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 > Willy's Profile
Willy's family
Willy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
26
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Willy's next check-in.
 
26th 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 have a new goal of buying a piece of land for putting up my own home. I inherited a small piece of land which I have been using for farming and is where I was to build my house. Since I will be lacking where to do my farming, I have decided to buy another piece where I will build and use the one I have for farming.
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 have an improved harvest from my farm. Before the transfers, I used to get ten sacks of maize every harvest because I used to plough the same using local seeds. This is the reason why I could not get a good harvest. When I started receiving these transfers, I decided to use the transfers in buying advanced farm inputs such as fertilizer and hybrid seeds which I have been using on my farm every planting season. Since then, I have experienced an improvement in my harvest from the ten to twenty sacks every season. This has ensured food security in our house and I do seel some to raise an income. I am motivated in farming because of the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will have bought a cow as investment for my family. I will be savings part of my monthly transfers so that I can use it to fulfil my long time dream. Many of my colleagues in my neighbourhood have livestock and I would not want to be left behind especially after this opportunity by GD. I would want to make use of the opportunity and better my life by carrying out an investment which will be important in my life long after the transfers. When the cow reproduces, I will have milk both for my family and sell some for an income and the number will increase which will be advantage for me.
 
24th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 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 plan to buy two oxen because I am a farmer and this is the main source of farm power in my home area. I usually hire oxen to plow farms that I leas. paying for both plowing and lease is quite expensive. I will buy the animals so that I avoid the cost of hereof.
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 farming. I managed to hire a piece of land on which I planted beans that are doing so well and will be harvested in a month's time. I expect to harvest about KES 16000. Getting KES 16000 from an investment of kes 2700 almost equal to one months transfer is a huge win. I am so happy that I made this decision and more so because GiveDirectly gave me the ability to do.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have bought a piece of land, about a quarter of an acre. I will use proceeds from farming that is only possible when I invest the money I get from GiveDirectlly in short-season crops that I am currently involved in. I will have land that can serve me as a place to build my home in and also for farming.
 
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?
Four months, I was not able to plant more crops since I did not have enough capital to invest in agriculture. But I thank God since this is already achieved through the transfers that we get from GD. Since I have money enough to buy the food that we may need as a family, I can see that we have improved healthwise.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Currently, I am living in my father's land and I have been dreaming of buying a parcel of land. This is the plan that I hope to achieve in the next few months when I will have gotten harvests from farming that I have done so far.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference that I currently feel that has impacted me is the fact that I now have money which is in circulation in the agricultural sector. I can attest that the transfers have given me enough capital to ensure I procure farming inputs which include fertilizer, seeds, and seedlings that I have planted. They are currently doing good on the farm and my biggest hope is that in the next few months my children will not be sleeping hungry since I can buy them food that they may need.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In six months, my life will have changed to a bigger percentage. Currently, I am living in a piece of land which belongs to my parents. But I plan to procure a land of my own few months ahead. It is from here where I will start thinking in lines of building a house and raising my family all together.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 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 used to be because I no longer worry about where I will get money to cater for my personal needs. Since I am always sure of getting money at the end of the month, I am able to plan ahead. I usually use the money to buy pesticides. Before, I never had the courage to engage in small scale farming because I was afraid I couldn't manage to take care of the crops due to lack of resources. However much I wanted to harvest my own crops the thought of getting low yields due to lack of pesticides to destroy the pests made me sick. I ended up buying from other people's farms which was a bit expensive and inefficient.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My plan is that once the onions mature, I will sell and start a poultry project. I have always wanted to do poultry farming but the inability to raise the start-up capital made me keep postponing this dream. I am glad that there is a hope of achieving this dream. Once the poultry catches up, I will be able to sell the eggs as a source of income since there is a ready market. It is the best business I could think of because I can still manage it even when doing other farm activities.
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 was able to lease some piece of land and planted onions and potatoes. I chose Onions and potatoes because they are usually in high demand. The land I got was also conducive and fit for these crops. For the first time now I was able to do a fairly large scale farming. If all goes well, I will be able to reap a good harvest. Good enough to change my life completely. I am glad that Give Directly enabled me to Improve my farming.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future, to ensure that my projects are successful and that I am able to use the proceeds to start other projects. I am also thinking of starting a family since I am of age. This requires one to have enough sources of income to support a family and my prayer is to be financially stable.
 
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?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago since we can afford enough food.In the the past,we could not get enough food for my family because of lack of farm inputs and enough piece of land to plant maize .We can now get enough food for the family because I can use the cash transfers to buy farm inputs and also lease some land from my neighbor hence adequate food production for the family. Thank you GD for the unconditional cash transfers
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal for the next four months is to have a dairy cow. This is because currently there is low milk production for my family and so this will boost milk production. I am planning to sell maize so as to get enough to buy the dairy cow.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life is that I can now do farming in large pieces of land so as to increase food production. In the past, I used to till small pieces of land and thus inadequate food for my family.Currently,I lease an acre of land from my neighbor and this means high maize production and therefore stable food supply for my family.I also sell surplus maize to earn an income .
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 be producing maize in large scale .This will enhance food security in my family and also sell surplus to earn an income.I am planning to save the income from sale of maize and start a new business so as to have a constant source of income.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 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 because it has boosted vegetable farming because earlier it was hard to buy farm inputs like fertilizer.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to save towards clearing a piece land I had bought earlier on.
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 these transfers have enabled me to venture into vegetable farming hence more income in the near future and there is reduced stress.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have acquired my own piece of land and bought my piece of land and also to marry.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is a certain kind of sickness I had.I used to have severe headache which started way back in primary school and went on to secondary school where I finally found medication.This affected my studies for a long time.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up.This is because I wake up feeling healthy and strong ready to work.It is always a sign of a good day.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on improving my farming.This is mainly through buying maize and potato seedlings which I mainly farm.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of in my life is buying livestock.This has helped me earn money from them after I completed high school.To day I depend on livestock in expanding my farm work and business.