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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 > Alexander's Profile
Alexander's family
Alexander
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
69
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Alexander'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 plan for the transfers is to buy steel windows which I can fit in my house. I built a new house two years ago and since I did not have enough money, I was not able to buy the kind windows I wanted to buy. Now that I receive monthly transfers from GD, I want to use the transfers to fulfil my desire.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Before the transfers, I did not have any kind of livestock in my compound. It was a big shame for me since most of my colleagues in the village had livestock. Furthermore, lack of livestock labelled me as a poor person. This is because livestock is a source of wealth in my area yet I did not have any. This is why I used part of my transfers to buy three sheep. Right now, they have reproduced and I have a total of 7 sheep which is a very improvement in my life. I no longer feel as poor as I was before the transfers. Whenever I meet my friends telling stories on livestock, I am able to contribute because I too have livestock. It is my biggest difference.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I know I will have another type of livestock in my compound. I have not stopped where I have reached because I know I can still get more. My desire is to sell part of the sheep so that I can buy a cow. One of the reasons why I would want to have a cow is because it is easier to maintain and keep. It requires very little resources to take care of and when I have any financial emergency, I have something I can use easily to raise money without struggling and taking unnecessary debts. I know my life will be much better than it is now because of the transfers.
 
17th 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 the last four months, my family haven't missed the basic needs as it was the case before because I couldn't afford them. I'm glad through the GD transfers, I have been able to provide for them the basic needs. In addition to that, I was able to purchase a goat for rearing with part of the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The current house I have is in a bad state. The walls have fallen off and the floor is too dusty thus encouraging jiggers. Therefore, for the next four months, I have an additional goal to save the coming transfer so that I can purchase both sand and cement for plastering the house so that it can be durable.
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 the ease I have been experiencing in meeting my family's needs. This is because I relied on farming previously as the main source of income but it wasn't reliable thus I could face a lot of challenges in raising money for the family needs. I'm glad that the additional income I have been receiving from GD has enabled me to comfortably meet these needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Currently, I have the plans to save the coming transfers and use them later to purchase the building materials which I'll later use to plaster my house which is dusty with fallen off walls. Therefore, in the next six months, I expect to have plastered the house.
 
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?
Currently, my life is different from how it was before Give DIrectly came into my life. Nowadays I can afford to eat a balanced meal three times a day. Initially, when I used to depend on casual jobs, I would at times sleep hungry because of the nature of my work. Casual jobs are very unpredictable and unreliable. I thank Give Directly for being reliable and sending their transfers on time. I feel good because I now have a fall back plan that I can rely on in case I don't get anything from my casual jobs
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My next goal is to plaster my house. I am the only one in this village who doesn't have a plastered house. I am always ashamed and feel unfortunate in life. I even avoid welcoming visitors to my house because it is not plastered and doesn't look attractive compared to my neighbour's houses. Therefore my next goal in the next six months is is to plaster my house
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life ever since I started receiving transfers from Give directly is that I was able to buy sheep. I have always wanted to buy sheep because they reproduce twice a year. They also require little attention compared to other livestock such as dairy cows. I felt they will survive and still do well with the climatic condition of this area since they eat less and require little water. They are also in high demand and have a ready market. I feel I made the right decision to buy these sheep because I will get huge profits within a very short period of time
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months because I will have plastered my house. I always believe it is easier to maintain a plastered house because it doesn't need to be repaired more often. It will also make my house look presentable and decent just like my neighbour's houses. I will no longer feel ashamed to welcome visitors or feel odd one out.
 
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, l now have a large herd of cattle that l can sell when l am ineed.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months l am planing to start buying plastering materials, since l am planning to plaster my house because it is very dusty and l can not afford to plaster it without any support from somewhere.
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 spent give directly's money to improve my cattle farming and now have so many cattle that l can sell if l have any emergency. I am also happy to be among the rich in our village as compared to before when l had only two sheep.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have started buying cement and sand to start my project of plastering my house.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 have always struggled to raise money for school fees for my grandchildren whom I have been taking care of since their parents passed on. Casual work and farming have not been enough for me to sufficiently provide for my family needs. This is the reason why I have always felt life is unfair because I get very little yet I have a lot to do. My grandchildren in most cases have always been sent home for school fees because I was not able to pay their fees in time. Since I started receiving these transfers, I have been able to ensure I pay bit by bit every month and as a result, they not always sent home for school fees. I believe in the course of next year, I will be able to settle the balance so that they may study in peace.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
As we approach planting season next year, I would want to buy fertilizer and seeds which I will apply on my farm. I have always believed with these, I can be able to get a very good harvest. I am a farmer and I believe my life will change if I get good harvest because I can sell part of it to raise money for other needs.
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 this transfer is that I now have sheep in my compound. I have always desired to have atleast one type of livestock whcih will be an investment for my family. This has not been easy because my daily income from casual work and farming cannot support me to that extent. I was almost giving up on the same because of my financial burdens and I am getting aged too. I want to thank God for GD for helping me achieve my dream.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would want to ensure I commit to paying school fees for my grandchildren so that they may not be sent home for the same again. I believe there is nothing better than giving them education. Out of education, I will have given them what their parents would have given to them. It's the best gift a parent can give his/her children.
 
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 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 able to feed well and take care of my family with a lot of ease unlike before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect my life to shall have changed with my new house having steel windows and doors.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My current life is different from how it would have been had I never received the transfer in that I am now able to dress well and take care of family.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to fix steel windows and doors to my new house I had constructed earlier.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life is when I lost my father in the year 2000 since I was only bread winner for the family and I could not afford to raise money for my father's burial expenses
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is on every Sunday when I normally goes to church and worship
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on improving my house and also buy household furnitures
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My most significant achievements which I am proud of is in the year 2016 when I did harvest ten sacks