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 > Meshak's Profile
Meshak's family
Meshak
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
29
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Meshak's next check-in.
 
18th 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?
Currently, my life is totally changed as I have a paying day job, a business in terms of poultry rearing and the transfers that help in the generation of income for the family. We can access cash easily and we hardly depend on anyone for financial support anymore. I have acquired a lot of things using transfers like buying household items like sofa seats to furnish our house which now looks beautiful. We can get food easily on a daily basis which was a challenge when I only had my day job.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I expect to save and buy more poultry enlarge the project so that the income that comes from it can be so tangible enough to help in shaping our lives in a different direction.
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 the fact that I have extra money coming in from GD beside my normal salary and this helps as I can dedicate my savings and the salary to other bigger or long term projects as I use the transfer on daily provisions of my family. I have been able to have a constant flow of money and this has made it easier to attend to all my responsibilities with a lot of ease. A long term project that this bore was setting up a poultry rearing to help in generation of income for the family and even the nourishment of our healths.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
At the end of the six months, I shall have expanded poultry rearing to large scale by buying more poultry. I wish to also buy livestock that by that time shall have blossomed to a business. With the livestock, I believe my family will be more secure financially. By leasing more farms, we shall have ventured into large scale farming which will bring forth more harvest which we can sell to generate income for my family. By the end of these few months, I will be a proud full-time farmer.
 
16th 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?
The difference in my life in that last four months is that I have never lacked food in my house. Before the transfers, we used to struggle with my mother to feed the family since we all depended on a small income from casual work. We would strain to ensure food is on the table. GD transfers changed our story. We have always had enough in the house to eat and this is a big improvement in our lives.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to start a poultry project. This will help me have an economic engagement and income to sustain all my needs and that of the family. I would not want to struggle as I did before the transfers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have my own livestock. I have always desired to own any kind of livestock like my peers in the village but due to the low income from casual work, I have not been able to have one. With GD transfers, I have been saving part of my monthly and as at now, I have my own two goats. This is an investment whose value increases on a daily basis. Thanks to GD for changing my life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will change in the next six months in that I will be having my own cow. I plan to sell the goat when I have enough money to top up and buy a cow. When I have a cow, I know I can handle any financial emergency without any difficulty by selling the cow.
 
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 than it was four months ago in that I no longer struggle as I could before. I always receive the monthly transfers which I have been using to meet the basic needs of my family. In addition, I can always save and invest my wages on other income generating activities which I would have not done, should I not be enrolled in the GiveDirectly's program.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, my new goal is to buy a goat which I am planning to keep and sell later in case I have an emergency. I hope that it will reproduce and make the number grow thus I shall have more goats for my household's use in the future. I am also planning to expand my house which I feel is very small now that I am a newly married man.
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 receiving the monthly income. The transfers have made my life easy since I am always able to plan well and budget with my transfers. I have been able to buy food for my members comfortably as opposed to the time when I was not enrolled in the program.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to buy and keep my own cow. From it, I shall be able to obtain milk for my household at no cost. Owning a cow in my village is considered a privilege since everyone who owns a cow is often treated with a lot of dignity. In my community, cows are highly regarded as symbols of wealth.
 
8th 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?
These transfers gave me the confidence to get married because I know I am now able to take care of my wife and family.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am currently saving part of my transfers which I am planning to use to start a poultry farming project soon.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I entirely depend on casual jobs which are very irregular nowadays, but with these transfers, I find it easier taking care of my family's needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I recently got married and I hope that in the next six months,I will have saved enough money from my poultry business and the casual jobs that I do to enable me visit my in-laws for an introduction.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($5 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 save part of the monthly transfers so that I can buy a cow that will remind me of Give Directly even when the program is over.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been because I have an extra source of income which allows me to work more on my farm than I do on others' farms for money.Now I have more time to work on my own projects like farming which will ensure more produce for my family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect to have helped my grandmother expand her business so that we have more source of income which will help lower our budgeting problems.This will improve our living standards as we will be able to afford better quality foods and medical care.
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 is that budgeting has become easier and we rarely go hungry due to lack of food.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I face is the current situation of separation with my spouse. Its been 8 months since we separated and it affects me a lot because I miss the company of our children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I am done with the morning chores, i've relaxed a bit and I get to share a meal with my mother as we chat.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on dowry payment. I have been married for 4years now and I have not been able to pay bride price.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is the poultry keeping and selling business which I started last year. I was able to make good money out of it that enabled me to build a house.