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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Completed
Newsfeed > Wesley's Profile
Wesley's family
Wesley
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
19
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Wesley's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I plan to use my transfer to go for driving school lessons. I know when I am done, I will get a driving job which will earn me an extra income to help my other raise money for my younger siblings for their fees. I would not want my siblings to go through what I went through.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I had a huge secondary school fees arrears that my parents could not clear before I did my final examinations. The principal allowed me to take my final examinations but I could not access my certificates without clearing the balance I had. After school, I started helping my parents to go for casual work to raise money to help clear the balance I had in school. It was four months after my final examinations but still, we were not able to clear the balance. When we started getting our monthly transfers, we combined on a monthly basis to pay for the arrears. I am glad we have cleared the arrears and I now have my certificates.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I know I will be done with driving lessons and start a savings account. My goal is to use the savings to buy building materials such as iron sheets and nails for building a house. Currently, I sleep at my friend's house because according to our culture, at my age, I am not allowed to sleep in my parent's house. Since I do not have my own house, I have to find where to sleep and secondly, there is no privacy when I sleep at friend's house. This is why I feel it is time I have my own house.
 
19th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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?
My goal is to start the construction of a permanent house. I planning to use my transfers to buy building materials. I already have a plan on how to execute this project. It won't be long before I start living in a decent house. I thank Give Directly because without them, plans for building a new one any time soon.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I completed my secondary school not long ago. My parents could not raise fees on time to clear the fee arrears to allow me to get my certificate. I understood her struggle and started saving in a merry go round group. I then used the savings to clear and retrieved my certificate. This gave way to the ability to take a course in computer application packages. My story has never been the same again since then. After finishing the course I managed to secure a job as a cashier in one of the biggest supermarkets in town.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, my life will have changed because I will have taken a driving course. I will have acquired a driving license that will give me more job opportunities. This will give me a chance to have a decent source of income. I also believe that I will have fully furnished the house that I am currently building.
 
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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?
My goal is to start the construction of a permanent house. I planning to use my transfers to buy building materials. I already have a plan on how to execute this project. It won't be long before I start living in a decent house. I thank Give Directly because, without them, plans for building a new one would not have come any time soon.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I completed my secondary school not long ago. My parents could not raise fees on time to clear the fee arrears to allow me to get my certificate. I understood her struggle and started saving in a merry go round group. I then used the savings to clear and retrieved my certificate that the school had decided not to release until I have fully paid up. This gave way to the ability to take a course in computer application packages. My story has never been the same again since then. After finishing the course I managed to secure a job as a cashier in one of the biggest supermarkets in town.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, my life will have changed because I will have taken a driving course. I will have acquired a driving license that will give me more job opportunities. This will give me a chance to have a decent source of income. I also believe that I will have fully furnished the house that I am currently building.
 
16th 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 in that I now have my school clearance certificate which I got after clearing the school fees balance owed to me. This gave me the freedom of deciding what and where to go such as going for further studies. I am also proud that I was able to buy a sheep for rearing. I had always dreamt of owning my own animals but being a student, I didn't have any source of income that would help purchase one.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Right now, I want to save some money every month from these transfers and I am still thinking of what I would do with the savings once they lump up.
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 am now debt-free and that I have my secondary school certificate with me. When I cleared my fourth grade, I still had some school fees arrears and this prevented me from getting issued with the certificate. I was able to save some money from the monthly transfers that I get from Give Directly and paid off the school fees arrears. I am glad that I now have my certificate.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to ensure that I do a short course such as a driving course to allow me to look for a job or casual labor. This is aimed at improving my financial status and ultimately my lifestyle in the future.
 
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?
My life is currently different in that I can now afford most of the basic needs much more easily than it used to be four months a go. In the past I used to rely entirely on casual labour to get income which in most cases could not get me enough money or fail to get that money all.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I will focus on saving more money by participating in the merry go round contributions. By this time I shall have as well been able to get my secondary certificate and hopefully get a job as well. Getting a job shall empower me financially and give room for other additional plans.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I never thought I could be able to take part in any savings plan. This was simply because I did not have a sustainable source of income. Many at times I could only get enough money to buy food and other basic necessities and I would be left with nothing to save. GiveDirectly transfers has seen me participate in a merry go round contribution plan that is going to help me pay an outstanding fee balance amounting to KES 28000 and be able to get my school certificate. Upon getting my certificate, my intention is to get a job and be empowered.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change tremendously for the better in the next six months. By this time, I shall have obtained my school certificate and be able to get a job as well. Getting a job shall mean that I shall be empowered to start other projects that shall propel me towards being self reliant.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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. We are happier than before as a household because my dad and I receive the funds monthly. We are able to buy enough food for us as well.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am yet to plan for the coming four months. I will cross the bridge once I get to it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I joined a merry go round group in our village. We are 12 members pooling our transfers. This is the biggest difference in my daily life - that I have some saving plan. I will use the funds to clear my secondary school fee arrears and buy a calf that will give us milk in future.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have a better standard of living in the next six months. The transfers will enable me to advance economically. I am yet to decide though what specifically to venture in as a source of income. I prefer to decide once the time comes.
 
Initial Payment
access_time 6 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of school fees
What is the happiest part of your day?
Afternoon
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Farming
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
Completed my o level