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 > Joel's Profile
Joel's family
Joel
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
39
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Joel's next check-in.
 
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?
Alongside the daily hustles I have been doing to feed my family, I also have an additional goal to major on the tailoring work I have been doing. There have been challenges over obtaining the required materials to enhance the smooth running of the business but I have been working so hard to ensure that I save part of the transfers so that I may start it off as soon as possible. Not only that I have not been able to purchase the required materials but also paying the rental fee for the shop I have been using has been a problem which has forced the owner to be closing it down on me whenever I fail to pay. For around four months now, I have been constructing my own shop so that it may ease the struggle since I will not be paying rent anymore.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Having been born and brought up from a humble background, my life has never been any smoother than how it is currently. I struggled in my childhood with my parents who were not able to take me to any secondary school after completion of my primary school level. This saw me dropping out of school immediately I completed the primary school level. Since then, my life has been characterized by manual jobs where I have been toiling over the casual labor to earn a coin. Starting my family later was another burden that sent me to working even harder to feed them although the provision I was making wasn't good enough to sustain them. I thank God for the far we have come although we still have many challenges. One of my children has been consistently sick and his medication has ripped our household of many valuable assets that we had. We appreciated the support from GiveDirectly which has really assisted us in obtaining medication and settling of bills over every visit we make to the hospital for a check-up. We are really thankful for this project.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I am hopeful that the construction of the shop will have been completed and will be happily moving in with a rejuvenated effort to be more productive compared to the previous months.
 
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Some few weeks ago, I fell sick and I wasn't in a position to engage in income generating activities in order to provide for my family as I always do. This means that I would have had to sell some assets in order to provide for them but thanks to the transfers that I always got from Give Directly since it enabled me to buy some food for them and also spent some for my medication. I thank God that right now I am back to my good health.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am currently planning to start a poultry project with some savings that I have. The income I will generate from the sale of eggs and chicken will not only boost my total income but also substitute the amount I always get from the monthly transfers now that I still have a few months to go.
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 I am currently less worried about where I will get my children school fees. I majorly rely on my tailoring business and the sale of farm produce as an income. Sometimes, there's is very little proceeds from these activities and so the transfers I get comes in handy during such times.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to ensure that my children are able to school well by providing all their needs. I hope that they excel in both school and general life. This will give me as a parent that inner joy. I also expect to enjoy a good health now that I can afford to plant and buy food.
 
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 currently different from how it was four months ago in that now I have some income to provide for my family as compared to before when I used to depend on my dairy farming which at some point generate very little money that would not sustain the family needs. Nowadays my children can even dress well unlike before when they were looked upon by their playmates. This has boosted their self esteem as they can now play and socialize with my neighbors children without any discrimination.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I am hoping my business will keep flourishing to enable me to enroll my two children to a private school where they will gain a quality education. This is in top of my priority list as it will secure a bright future for them.
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 my living standard has improved. I saved the monthly transfers and later started a tailoring business. The business has greatly grown as it is generating an income that enables me to provide basic needs for my family with ease. My children nowadays take balanced diet. I am also able to buy them mattress. Previously they used to sleep on mats on the floor as I slept on a tiny mattress which was very uncomfortable. We would always as we wake up feeling very tired. I am as well able to buy beautiful clothes for them. This has made me happy and my family is proud of me too.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change for the better because a I believe the income from my tailoring business will be sustaining my family needs. I also believe that I will be saving the monthly transfers to invest on another income generating project such as poultry farming.
 
6th 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 I have dressed well plus my family and it has boosted my savings.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to pay national hospital insurance fund and increase a poultry farm every month for the next four months.
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 acquire a medical card for my family, and to start a poultry farm.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to return my kids to the private school and improve livestock farming by giving them more feeds.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 receiving these payment from GD is to start a poultry farming which will supplement my income to from my tailoring business. I intend to start this so that it can help me generate income through sale of eggs thereafter use the money for buying food for my family.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am no longer stressed since I received these payments from Give Directly. Now I can easily buy chemicals for spraying my tomato crops and am assured of good harvest since I can control diseases easily.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect in the next six months I would be using motorcycle for transport as at now I walk for long distance on foot. This takes much time and believe with the tomatoes I planted with GD money will help me get a good harvest and in return a good profit to meet my daily expenses.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest different I my life is that now am busy throughout the day.I spent time working in my farm taking care of tomato plants I planted using GD payments. If it would not have been GD to support me I would be forced to spent much time looking for money and have less time with my family.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is being admitted in hospital for blood pressure in 2014. Though I was discharged soon after, I was too weak to work. So weak that my father had to come in to support me and my family for food and other needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Arriving home to my family every evening is the happiest part of my day. I feel so happy and look forward to meeting my youngest child who hugs me by the door every time I arrive home.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Since tomato farming does very well in this place, I am planning to spend my monthly transfer to plough more land, buy seeds and fertilizers and concentrate on this type of cash crop farming.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
I have been a tailor for about 15 years. This small business has sustained my life even before I got married till now and it has enabled me to fend for my entire family. The food we eat, clothes and school requirements for my children I owe it to my tailoring business. This is the achievement I am proudest of.