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 > Stephen's Profile
Stephen's family
Stephen
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
62
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Stephen's next check-in.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My next goal is to start saving part of my next transfers so that I would put together with my savings which I make through the business and spent it to buy a heifer. This would be the first step to having a long term investment.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Early this year, I invested part of my transfer on starting up a business. Since the capital which I had was little, I began to buy some chicken from within my locality and resell at a nearby shopping centre. Through this, I have been able to raise little money to cater to my family needs. In the last four months, I have been spending part of the money to expand this business which has since then grown my business and I can buy 10 chicken at once which in turn gives me a good profit.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I believe I would have bought the heifer which I am now planning to buy. This heifer when it matures, I would have the offspring and get some milk for use at home and surplus for sale.
 
16th 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?
My life is different from how it was four months ago in that I no longer do much of the casual jobs but rather devote my time to my family and to work on my own farm.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new additional goals for the next four months is to save some money from the sales of my farm produce to start a poultry keeping project. This project will generate an income by selling the egg in the market.
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 transfers is that my children are no longer sent home to collect school fees. I used to do casual jobs in the village and the amount of money I used to receive was small and it could not gather for the basic needs and at the same time pay school fees for my children. This was making me struggle so much. When I started to receive the money from GiveDirectly I started horticulture farming because I had the money to buy seeds and fertilizers and this has enabled me to earn an income by selling the produce in the market. I'm able to pay school fees and my children are in school, their performance has improved so much. I no longer do much of the casual jobs but rather devote my time to my own farm and my family. I'm so happy for the support it has changed our living standard.
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 saved enough money from the sales of my produce to buy a heifer.
 
12th 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 because I can afford to provide enough food for my family. I use most of the transfers t met my daily food requirements of the household. I then concentrate the efforts I make in producing more for the farm I own. These have enhanced my abilities to earn a good income. It means that my children's future is looking bright because I can afford to give them an education. These aspects of life are only possible because of the transfers I have received over the last four months.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My next goal is to start a business to trade in milk so that I can earn an income form the profits.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in the last four months is the reduction in the burden of meeting my daily needs. I have a child who is in a nearby medical training college where I have got to meet her daily expenditure. Her food and school materials required costs a lot of money every day. This has made my daily expenditure very high as I take care of my family members as well including my spouse who refused to take part in this GiveDirectly program. The money I get has helped to provide cash that I can use to spread across all the needs. I therefore get time to work on my farm instead of moving from menial job to another on a daily basis. This means I am able to earn from the farm and therefore has better opportunities to vend fro the family This is the biggest difference I have had in my life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to have changed in the next six months in that I will have a reduced burden of the daily household expenditure. I will be having a business trading in milk. From the proceeds, I will earn an income that I will use to meet the needs of my family.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I get help in the provision of food for the family and payment of school fees and upkeep for my child in college.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I plan to buy planting fertilizer and maize seeds to plant. This will provide food for the family and even school fees for my child,
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 get help in paying upkeep for my child in school.I am so happy to see her stay well in school to study because I send her money when I get this transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I really don't know what to expect because of the erratic weather patterns. I hope my maize will do well so that I get a good harvest. In past years, there has been an outbreak of a maize desease and bad draught. I really wish that this time goes well so that I harvest maize that I planted using the GiveDirectly transfer.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 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 is to start a business of buying and selling chicken
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
There is no difference in my life as for now, I hope it will improve as I get more transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months my life would have improved.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My life has not yet changed since this is the first transfer.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on poultry farming and purchase of farm inputs.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I got an accident in the year 2008 and my hip joint got dislocated and at the same time got a crack. Up until now I still feel a lot of pain on the joint when I engage myself on difficult task. This has greatly reduced my activeness on the farm though I still persevere. For me this is the greatest biggest hardship I have ever experienced.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I return from the farm carrying with me foodstuffs for my family.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
I have managed to educate my kids through hard work and determination in my farm. Some of them are in tertiary level while others are in secondary school. I have ensured that their school fees arrears are cleared on time and this for me is the achievement I am proudest of.