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 > Isaak's Profile
Isaak's family
Isaak
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
36
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Isaak'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?
My desire now is to buy a cow. Ever since I got married three years ago, I have never paid dowry. It has been long and I feel it is time I pay dowry so that I may not stay in debt anymore. I would want to be free with my in-laws.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Right now I have livestock such as sheep, goats and pigs. This is a very big step in my life brought by GD transfers. Before the transfers, I would only admire my neighbour's livestock and envy them as they went out herding. I was really motivated to have my own but I did not know how I could get resources to buy my own. The only cow I inherited, I ended up using to raise money for school fees so I was left with none. With GD transfers, I started buying one by one and I am glad I have several now. Without the transfers, I really don't know if I would have made it this far.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I know I will have raised enough money for paying dowry. I plan to use my transfers for savings for the money I will use for the dowry process and use part of my livestock to buy two cows which I will use in paying the dowry. If I do not act now, I may lose my in-laws' respect because of the dowry issued. I want to act fast before things get out of hand.
 
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?
For some time now, I have been longing to buy a goat but could not due to low income and other urgent family needs that need to be taken care of. Within the last four months, I managed to finally buy the goat that can add to my list of achievements with regards to the transfers that I have been receiving from Give Directly. This is after I bought pigs and sheep late last year and early this year respectively. I am happy with the progress I have made so far and only hope to achieve more.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I want to buy cows that I will use for my wife's dowry payment which I hope will take place soon. I have started making some savings from my business and will also start setting aside most of my transfers from now on to help me achieve the goal in good time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Late last year, I invested some of my transfers on two pigs which I knew would bring me great returns since they reproduce very fast and are also very easy to maintain. So far, I have seen the benefits after I sold the first batch of the piglets that paid me a lot more than I had expected. I managed to make some savings for future plans out of the pig sales then used the rest to boost my charcoal business by adding more stock. Having a better business means that my family can be comfortable by getting decent meals and other personal needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My wife has been complaining that I have taken too long to pay her dowry which is a traditional requirement in our community. This has been stressing me out as a husband and I need to fulfil this rite as soon as possible so that I can fully focus on other development plans. I have already started saving towards this ceremony and I hope that I will have gathered all the requirements and completed everything in six months time through the help of these transfers.
 
15th 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 from how it was four months ago because l now sleeping like king, I manage to buy unbelievable mattress that I am very sure of the people does not have in our village.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal for the next four months is to buy a dairy cow. My family will not only get milk for consumption but I will also be selling at our nearby shopping center and use the money I will be getting to cater to my family's needs. This has been my dream but I could achieve it because of my poverty status.
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 am now sleeping in a very comfortable place that I always long to go bed, as compared to before when I was going to bed I was worried so much because I was thinking of how uncomfortable the bed is. I also now have cattle that l can sell when I have any emergency to attend to as compared to before when I would depend on relatives who sometimes does not even support.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I expect to have bought dairy cow ready to mature and I start getting milk from it, which I will be selling to the community and getting money for my up keep.
 
11th 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?
Apart from having a new mattress, I have a goat. In my area, if you do not have any kind of livestock, you are considered very poor. I would not want to be in the same category as before the transfers. I feel comfortable in the company of my friends because I have sheep. Nobody looks down on me as before. At least I also own property as successful people in our village.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the four months, I would wish to buy a cow. I know this is the best investment I can have in my life. I know when it reproduces, I will have herd of cattle which is a source of wealth in my area. I would also want to have a good life just like my friends.
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 a new mattress. In my life, I used to have an old mattress which I have used for the last three years. It has become old and very thin. It is as if I was sleeping on a mat. This really made my sleep uncomfortable and my nights would start late and end very early because I was not enjoying my sleep. After buying a new mattress, I feel I get enough rest I need at night after a hard days work. Thanks to GD.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I want to build a new house. The one I have now is not the best I would have wanted to have. It is because of life's problems that is why I have the house. I would want to use the transfers to buy building materials to aid me in building a better and bigger house.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
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 l now have my own cattle that l can sell anytime l feel like.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in the next for months is to pay school 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, since l started receiving the transfer l engaged myself in cattle farming and l can now say that if l have any emergency, l can manage to handle it immediately because l have something to sell.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have paid school fee for my children and also to add more cattle.
 
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now have most of the things I lacked previously,like livestock and household items.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I am anticipating to have bought the livestock and they will be doing so well.
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 had I not received the transfer is that I now have most of the things I lacked like livestock and the household items.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to buy more livestock for rearing.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is the incapablity to accomplish some of my responsibilities such as provision of adequate food to my family due to lack of finances.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am always happy in the afternoon after doing some casual jobs.This helps me provide daily food for my family.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to expand my charcoal burning business so as to get more income and use part of the profit in paying school fees for my children.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is when I bought furniture and built an iron roofed house. Initially, I used to stay in a leaking grass thatched house with no chairs.This made me to live uncomfortable life especially when I had visitors.