very sick and they had to be admitted at the hospital.So much money was needed for their treatment but my income was not enough.They had to be detained at the hospital even after getting well so that the bill could be cleared and this hurt me alot.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening after completing my work in the farm and i am able to meet with my friends at our nearest center and watch football which is my favourite game.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on paying fees for my diploma course in education so that i can be able to get a stable job with the government to enable me take care of my family.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement that i am proudest of was being able to complete my certificate course in education amidst so many challenges of not being able to raise school fees on time.