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.
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Newsfeed > Erick's Profile
Erick's family
Erick
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
40
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Erick's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 4 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 plan to keep saving towards my children's school fees. I desire that they receive the best as far as education is concerned because I was not privileged to get the best education.
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 past four months is that I have been able to pay school fees for my children consistently. Though I have arrears it is not as huge as it used to be I started receiving the transfers. Besides that, I have been able to purchase foodstuff enough for the household. We do not have to go without food as we used to before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will have set aside a kitty for my children's school fees which I will be adding to it every time I receive my transfers. I also will have bought livestock for rearing and a way of investing for the future. This has been a dream ever since but resources couldn't allow me to proceed with the investment.
 
17th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a new goal of saving the transfers and buying livestock for rearing. This will be just as financial security for the family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have been able to secure my children's education by using the transfers to pay school fees, stationery and school uniforms for them. THy hardly stay home due to lack of school anymore and this has really enabled them to always stay in school and concentrate on their studies more. We can also afford food on a daily basis even if I am not able to earn anything in days. Previously, I would really toil so hard to provide just a meal a day for my family but that is not the case anymore as we have plenty to eat in a day.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect the change in the next few months as I shall have bought the livestock for rearing. I have always wanted to rear livestock specifically for the production of milk for our daily consumption to nourish us. I look forward to having the livestock by then. We can always sell the milk to generate income for our upkeep.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I am stress-free as I have paid for all the outstanding school fees balances my children had for the term. There is no fear of being sent home from school because of arrears. As a parent, I am grateful to GiveDirectly as they have made me worry less about al the vices my children can get themselves involved in in the village. I have also been able to buy food for family consumption on a daily basis and there is not a day that passes without a meal in our house. I also ventured into poultry farming to help in the financials breakthrough for the family. I do not have to do tedious jobs to raise money for the family anymore.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to save and buy more poultry for rearing to help in the generation of income and also provide food for visitors and my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have been able to pay school fees for my children without struggling so much to provide for it. I used to hustle by engaging in very tedious jobs to raise money to pay the school fees and this would mean my children stay at home for longer period of times waiting. My children now stay in school and even stay away from the vices of the society as they have their fees paid in time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have ventured into livestock rearing to help generating income to pay school fees for my children, buy them food for consumption and also make sure my family is dressed well too.
 
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 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 in that I am now stress-free. I do not struggle to use my only source of income to handle every need because I have my monthly transfer which I majorly use to pay school fees for my children which was a major need before. As a farmer, I even planted early this time round because I bought my farm inputs right on time.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to buy another farm input which is the top dressing that will make my plants to grow fast. I want to have enough food that my family will enjoy for a long period of time since I do not also want to use most of my money on buying food which is normally expensive. I also want to buy a goat and hens which I can resell in case of emergencies.
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 was able to pay school fees for my children without fail. They have not been sent home due to fee arrears. Previously, I could have a huge school fees balance and sometimes they could be sent home. I had to talk to teachers to give me a grace period so as to pay the amount. These were the worst moments because I had to move up and down to look for casual jobs just for them to go back to school so as not to miss a lot of lessons. I am glad that nowadays they have most of the thing that they need to keep them in school such as stationary. They literally do not miss anything that they need to use in school.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will have bought more goats and hens. These will be my part of my investment which I can even resell in case of emergencies or even continue rearing them and get profits out of their sells later on.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Before the GD transfers, it was really hard for me to provide three meals a day for my family. Casual work would give very little income to sustain my family needs. In most cases, we would sacrifice one meal to raise money to solve other family needs like school fees and medication. Since I started receiving these transfers, I have been able to provide for my family well in terms of food. In as much as we can sometimes miss a meal or two, it is a rare occasion these days. Secondly, I am very glad I have two goats. This has been my dream for years but due to my low income, it has not been possible. I have been saving part of the transfers to buy the goats so that I can also have livestock just like my neighbours. They will also be an investment for my family and I know I will have a good number when they will reproduce.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is buying hybrid seeds and fertilizer. I know when I plant with these, I will not get the normal 2 sacks of maize I do get when I plant without any input. From the harvest, I will be able to sell part of it to help me raise money to solve other family needs. This will help reduce my financial burden at last.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life brought about with these GD transfers is that I have been able to pay my children's school fees in time. I used to struggle to raise money to pay for their school fees since my only source of income is casual work of working for others on their farms. It was not consistent and during the dry seasons, I would subject my family to one meal a day being that I would not get any income sometimes in a whole day. With the transfers, I have been able to pay their school fees in time and also provide for their school needs such as school books, uniforms, shoes, pens in time. I know God willing if they succeed in education, they will help me eradicate poverty in my family when they finally get well-paying jobs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would still want to buy another goat. This is because I have always planned to have at least three goats and I am less one by now. They can help me raise money to handle other family needs such as school fees, medication and other emergencies when I sell them. I prefer them because their value increases on a daily basis.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that my children are able to sleep in a very comfortable place,unlike before when they use to sleep on the floor on mats. I bought them a bed and a mattress. I am so happy seeing them happy and leading a more comfortable life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect my life to change for the better. I will be able to have my own kraal as I always wished.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Had I never received the transfer from GiveDirectly,my life could have never changed. More so that of my children who are my main focus. I was able to pay their school fees in full and also buy them new clothes. I am so happy and grateful.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to buy livestock for rearing.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is finding food for my family since farming has not been reliable due to bad weather patterns.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I get time to relax after working in the farm, and also get time to plan on what to do the following day.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to spend my transfers on purchasing farm equipments to use in my farm so as to increase my harvest.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is having made my own home at a younger age. I am very proud of this especially because it is an achievement beyond my dad's who didn't make his own home in line with our tradition.