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 > Edwin's Profile
Edwin's family
Edwin
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Motorcycle or bicycle taxi
faceAge:
41
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Edwin's next check-in.
 
20th 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?
At the beginning of this year, my wife and I agreed to pool our transfers together for two months which enabled us to construct a separate house that three of our children now sleep in. Our main house has only two bedrooms, and before we constructed that separate house, all my five children would squeeze in one of the rooms. It is great that they now sleep comfortably and have more privacy as the girls now sleep separately from the boys.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I did not harvest much from my farms this past farming season due to bad weather conditions that affected the plantations. This means that we will soon start spending on maize which will greatly affect our daily budget as the commodity has become very expensive lately. To make things better, I want to invest more on my farm this farming season by buying hybrid quality maize seeds and fertilizer using my transfers so that I can increase my chances of having a good harvest. This is very possible, especially now that I have cleared my daughter's school fees for this year.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My eldest child is in secondary school and it has always been a challenge paying for her school fees due to the little income that I earn from the motorcycle taxi business that I do. Earlier, she would always be sent away from school for delayed school fee payments as we could not manage to pay her school fee in time. This year, that has not happened because we have managed to pay all her fees in good time, courtesy of Give Directly transfers. It has been great having her in school full time and not having to worry about urgent ways to raise money to pay her school fees whenever she has been sent home.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am planning to invest most of the transfers I will be receiving henceforth on farming by buying quality farm inputs. I hope that I will have a bumper harvest this season that will sustain my family through the tough times that are coming ahead especially after the end of these monthly transfers.
 
14th 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 have been able to take care of my pressing needs. School fess was my biggest burden but of late my children have not been sent home because I have been able to settle the lumpsum arrears. With their consistency in school, I have seen a drastic improvement in their grades.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Currently, I don't have new goals. I still want to concentrate on paying school fees for my children. This is my biggest burden at the moment. I feel that ifI pursue other goals I might not be able to efficiently 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 daily life in the last four months is that I was able to pay school fees for my children easily. Previously, I could accumulate huge balances in school and my children could be sent home due to fee arrears making them miss their lesson. This was not what I wanted as a parent but I had no option. I struggled with my motorcycle business to juggle in between buying food and paying school fees. Now I feel good because I can comfortably pay the amount easily using the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I do not expect my life to change so much in the next six months because paying school fees for my children will be my main focus. I want them to stay in school like other children without being sent home like they used to before the transfer came to our village.
 
12th 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?
I can proudly say that my life is currently different from how it was because I managed to pay school fees for my child who joined high school. I feel like a burden has been taken off my shoulder. I used to have sleepless nights about school fees especially for my kid who is joining high school. I did not want him to drop out of school and this was my biggest worry. Thanks to GiveDirectly my child is learing like other kids in our village.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Currently, I don't have additional goals. My current focus is on educating my kids. I have failed them severally and I don't want to start something that may destabilize my financial condition and risk my ability to pay their school fees.
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 am now able to comfortably pay schools fees for my children. I first paid the arrears of the previous terms and now I don't have any debt in school. I used to struggle very much to an extent of selling some household items. As a casual worker, I normally do manual jobs and occasionally sell hens. My children were frustrated since they could be sent home frequently and it would be difficult for them to catch up with the other students who were ahead in the syllabus. They were almost giving up in going to school but I thank God they are now able to read without being distracted.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I believe my life will change in the next six months because I will be able to cater for my family needs easily. My biggest worry is school fees since I don't want to fail my kids. I have been working hard to pay fees so that they don't miss lessons. It is not my wish to have them perform poorly because of not playing my part. I will use the wages I get from my casual jobs to cater for my other needs and use the transfers from GiveDirectly to pay school fees. In six months time, I will be able also to plan well and strategize on how to allocate all my sources of income. This will give me peace of mind since my life will be well planned with less worries.
 
6th 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?
My life is different because I am now able to make payments for my kids on time and that alone makes them enjoy their education at school.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am now planning to pay school fees for my children into the future so that my kids can have quality education.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been able to pay school fees for my children without so much straining.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
For me education is the most important thing therefore I think investing in their education will make me feel much better. I also will make sure that my kids get enough food that will take through their education into the future.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I have a new goal of raising money to plasterr my house because my house is dusty thta encourages a breeding place for jiggers.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from the way it would have been if had I not received the money in that if it was not for the money I would not have paid the school fee for my children.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have cleared school fee balance for my children in the next six months.
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 the money from GiveDirectly in that I'm able to provide for my family without any challenges because I used part of the money to repair the motorcycle which is my major source of income.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is losing all my head of cattle due to drought, this has has really interfered with the status of food security in my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when ferrying people with my motorcycle.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to spend my transfer on paying school fees for my children and save the rest for taking care of my family in case of any health problems.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is that through farming I have managed to build my house.