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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Enrollment
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Completed
Newsfeed > Erick's Profile
Erick's family
Erick
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
18
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Erick's next check-in.
 
16th 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?
Currently, I am looking forward to finishing my diploma hence all my resources are geared towards my school fees and upkeep. In case of any additional income, I am planning to start saving for my undergrad that is if I do not secure a scholarship or bursary as it will be more costly compared to the diploma.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I joined Polytechnique immediately after I finished high school. This is because the grade I attained could not secure me a slot in the university. I was determined to do mechanical engineering so I opted to start at the lowest level of a diploma. The school fee was always a challenge and on several occasions, I was sent home resulting in missing some units. When GD came to the picture, I was able to pay the school fees through the help of the transfers I received together with my parent's support. This has seen me cover two semesters without being sent home for fees. I am hoping to finish my diploma and enroll in an undergraduate course.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I am hopeful that I will be almost through with my diploma studies. This is a step towards the bigger picture and it will definitely make me a happy person and I will call for a celebration to acknowledge the milestone covered.
 
12th 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 different from how it would have been four months in that I have managed to pay for a training course which I am currently undertaking. I could not register for the training because I did not have the resources to pay for it. With GD transfers, I have managed to pay for it and I know very soon I will be done training. After that, I hope to start getting paid which will be a very big step in my life.
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 pay for a training course which I have registered for now. I have always desired to have a stable source of income and that is why I have decided to take a mechanic course. I know when I am done training, I will have a stable income to help me meet my needs in time. I would not want to struggle as I have in the past. I would want also want to support my parents financially.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have desired to have my own house since I have come of age according to our culture. Since I do not have any stable source of income, I have never managed to achieve this goal. I started doing casual work to get an income to support my family hoping that I will get a good income to boost my life. Since I started receiving these transfers, I have managed to buy iron sheets and the idea of building a house is realistic now. I am sure of having my own house courtsey of GD transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have completed my mechanic course. I want to use my monthly transfers to pay for the remaining fees arrears. I am hopeful I will have finished the course and start to get an income from my work. GD has changed my life.
 
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?
Late last year, I had no hopes of ever joining college because I had fee arrears in my former school which would not allow me to obtain my certificate once I completed. But with the help of these transfers, I was able to clear the entire amount and now have plans of joining college all courtesy of GD. I am so happy because I know that when I am done with my course, I will secure a job that will enable me to take care of my parents and I will forever remain grateful to GD for giving me the opportunit
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to go to college next month to take advantage of these transfers for my fee payment. I know my parents are unable to pay the fees due to low income, hence the need to join as soon as possible so that we can combine our monthly transfers as a family and clear my fees before the project is over. The course I will be taking only runs for two years and I am sure we will be able to clear the fees with ease.
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 preceding the current transfer is that I was able to buy personal items like clothes and shoes. I dress better than I did four months ago because then, all my transfers were used to clear my high school fee balance, therefore, would not dare spend it on such luxuries.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
The college I'll be going to is quite a distance from home, it will be hectic walking there every day since I know I can't afford to take a motorbike daily. In the next six months, I hope that I will have saved some money from my monthly transfers to buy a bicycle for transportation to make life easier.
 
4th 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 money has been of much help to me in the recent past because I have been able to past my school fees with utmost ease. I had accumulated some huge debt but I have been using the transfers to offset the fee balance. I used to rely for financial help from my parents. When sent away from school due to school fees arrears, I used to stay at home for so long. My parents used to work so hard before getting enough cash to sort my financial needs but right now I just use the cash transfer I get from the organization to pay the fee arrears.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
We will have built a new house away from the poor house that we live in currently. Right now the house is in a bad shape and the walls keep on falling off slowly by slowly with every passing rainy season. I believe having the new house will make the family more comfortable and secured especially during the harsh weather conditions.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have been set a free man from the debts that I had in the past. I am now finalizing my exams and I know the school management board will give me my certificate once it is out because I no longer owe them any cash. I am happy because I have been able to spend more time in class as opposed to s[pending more time at home like I used to do before.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I have a plan of buying a cow because I know it will give birth in the future and at the end of the day the number will increase. I will also have a chance to re-sell them and make profits and use the profits for other purposes.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I am facing in life is lack of money to pay for my school fees. This makes me miss lessons due to lack of timely payments of school fees since my parents are peasant farmers with unreliable source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am from school as I do my homework. It is very interesting revising the work and tackling new topics.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend the transfer on paying my school fees, as my parents are unable to pay my fees on time which makes me stay at home and miss lessons.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am most proud of was becoming one of the best performers in Primary school National Examination. This enabled me secure a chance in one of the best schools.