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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
attach_money
 
Transfers
check
Completed
Newsfeed > Wesley's Profile
Wesley's family
Wesley
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
40
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($442 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to be able to start a small business that will supplement income from farming. We have been entirely relying on farming of horticultural crops to make income and support our family's needs but sometimes we end up being disappointed and making losses especially due to harsh weather conditions that lowers farm produce. This has prompted us to think about coming up with a business and we are planning to open a good joint in a nearby centre. Currently I have some horticultural crops in my farm and I am optimistic that I will be able to make a harvest that will enable me and my family start this business soon enough. The joint shall also open an an opportunity for us to do value addition to our farm produce and make more income from it. The long term goal is to raise more money that will see us pay school fees comfortably for our four children and accord them all the neccesary support to pursue their education unhindered by anything.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does very well in the way they do the enrollment of people into the program. They were so kind and humble and so keen to ensure that whatever information they were passing across then each person understood them very well. This to me was a great service and I felt appreciated and happy. Moreover, these officers were very keen not to leave anyone unattended to.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 35000 to buy a dairy cow and used another KES 20000 to pay school fees for my two twin children who just joined secondary school recently. Had I not received money from GiveDirectly then we would have been dealt a blow because the farm produce that we normally rely on to meet such expenses had done very poorly due to unfavourable weather conditions then. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly that they came to my rescue and has given me an opportunity to prepare well even for the other two children who are soon joining secondary school as well. My wife and I have been relying entirely on farming to make ends meet but we have plans already to make sure that we have an alternative source of income through business.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at the farm planting tomatoes, that was when I heard my phone ringing, upon checking my phone, I realized that I had received the promised transfer from GiveDirectly, I was overwhelmed with joy, I never shared the good news with anyone at the moment instead I rushed home to inform my wife who was equally happy and excited, I knew that I would be able to accomplish the goal of owning a dairy cow.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I no longer buy milk daily, this is because I now own a dairy cow which I was unable to buy all these years due to financial constraints, Secondly, we are sleeping in decent beddings just like a king would feel, our beddings were worn out before, but unfortunately, we had no money of replacing them, I am grateful for the support that has lifted our lives and our living standard as a whole.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My wife and I are consistent farmers in the Village, We specialize in tomatoes and onion farming, though these crops are seasonal, together we are blessed with four children. Upon receiving my transfer we thought of purchasing a dairy cow so that we would cut down the cost of milk daily, this is because a litre sells at KES 50, yet one little is not enough for our daily consumption, therefore we bought a cow worth KES 35,000, I then replayed the household items like my beddings which were worn out with new one's where used KES 6400, lastly, I used KES 5000 in buying seed and manure. I am so happy to have accomplished so much within a short time.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I separated with my wife 3 years ago after 14 years of being together. My father-in-law asked her to abandon her matrimonial home because I could not raise KES 70000 for her dowry. She left me with four children whom I struggle day and night to fend for. I feel lonely without her and I desire to have her back home. I do casual jobs such as fencing and weeding in other people's farms to earn a living. These jobs pay as low as KES 100 per day and raising my wife's dowry has been just but a dream. Receiving this money will mean a lot to me as it will get my wife home after years of being away.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I live in a 0.25-acre piece of land and 6 months ago I planted tomatoes which did so well. Three months ago I harvested 8 crates and sold them to local vendors at 600 per crate, earning me KES 4800. I was able to do enough shopping for my children and this made me very happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the biggest challenge that I currently face. I have no formal job and I depend on casual jobs like tending to other people's livestock to make ends meet. I earn KES 100-150 per day and I have 4 children to look after. I separated with my wife 3years ago and providing the most basic needs has been an overwhelming task for me. My young children have developed a habit of going to neighbors' houses whenever they suspect that food is ready and this has made me feel so inadequate.