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 > Jacob's Profile
Jacob's family
Jacob
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
30
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Jacob'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?
I have been planning to start a poultry farming project which will be my side hustle and an alternative source of income to the casual jobs that I depend on. I have so far managed to purchase the required materials for the construction of a chicken pen but still needs to raise the money to pay the construction workers that will construct the pen. I have started by saving this month's transfers and will do so for the next few months until I have enough.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Last year, I had a vision of starting poultry farming as a way of earning an extra income. For a long time,this only seemed as a vision, but over the past few months, I have managed to purchase most of the required materials for the construction of a chicken pen which has been the biggest obstacle to setting up the project.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am currently struggling to earn a livelihood through casual construction jobs which are not so much available in this rural area limiting my income. I have had a plan of venturing into a poultry business for a very long time now, but it is almost becoming a reality because I have so far made some good progress in terms of the requirements. I expect that in the next six months, the poultry project will be up and running so that I can have an extra source of income and something to keep me busy whenever I fail to come across any of the casual jobs that I depend on.
 
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?
Apart from been able to lease in land for farming, my harvest has increased because of the transfers. I used to get a minimal harvest because I used the same farm year in year out. I did not have the resources to even buy farm inputs to boost my harvest. When I receive the transfers, I have been able to use part of it to buy farm inputs such as hybrid seeds and fertilizers which I have used on my farm for the past two seasons. As a result, my harvest has increased from the 3 sacks I used to get to 9 sacks just from my own farm alone. This is a big improvement and I know when I finally buy my own land, it will even improve more.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in the next four months is to kick start the poultry project which I am currently working on. I have four chicken and some building materials which I will use in building the chicken shed. As soon as am done building the shed, I will buy more chicken to kick-start the projects.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Ever since I finished my secondary education, I have always majored in farming as my main source of income. I have always had dreams of the kind of harvest I would want to have but I have never materialised the dream. This is because I inherited a small piece of land for farming which could not help me achieve the dream. Due to the small harvest, my income too has not been much. I do try and give it my best but again cultivating the same farm over and over again, the harvest continued to reduce. Since I was not able to buy another piece of land, I was forced to use what I had until I started receiving these transfers. I am glad I have been able to lease in a piece of land which has helped me in improving on my income. This has been my practise since last year and I know soon I will acquire another piece so that I don't lease anymore.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, my life will change in that I will have built my own house. Currently, I am staying at my uncle's house. I have come of age to build my own but due to low income, I could not buy building materials and build a house. This is because the little I used to harvest, was all we depended on with my grandmother to sustain our lives. Now that I have realised an increase in my harvest, I will sell the surplus to buy building materials for building a house for myself.
 
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?
If it wasn't for GD, it would have been challenging to raise money to enhance my farming activities. This is because previously I only relied on casual work which wasn't reliable as the main source of income. I'm glad through the GD transfers I was able to meet all the farming requirements.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Currently, I'm venturing into poultry farming so that I can have an additional source of income but I still do not have a good poultry house. Therefore, for the next four months, I have an additional goal of saving the coming transfers so that I can use it to purchase the materials which I'll require to construct a decent poultry house which will accommodate much poultry.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
For the last four months, I have been investing the transfer on farming and I'm glad it hasn't been challenging to raise money for both the materials (improved seeds, pesticides) which I required for the farming process. In addition to that, I have also been able to comfortably pay for the farm labors. This is unlike previously when I could face challenges in meeting all these and all thanks go to GD.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Currently, I have a goal of expanding the poultry farming which I started recently. Hopefully, after it has picked I have the plans to raise some money so that I can use it to construct my house. Currently, I'm staying in one of my uncles' houses but it's normally inconveniencing whenever he comes back home with the family because I'm always forced to look for somewhere to sleep.
 
11th 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?
The other difference in my life is that I am not financially down as I used to be. I used to struggle to support myself financially. I did not have any stable source of income because I only depended on casual work which was not consistent and paying very little. Due to many family demands, I could not save for my future. With GD transfers, I have been having money every month which has enabled me to handle my issues without begging. I don't strain financially anymore.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to buy building materials such as iron sheets, nails and timber which I will use in building my house. I have been staying with my grandmother and I feel right now, i should have my own house because I need some privacy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have been able to improve on my vegetable farming. I have always had a desire to have a vegetable plantation but due to lack of water pump to irrigate my farm, I have not been able to do it. When I started receiving the transfers from GD, I have been able to hire a water pump which I am using for irrigation. In the next month, I will be harvesting for the first time and my farm is doing so well. I know I will be able to sell my harvest to raise money to sustain my family needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I want to start saving so that I can raise money for my college fees. I finished my secondary school last year but due to lack of money, I was not able to join college. This is the reason why I want to save so as to further my education.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different because I have a financial support from GiveDirectly. I can say I have a reliable source of income from the monthly pay that I normally get and I have also stared saving.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to build a house because I stay in my uncle's but I feel owing mine will be better.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I used to do odd jobs to earn a living but I wanted to have a different source of income to certain my needs. Right now the biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is that I managed to started planting cabbage which is a unique idea in our village because most of the people prefer planting sukuma wiki.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that, I will have harvested my cabbage and use the money to join collage.
 
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 since I started receiving payments from GiveDirectly is that, I can save easily for my education.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that, I will have started a business hence from the income I will be able to take care of my needs easily.
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 if I never received the transfer in that, I can purchase whatever I need or even take care of my medical bills easily unlike before.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goals are; to start an agribusiness for income generation and also build my house since currently I stay in a relative's place.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
"The biggest hardship i have faced in my life is the rough part of life after the death of my parents when i was 13 years of age. Before that, life was smooth and good because we could be provided with our needs but after i lost my parents, my brothers and i were to depend on relatives for our care and other basic provisions."
What is the happiest part of your day?
" The happiest part of my day is morning because at this time, as a farmer, i fully engage myself in farming activities. The weather is still cool and i still have enough energy to conduct my duties on the farm."
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
" I am planning to spend my transfer on, buying farm inputs like seeds and fertilizer, building materials for my house as well as paying college fees."
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
"The achievement i am proud of was working hard in school to pass my final examinations despite the fact that i lost my parents when i was still young and the difficult life i faced there after, i could still work hard for my destiny."