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 > Benard's Profile
Benard's family
Benard
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
38
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Benard's next check-in.
 
18th 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?
My life is currently different from the way it was four months ago in that I no longer budget for kerosene anymore because I bought a solar panel which I'm currently using for lighting. In addition to that, I'm proud because I was able to clear my children's school fee on time. This enabled them to pay more attention to their studies because they were not sent back home for school fee.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I recently bought does for rearing but I haven't been able to purchase a buck. Therefore, for the next four months of my life, I have an additional goal to save the coming transfers and use it to purchase a buck. This will help me control the livestock pests and diseases because I won't have to mix my goats with the neighbour's goats in search of a buck.
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 preceding the current transfers is the comfort I feel for having reduced most of the household expenses. Previously, I relied on lantern lump for lighting but it was so expensive in terms of budgeting for kerosene. At the same time, the light wasn't bright enough so I was forced to use two of the lanterns for the children to be able to have enough light while studying. I'm happy through the GD transfers, I was able to purchase a solar panel which has several bulbs. The solar I economical and efficient because it relies on the sun as the main source of power.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My firstborn child will be joining class eight next year and I want to start saving for his secondary school fee in advance so that I won't have challenges when he'll be joining the secondary school in two years time. Therefore, for the next six months, I expect to have started saving some for my sons' school fee.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 was four months ago because I am eating well as compared to before when I would have two meals in a day. I also now have my own cow that I get milk from everyday for my consumption and also selling it to the community and getting money for my up keep.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to buy a solar system. This will help me so much because I use electricity a lot when doing welding, so many a times I will be using solar instead of electricity because electricity is very expensive that, sometimes I end up spending most of the profit on the electricity bill.
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 now have a stable reliable source of Income. I managed to buy a dairy cow and fortunately it has started producing milk. I will sell some milk in our local market and some for my family consumption. Since the milk has started getting me some income, my family has never gone to bed hungry. We are able to at least meet our daily needs. This was different then as we could go to bed hungry most of the times if we did not raise enough money to buy the food.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, l expect to have bought the solar system and using it instead of electricity. This will be cheaper on my side as I will not spend a lot of money paying the electricity bill.
 
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?
Four months ago, I was solely involved in the day to day operations of my business owing to the fact that I could not be able to hire and comfortably pay someone to help me. From the transfers, I have been able to get supplementary income thus I am capable to hire one person to assist me. As a result, I can always be able to create time and go back home and support my wife to look after our livestock.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal in the next four months is to establish my own home. I have been living in my father's compound all throughout my life. However, having my own home will give me an opportunity to focus on my personal development such as starting a poultry farm. In addition, I will feel less burdened hence supporting my children education will not be stressful anymore.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Within the last for months preceding the current transfer, I acquired a solar panel from the savings I have been making from GiveDirectly's transfers. This has brought a big difference in my family because I do not have to spend any money on buying kerosene for lighting. Secondly, my children can currently study comfortably because there is an adequate source of lighting in all our living room.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to buy my own oxen-drawn plow. This is the most lucrative business in a village and from it, I will be able to earn some additional income. From the additional income, I will be able to pay my children's school fee promptly.
 
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 currently different from how it was four months ago in that, I have less burden in taking care of the daily needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goals is to establish my home when we pool efforts with my wife in the next four months.
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 don't struggle to take care of the daily needs because currently I balance the transfers and my own money easily.
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 goats which will be an investmen, in that I can sell some to take care of my daily needs later on.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($4 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?
My new goal is to purchase a tent that I will use in my business to cover the bricks whener it rains and through this business, I know that I will be able to get more money.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been if I never received the transfer in that I could not have managed to repay the loan to date and this means that I was not going to be free with my creditor.
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 managed to revive my bricks business and through this I will be able to establish my home since I still stay at my parents home.
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 that, I managed to repay a loan that I had. I feel relieved after repaying the amount even when I meet my friend who lent me the money .
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I recently faced was the drought issue that got all my crops dry, I used a lot of money in farming but harvested nothing! I've faced life the rough way.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening when I'm from work and I've earned cash for family use.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to use the transfers to build a new home because I'm still staying in my parent's compound and to pay school fees for my children.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
I managed to repair a donkey's cat that has eased my work, I frequently ferry loads for pay and earn good money in return for family use.