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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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Wilson's Profile
Wilson's family
Wilson
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
72
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($485 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is now different because the transfers have enabled me built a modern timber walled house within the shortest time possible. I had desired to built a modern for long but couldn't because the school fees burden was quite demanding. With this house, my wife's workload of smearing a muddy wall in order to improve it's appearance is no more because we are ageing.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has uplifted my living standard from a mudwalled house to a timber walled modern house For me this is a great achievement because at my age I couldnt afford because all my money was invested in my kids school fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my second transfer on completion of my two roomed timberwalled house which I had started building using the first transfer.This because the previous one was a three roomed mud walled house built over 30years ago. The Iron roof was also old and tattered and I had desired to build one but couldn't afford.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($503 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The transfer came in at around noontime when I was weeding Napier grass on my farm. Immediately, I knelt and thank God for the blessing. I then got out of the farm to inform my family about the funds. We were all happy and grateful. I thought that I should take some time to relax and organize how we shall build our new house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life following the receipt of this money is that I now feel much relieved with regards to getting my family a more decent house. I have been living with lots of stress due to financial constraints that I am facing because I have no reliable source of income. Since retiring from my former formal job in the year 2004, I have been struggling to raise school fees for my children. Hence, I am very thankful to GiveDirectly for stepping in on time to assist us. We are now leading more satisfying lives because we are assured of residing in a better house soon.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent 50,000 shillings on purchasing building materials including iron sheets and nails; hiring a carpenter who would build us a semi-permanent house; and cutting timber on my compound. My biggest desire has been to build a better house for my family because we are currently living in a mud-walled house with a leaking roof. Besides, we used the remaining amount on buying foodstuffs for our family's use.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
It means I will improve the house I am currently living in a earthen house but now with the help I am going to get I want to have a cemented floor house .my wife is too old to smear the house and it takes much of the time, she could have used to do other work.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening when I am back from my farm work , I go to farm almost every day from morning to afternoon but in the evening I get time to rest and talk with my friends
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
After retirement my two children were still in school and I did not have enough money to pay for the school fees.we struggled to find money and it forced me to sell some of the assets I had bought but it was not enough to pay it