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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 > Joel's Profile
Joel's family
Joel
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
66
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on Joel's next check-in.
 
23rd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
With the current merry-go-round which I have been funding, I have a new goal to venture into passion fruits farming. I am opting to start this type of farming purposely to increase the source of income. Its management is way too easy and it doesn't need a bigger piece of land which makes it more convenient for us.
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 availability of enough foodstuff in our household. Initially, we were struggling sourcing food which was really hard for us since we had other bills to settle alongside foodstuff. I am glad that we are now able to do various farm operations which in turn enhance availing food in our household and making other activities run smoothly without much struggle.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I have great expectations that I would have bought and planted the seedlings and all I will be doing is weeding spraying and other farm management to ensure a great harvest later.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to save my next transfer with an intention to buy cabbage seeds. I look at this as a great opportunity because by the time I will be harvesting in February, the cabbages will be on high demand. I projected a huge return on this investment since cabbages do well in our region. I also have a ready market which means my profit will be a hundred percent.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Since Give Directly came into my life, I have been able to accomplish most of my goals with ease. I am no longer worried about how I will buy farm inputs. I couldn't afford to buy all the inputs because I didn't have enough resources. When I received these transfers, I spent part of it to buy potato tubers that I plan to plant this coming season. I am happy that I managed to buy everything that was needed and I have hopes of having a bountiful harvest.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next three months, I would have harvested my potatoes that I planted recently using the transfers I got from Give Directly. I am planning to use the money from the sales of cabbages and potatoes to buy a heifer for rearing. I know that once I own a few livestock, I will never lack money for spending as I can resell whenever I got a pressing financial need. I will even stop doing casual jobs and focus on achieving my goals.
 
15th 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 currently different in that I can now afford most of the basic needs and I have avoided the shame of having to beg from relatives at times like this when we are hunger stricken. It is interesting how we have avoided borrowing from our children and well wishers during times like this when we were fond of borrowing from them.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The additional goals that I have in the next four months is that I want to plant beans in my farm. Following the disease that affected our maize then we are moving away from maize crop growing to horticultural farming. I will use the GiveDirectly transfers to buy fertilizers and maize seeds for planting and it will be of great help in the next four months since it will help me meet other family expenses.
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 have been able to contain or manage hunger within our family. We are currently faced with a problem of a maize disease that destroyed all the crops in our farms but with GiveDirectly transfers, we have been able to manage hunger and have food all this time. The transfers have also helped us a lot in making sure that we plant other crops like beans which we are optimistic will help us meet other family needs a part from managing hunger and lack of food.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change over the next six months in that I will be more food sufficient than I am right now. I plan to invest more on horticultural farming and savings from the sales from this farm. Considering our age, it means that we cannot do more of investments except to make sure that we are always food sufficient and have enough food to keep us strong and healthy whole year round. We are so grateful for the transfers that we are receiving from GiveDirectly whole year round.
 
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 much different from how it was four months ago since we have adequate food in our family. Besides, we have afforded to acquire higher quality food as we strive to enjoy a balanced diet. I have managed to educate my son since I have sufficient funds for paying his college fees on a timely basis. Still, I have more time to spend with my family while handling our own activities rather than doing casual work. Overall, we feel happier and more bonded as a family unlike before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The additional goal for my life for the next four months is to start horticultural farming by growing capsicum on my farm. Accordingly, I will save the funds from GiveDirectly to facilitate the project. I chose to venture into the project since it tends to have a high return on investment.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Taking my youngest son to the college serves as the biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months. I have been struggling in vain to raise funds for educating him since he completed his secondary school studies about two years ago. Thus, money that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly have impacted significantly on us as a family because I feel happy as a responsible parent who has afforded to educate all the children through colleges.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change significantly in the next six months since I will have started poultry farming. Besides, I look forward to purchasing a better breed of dairy cow to attract more milk for consumption and sale. Accordingly, I will be collecting more income from the sale of the capsicum, eggs, poultry, and milk that I will be getting from my farm. As my age advances, I am striving to ensure I have diversified sources of sufficient income for sustaining my family and myself.
 
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 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 because there is less stress and boosted any family emergency expenses.These transfers have also acted as surety for any loan I would like to take.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months am planning to buy a young bull as an investment.
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 these transfers have enabled me to start merry go round contributions which boosted school fees payment.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I will have bought a young bull which I will rear until it is fully grown and sell it at a higher profit.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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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 am now hopeful of meeting my basic needs.This help me live a stress free life in that am assured of a monthly earning unlike before where I had to work extra hard to get an uncertain income income.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I now have a new goal of saving money through a merry go round where we the village members will buy each and everyone in the group a cow.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life currently is stress free as far as earning a income is concern, I engage in less casual jobs now that I am growing old and less energetic, transfer has helped me reduced debts and has also improve my living standard in that I can now afford enough food for my family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have more livestock in my farm. This will lift up my financial status since I will be getting more income through sales of milk and calves from my cows.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship am facing now is lack of enough food. Over the last five years, we have not been getting much from the farm, meaning i have to buy food for my family which is a challenge. Also, it becomes hard to meet other basic needs since we depend on subsistence farming as main source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening when I'm with my family members, having meals and when i can see that they had a good day and happy too.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I will spend the first transfer to buy food for my family. I will also use the other transfer to pay school fees and other education needs for our grandchild whose parents passed on. I will the use future transfers to complete building our kitchen which had stayed for long due to inadequate finances.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My greatest achievement is that i have been able to take my children through education. Most of them are now working and doing well in life.