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
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Completed
Newsfeed > Wilson's Profile
Wilson's family
Wilson
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
19
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Wilson's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 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 still plan to use my transfers for my basic needs in school and help my parents pay school fees. I know through this, I will be able to finish my college education soon which in turn will help me get a well-paying job to help me sustain my needs and those of my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Since I do not have any source of income, I have always had to depend on my parents for my upkeep and for personal needs when I am in college. This has been the case for the past two years when I joined college. They have been providing for my college fees and my upkeep too. Ever since I started receiving my transfers from GD, I have relieved them of my upkeep because I use my transfers to buy my food, basic needs in school and also to pay for my fare to and from school. In most cases, I have also come in on school fees to help reduce the balance I have in school. This has always been very helpful because I have never gotten to a point where I am sent home for fees arrears or even ask my parents for money. Thanks to GD.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I know I will have managed to clear this year's fees arrears. I plan to save part of my transfers and use them to clear my fees arrears so that I may only be worried about my performance. I would want to have ample time in school so that I may pass well and get good recommendations. The recommendations will help me in getting a good job when I finally graduate. I can only get good recommendations when I perform well in my examinations hence I want to dedicate my time to study now that GD has come in very handy in paying my college fees.
 
19th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, my life is different from how it was in that, I do not borrow money from my siblings and parents so much. Apart from that, I also no longer take loans like I used to do before GiveDirectly came into my life. This gives me a lot of peace and happiness. I am also able to grow by investing my monthly income instead of paying loans.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have a new goal at the moment. I still want to continue saving. I also want to involve myself in casual jobs in order to buy a laptop to familiarize myself with it before I start computer classes next year.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In the last four months, I was in college. I had pending fee arrears and exams were approaching. The pressure of studying and at the same time making sure that I get 10000 KES to offset the fee balance was too high. I was almost missing exams. I am glad that the money that I have been saving and a little boost from my parents enabled me to pay the fee and sit for my exams. To me, this is the biggest difference because I could have repeated the whole semester. This could be a waste of energy and resources.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the next six months is to ensure that I fully pay my college fees. I also want to save enough money that I will be using for my upkeep while in college.
 
16th 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?
In the last four months, I find peace in my heart. I am no longer worried about how I will cope up at school because of my needs. My parent's income is not much and cannot sustain all the needs of the family. I don't call my parents for all my needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to use the money to help me meet my needs such as clothes and fare to school. I will be saving to help me with my basic needs while in school.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference since I started receiving these transfers is that I no longer depend on my parents for everything. Before the transfers, I used to look unto my parents for all my needs while in school. Ever since I started receiving these transfers, my personal needs am handling with my transfers. I only depend on my parents for my school fees. I believe this has reduced the financial burden on my parents.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I want to save the money so that I may be able to buy a laptop which I really need to handle school homework. Right now, I have to beg from my parents and in most cases, I have failed to do my work in time because I do not have a laptop.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
These transfers have made me stable financially and I don't have to constantly ask for money from my parents or siblings.The feeling of independence is what gives me the greatest joy.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I intend to keep saving these transfers as much as possible so that in case of difficulties in paying my college fees, I will be able to pay part of it and let the rest be taken care of by the Higher Education Loans Board. This will save my mother the stress of raising a huge amount to clear the fees especially now that she is retired.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Ever since my mother retired, it has been tough getting money for my own upkeep and most of the time I have to beg from my siblings who don't seem to care at all. Now that I have my savings from GD, I have enough pocket money for my personal use and in case the HELB loan delays, I will be covered.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to see a big positive change in my academic results because I am more relaxed and can fully concentrate on my studies. Last semester, there was a noticeable decline in my performance which was not the true reflection of my abilities. All this was caused by the constant worry on getting personal provisions accompanied by the pressure of living around rich students when I have almost nothing.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from the way it was four months ago in that currently I no longer rely on my parents fully for everything, there are things I do not have to ask them for.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
For the next four months, I have a goal of saving some money so that I can use it to start up a business which will enable me meet my needs easily while I'm in school.
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 last four months preceding the transfers is that I can have budget for the month with surety of achieving it because I'm sure of getting some money monthly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to be fully independent because I believe by then the business I'm planning to start up while in the university will be stable.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($5 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
The new goals that I didn't have before receiving the transfer is building myself a house. I desire to move out of my parents house and a sign of responsibility.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The difference is I am able to live a debt free life when I am assured of the transfers on monthly basis. Unlike previously I had a lot of debts that gave me stress.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to be in school and I will be able to access everything with ease. Access to food, clothing and money for upkeep given that I will also be moving from one point to another while in the university I will not have a problem getting my transport.
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 I am be able to sustain myself in school, I can buy food for myself while in the university and also pay for transport.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I face right now is lack of enough money to join a tertiary institution. My parents are peasant farmers and it is highly unlikely that they will be able to afford my fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I am listening to my radio. I usually feel very happy when I am listening to music.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to save the transfers in order to enable me join a tertiary institution. I would like to further my education.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is having bought some books which I needed in Secondary School. This was possible because I had done some weeding on our neighbours farm and he paid me.