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 > Austine's Profile
Austine's family
Austine
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
27
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Austine'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 additional goal for my life for the next four months is to open a second-hand cloth business for my wife. I am empowered financially and I would wish to empower my wife too, that is why I thought of the idea. I am very optimistic that once she has a business, we will be having an additional source of income in our house. I won't strain financially because we will be sharing whatever profit we get from the business to enable us to plan how best to take care of our family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I am the sole breadwinner in my family. I do Irish potato business and at times daily sales are too low, which means providing the basic needs for my family is not that easy. I used to involve myself in casual jobs to enable me to get money to support my family. I also have school-going children and I have to pay their fees. Before I started receiving money from Give Directly life was very difficult because I had no reliable source of income. The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is that I now have a reliable source of income. I am staying a stress-free life because I have hope that I can now provide for my family the basics need s without straining. I thank Give Directly because I now have an additional source of income. I do boost my business using my monthly income hence it has stabilize my business hence increase in daily sales.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have established an additional business for my wife. I am planning to open a second-hand business for her. Currently, the whole family depends on me, remember we also have extended family to look after thus it is not an easy task. Having that business will earn us more income to enable us to meet our financial needs and also it empowers the person running it. I am very positive that in the next six months I'll be having a financial breakthrough.
 
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?
Before GD started sending me transfers, I used to struggle to raise money for my savings towards purchasing land. There are months that I defaulted and others that I was forced to sell personal belongings just to raise the amount since the casual job that I do was not raising enough funds. But after GD showed in the picture, life has been smooth and easy like never before. I am assured of being a landowner sooner than I thought.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I currently do not have any new goals apart from the one of purchasing a parcel of land hence all my efforts are geared towards the same.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Where I come from, getting a parcel of land is next to impossible because it is densely populated and people scramble for land. I have been planning to purchase a parcel of land. This caused me to join a saving scheme that required me to raise KES 3000 every month. The transfers I receive from GiveDirectly has played a major role since I am left with a little amount to raise towards the savings every month. Soon I am owning a parcel of land.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will be closer to owning a parcel of land than ever before. This will be a dream come true for me. I have toiled and waited for this moment in my life.
 
16th 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 am eating well balanced diet in that i have changed heath wise since i am eating the right food. My project of buy land is also under way which l am very sure I will achieve.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I will continue saving money in merry go round so at least one year to achieve my dream of buying land. This is the biggest challenge I am going through.
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 capable of saving every month for my future project of buying land and at the same time I am able to maintain the up keep of my family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to continue saving the money for my future project of buying land where I will put my home in the next one year and staying in it.
 
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 better than it was four months ago owing to the fact that I am always assured of a monthly income from GiveDirectly. The transfers have greatly supplemented my household income thus we are able to undertake some projects we had not done before. In the past, my household solely depended on one source of income which was always insufficient.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal in the next four months is to save my transfers which together with my other savings I shall use to buy a piece of land. Since I am advancing in age and I have sons who would like to build their houses, I shall build a home in that piece of land. This will provide them an adequate space for building their houses. I shall be glad to see my sons spending in their own houses instead of spending at the neighborhood.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In the last four months preceding the current transfers, the biggest difference in my life is buying and currently owning two cows. My wife and I had saved some of our transfers which together with my personal savings from the casual jobs, we used to buy the two cows. It has been our dream for several years to own even a goat. Finally, this dream has come to pass and we are grateful for the financial support GiveDirectly gave us.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have bought and owned a piece of land. I shall thereafter, prioritize building my home in that piece of land. As a result, I shall have more free space for my sons to build their houses. Moreover, I shall always feel at peace and happy to have my own home, thus I shall comfortably do poultry farming in my own compound.
 
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 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 the previous life before the transfer, that is because currently don't have to worry much about where to get money for my planned start up.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next six months, I am planning to save my transfers in an Mshwari lock saving account to be able to get enough money for a business start up.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that the money has made my life easier in terms of finances. It has helped me pay up my loans and bought a goat for rearing. Initially, this was like a dream to me but GD has made come to reality.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will change in the next months this is because I anticipate to be my own boss. Meaning I will no longer have to be employed by anyone and at the same time my family will have a more steady source of income..
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I plan to open a savings account which will help me achieve my goals.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I was able to service my loan in time and my children have never been sent home for school fees this year. Thanks to Give Directly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I plan to buy a plot from my savings and also to start my own business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I was so much stressed about the loan I had borrowed since time was due for payment yet I did not have money to repay it and they had threatened to come for some of my household items.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The hardest time in my life was back in december of 2016 ,I had just lost my 4months old child through death.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I get to interact with my friends and discuss more on business.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to use the transfer from give directly to improve my business.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My greatest achievement that I am most proud of is being able to pay school fees for my little sister, and see her through secondary school without any difficulties.