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 > James's Profile
James's family
James
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
50
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on James's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is very different from how it was in that, I have been able to pay debts that I owed different individuals. This gave me sleepless nights and made me have depressions but thanks to GD's support I have been able to reduce the debts.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My goal as a parent is to see my children attend school hence I am looking forward to paying their school fees.
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 current transfer is that I have been able to pay back my loans with much ease. This was a struggle but finally, I have managed to settle most of my debts thanks to GD's support.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have fenced my compound and bought livestock to add to the number that I currently have.
 
14th 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?
I mostly depend on farming for a source of income which would not have been possible over the past few months due to the drought that was witnessed in the entire country were it not for the money I receive from. With the help of these transfers, I was able to keep my farm alive because I could hire a means of transport to fetch water from one of the dams in the village to irrigate my farm. The river near my farm had dried up making irrigation almost impossible, but I was able to get through the dry season and made a lot of money through the sales of my farm produce, all thanks to GD.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I want to complete paying my son's school fees for this year so that he can fully settle in school without being sent away due to uncleared fee balance. This will also enable me to focus my next transfers on other investments without any worries.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My daily life has definitely changed in the last four months because we can now afford better meals as a family. Because my wife and I receive these transfers, I am no longer the sole breadwinner of the family as she can now also afford to take care of some of the household requirements. We are able to budget as a family and buy food in bulk to last us a while and in the process buy even those that we could never afford to buy before due to low income.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
With these transfers, I am now able to buy quality seeds and other farm inputs that give the best yields. I hope that in the next six months, I will be making double the amount of money I get from my farm now. This will be great on my side because then, I will quit other casual jobs that I sometimes do and fully concentrate on my farm.
 
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 from how it was four months ago because my children are no longer being sent home for fee balance as compared to before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to do large scale farming, because l am sure when l do this l will get enough produce that l will sell and get the money to pay fee for my children.
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 l can now afford to pay school fee to my children comfortably, without too much pressure as compared to before when l had to strangle so much. My project of farming is also doing very well because sometimes l do spend so money on it.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have started doing large scale farming and getting enough profit.
 
6th 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?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago because I eat well and take care of my needs easily unlike before where I had to struggle doing casual jobs to get money.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to build a chicken coop which I can lock so as to avoid the thieves from stealing my birds(hens).
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 is that, I no longer have a lot of debts in the shop unlike before where I had to struggle doing casual jobs to clear the debts.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that, I will be supplying chikens in the hotels and so I will be having weekly income hence I can be able to join savings groups easily.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to intensify my small-scale tomato -growing Project since the expectation of GD monthly payments is in itself an assurance that I will afford pesticides, and I expect improved production for better profit and growth in the near future. Before GD, I could not plan well since I could not afford the required pesticides.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different in that I got empowered to buy poultry vaccine and as such, expect survival rate for my birds to be high thus I should make better profits
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I expect my life to begin taking shape and my living standard to improve since I expect improved tomato harvest and a good number of birds.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that because of GD payment , I currently have a she-goat ,that will grow and replicate, and I feel very proud of this fact since it was otherwise going to take me a long time to buy one on my own.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Paying my children's school fees
What is the happiest part of your day?
I'm always happy when my family are having a meal together
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I will buy firm inputs and improve my Farming
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
It's When I built my new home