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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Newsfeed > Dickson's Profile
Dickson's family
Dickson
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
24
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on Dickson's next check-in.
 
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, I look so smart in my recently acquired clothes. Now we have enough food since we are almost harvesting several bags of maize which we planted with the transfers that I got from Give Directly. We also bought a dairy cow with my brother and it has already started producing milk. Therefore we no longer spend money on the same. We at times sell the surplus to earn income.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to build a small kitchen. I normally cook in the open air which is usually challenging especially during the rainy and windy seasons. Therefore, I am planning to save my transfers for the next few months. I believe I will have accumulated enough money which I will enable me to buy the building materials. I am glad my family will not sleep hungry because of this. The kitchen will also act as a store for storing grains during the harvesting seasons.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Being the eldest son in the family, I tend to be the breadwinner to our family by default. We lost our parents some years back and we had no choice as orphans but to pray and rely on God. Taking care of my siblings was not an easy task for me considering I was also a student. I would seek casual jobs after class in order to earn some money to buy food. When I got these transfers, I really felt relieved. Now I can easily provide food for my family through the transfer. I rarely strain myself like I used to. Our living condition has also improved compared to when I only depended on casual jobs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I believe my living standards will have improved. Now that we now have a cow that produces milk and we have the resources to do farming on a large scale, we can comfortably sustain ourselves. Having a better kitchen would really change my life also since my harvest won't be stolen or go bad because I now have a secure place to store them Apart from that, we will be having enough food to sustain us until the next harvesting season.
 
16th 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?
I usually depend on farming in order to meet my daily needs. I normally do small scale farming because that is what I can afford to manage in terms of hiring labour and buying farm inputs. But now that I receive help from Give Directly I can do farming as I can afford to buy the farm inputs in bulk. I currently waiting to harvest some beans which could not have been possible was it not for Give Directly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I would like to save my next transfer in order to buy a cow. I do not have any cow at the moment but my greatest wish is one day to have herds of cattle. All this will come to happen soon once I buy a cow and later buy a bull. Within no time they will start reproducing and soon my cow shed will be full
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My life has improved ever since Give Directly came to my life. I now have enough clothes. Initially, I only had one pair which would be worn on a daily basis. I would wash them and wait for it to dry then put it on again. Someone would recognize me from a far because of having the same clothes daily. I thank God I now have quite a number. I can even go to functions and feel respected
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I used to struggle so much to make ends meet. Since I did not have a stable source of income I had to strain my self by working several casual jobs a day. It has not been easy on my side. It was hard to get money since you may not get a casual job on a daily basis. I believe my life will change and I will become financially stable when I sell my farm produce.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, I have seen a lot of growth, I have improved in farming because I spent the transfer on purchase of fertilizer and hired more labor to help me in the farm. My biggest hope is to harvest more enough for family and also for sale.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goal that I have for my life in the next four months is to buy a cow which will ensure I have more supply of milk for both consumption and sales. I also have a plan to lease a piece of land purposely for use in expanding farming activities.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Since I am a farmer, I invested a lot in farming. I boast of a large plantation which makes my heart happy every time I see this. Transfers from GiveDirectly has given me the power to hire more labor in this farming activity which was not the case before. I am planning to buy a cow which ensures that I get enough milk supply.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I am sure I will harvest enough food for my family and I will have more for sale. This will empower me to do more farming. I will be a happy farmer since I will have enough income to help me cater for my family needs, pay school fees for my children and live a comfortable life.
 
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I am happier life is better because of GD income. I have less casual work load now than in the past. This means I have more time to spend with my family. I no longer engage in heavy and strenuous work in order to survive.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I think some of my additional goals of will be to invest more in my farm, plant more maize within the next two months. I am trying my best to reduce food security. I will buy hens with my subsequent transfers I have constructed a coo already.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have gained financial freedom because of GD transfer.Nowadays, I am much more relaxed I shifted focus to lighter duties, mostly my farm activities. The kind of casual work I used to do were strenuous and required a lot of muscular strength which at times I got outweighed. Moreover,I do not stress when I want to buy clothes or house hold needs, like I would in the past. I can easily do it without worrying much.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I thank Give Directly because I expect to be living a better life, put on decent clothes and above all my family will be much healthier.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
 
The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Last year was the most challenging in my life. Four months ago I lost my mother to diabetes. This is the biggest hardship I have faced in my life because she was my only remaining parent after my father passed on about two decades ago. I depended on her for moral, emotional and financial support. This also means I am not able to further my education soon.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning. This is because I have been accorded another chance to see a new day. It is also the time I spend planning on the new day's activities.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I have ploughed my land planning to grow maize next month so as to leverage on the rainy season. Therefore I am planning to spend my first transfer to buy fertilizers to grow the maize.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
I completed my secondary education 4 years ago and planning to further my studies in future. Being awarded this certificate means I can join college and acquire skills that will give me a job. This is an achievement I am most proud of so far.