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 > Silvester's Profile
Silvester's family
Silvester
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Motorcycle or bicycle taxi
faceAge:
20
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Silvester'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?
In the last four months, I have been able to pay school fees arrears for my siblings who are still in secondary school. My parents are not well off and they need our assistance financially. This is why I was very happy to pay the arrears so that my siblings could study in peace. I am glad GD gave me a chance to be responsible in our family
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I plan to plaster the house so as to make it strong and durable. I do not know how to smear and hiring someone to smear on a monthly basis is costly than plastering the house. This is why I would rather plaster the house once and be at peace.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have a new iron-roofed house. I have been putting up in my brother's house because I can no longer stay with my parents in the same house according to our culture. Sometimes I was forced to sleep at a friend's house when we had visitors in our home. I had plans of putting up a house but due to limited resources, I was not able to. Right now, I have a house which I built with the savings I had from GD transfers.
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 buy a cow. I plan to save my monthly transfers to buy a cow as investment for my family.
 
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?
Previously, I used to sleep in my neighbor's house because I only had a house with no household items, not even bedding in it. This was quite shameful for me but since I had no resources to buy my own stuff, I had to bear it. The biggest difference in my daily life, therefore, is that I'm happy that I was able to buy some bedding and other household items and I now sleep in my own house unlike before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My plan in the next four months is to buy a cow for rearing. I plan to do this by saving some of the monthly transfers that I usually get and hopefully buy one as soon as I can. My prayer is that this cow-after reproducing- will provide us with enough milk for household use and even some extra for sale. The calves from this cow will also keep increasing the size of the herd in the future.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Previously I didn't have any stable source of income, instead, I relied on casual work and the little I made from this wasn't enough to sustain me and my family. With the monthly transfers that I have been getting from GiveDirectly, I was able to save some amount and paid a deposit for a motorcycle. I now run a motorcycle taxi and proceeds from this is able to repay the remaining amount of the motorcycle and still have some left for our own use. Once I am done repaying the motorcycle, then I will be in a better position to improve my family's welfare with the proceeds from this business.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Currently, I do not have a piece of land where I can practice farming instead I'm relying on my parent's farm. Therefore, in the next six months, I have a plan of saving some money so that I can use it to purchase a piece of land. This will make me more independent thus I won't rely on my parents anymore.
 
11th 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?
The sheep that I already bought within the last four months is a big plus for me because had it not been for GD, I would not have managed to buy them because my little finances cannot permit me to do such a thing. Owning the sheep is such a big thing for me because now I know that I will slowly increase their population as time goes by and God willing I will sell them out in the future and buy cows which I consider to be more valuable.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The main plan right now for me is to buy more sheep and increase their population as much as I can so that in the future I can sell them out and buy cows that I will be milking right at my door-step.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been able to repair the house extensively in addition to buying household items such as chairs, a new bed, table and a new mattress. My living room was always occupied with some very old furniture that always embarrassed me so much especially during times when I received visitors. But today i am proud to own the brand new items. My bed and mattress were so old due to wear and tear effects forcing me to have sleepless nights full of nightmares but today i can say that my nights are always very peaceful due to the comfortable rest.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I want to buy a cow so that I will not have to buy milk like I do now. I am tired of buying milk within the village at exorbitant prices and at times I even take black tea because of lack of money to buy the milk. The advantage of having the cow will be that I will be able to sell the calves in the future in case I get an emergency of any kind that requires quick cash. Even if I do not sell the calves, the idea of selling milk to the residents of our village in return of some little money will also work.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Four months ago I never had a motorbike of my own so I had to work for someone and give him financial returns at the end of the each day. Right now I have my own motorbike that I use to ferry passengers at a fee and earn some income from the business.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I bought the motorbike on loan so I have to work extra hard in order to be able to re-pay the loan in good time to avoid being a defaulter and maybe get auctioned.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been able to buy household items such as a new bed, mattress and also being able to plastering my house both on the interior and exterior.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I want to buy a goat and probably add more effort with my motorbike so that I should be able to get a cow in the near future
 
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I have no new goals.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life currently is different from how it would have been had I never received the transfer is I have a steady monthly income
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I will have plastered my house and my family will have enough food to take.
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 from Give Directly is now my house has a sofa seat,something that I really have longed for.
 
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, I worked as a casual labour for six month and I was not paid by my employer. That was in 2017 that forced me to go back to the village to depend on my parents.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is mid morning when I come back home and find breakfast ready.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to save my transfer for three months then furnish my house. Later I will be buying one goat every month.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is building my own new house in 2017. This has been my greatest satisfaction.