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 > Japhet's Profile
Japhet's family
Japhet
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
32
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Japhet's next check-in.
 
24th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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?
In the next four months I have plans of taking a loan from a bank that would see me buy a piece of land. The current piece of land that I am staying in is too small such that it would not allow me to make any valuable investments that will change my life. I expect to be able to continue taking part in the merry go round as well. Proceeds from my new job-operating a power saw will be used to pay back the loan borrowed while GiveDirectly transfers will see me continue being part of the merry go round as well.
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 the power saw that I have been able to buy using the money received from my merry go round contributions. I have been working as a casual having been employed by someone to operate their power saw and this gave me very little income. This got me thinking about acquiring one of my own power saw which I was unable to accomplish until I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly. Before I bought my own power saw I could make up to an average of $8 on a good day as net profit while some other days could be as low as $1.5 per day. After buying the power-saw machine, I have been able to make up to $ 20 on a good day while I make up to $8 on a really bad day. This has led to a total change in my living standards and lifestyle as well.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, my expectations is that I shall have bought a piece of land already after acquiring a loan from one of the local banks. The piece of land, I know, shall give me an opportunity to invest in other meaningful things like farming that will change my life and living standards of my family by a great extent.
 
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?
my new goal is to buy the power saw. I have a lot of experience working in the timber industry. This is where I want to focus and make an income from.
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 the savings in a merry go round group. I have been saving about KES 2200; I will use the money to buy a power saw of my own so that I work in the timber sector as a business and not just as an employee. I am so happy to have such a huge savings that will definitely change my life for good.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to be much better because of the power saw that I will be owning. I will be making money from every inch of wood that I saw. I will be a technician and the owner at the same time which means I will be making more than the money I make from working as a menial laborer in the sector. My needs will be well catered for because of the income generation form the business that I will be running.
 
16th 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?
In the past four months, I was struggling to raise a mere 500 KES which I was supposed to pay for the merry-go-round every month. I was working extra hard on the casual labor to ensure that I save a little amount towards the same. When I started receiving the money, It started becoming easier and now that I have a power saw which is generating a better income we have changed the terms in our merry-go-round group and nowadays paying 1500 KES after every two weeks. This has really changed my life and I am glad that I got a viable idea which has seen me improve financially. In the last four months, I have been able to accumulate 12000 KES which I expect it back when my turn comes.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Having obtained my own power saw, I am able to make a good amount of money every day. I now have an additional goal to start my own timber yard in the nearby town where I will be cutting and stocking timber for sale. I saw this as a great opportunity since there is no other timber yard within the whole town. I have accumulated the money I have been getting from the power saw and soon I will look for a space to start my own business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Having been a power saw operator for a long time, I have gotten a lot of experience on using the machine to cut timber of any sizes. I have been working for a neighbor who had the machine for a pay an experience which saw me making a lot of money every day. I have been generating around 4000 KES to the owner on a good day and that would mean a good commission to me. Although I was making all that every day, the amount I was paid for the job was so little that I could not manage to use for upkeep and have something left to save. When I started receiving the money from GiveDIrectly, I started saving as I continue with the job. Currently, I have purchased my own power saw which is the biggest difference in my daily life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Due to my current job status, I have great hope and expectation that in the next six months my timber yard will be fully established. I am planning to hire someone who will be working in the yard to ensure that it is always opened in the morning and closed in the evening While I will be going to my routine work to source timber.
 
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?
Four months a go, I used to work as a casual laborer just to get enough to feed my family but now am able to make merry go round contributions as I save up money to meet other expenses.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months I will be having my turn in merry go round contributions. It is after this contribution that I will sell my cow and add up the money to buy a power saw. It is at this time that I am expecting to be self employed. Power saw costs KES 70 000 and my merry go round contributions will add up to KES 40000. I will sell one cow to meet the extra cost of the power saw.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life in the last four months is that I have been able to join and consistently participate in a merry go round. GiveDirectly transfers came as a relief on my side and has allowed me to engage in other income generating activities. Despite working as a casual laborer, these days I can even afford to save up some amount that remains after meeting our daily household needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to be self employed. By this time, I will be having my own power saw and will be saving up to KES 1000 per day after meeting all the family's expenses.
 
5th 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 from how it was four months ago in that I have increase my savings through merry go round.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goal that I have in my life in the next four months is to is to raise fee for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life in the last four months is that I am currently assured of providing for my family needs with the help of monthly transfers. This has enable me give my family enough food and be able to pay fee for my kids. I felt supported in the last four months.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I expect to have bought my own power saw. With the income from saw milling I expect my children fee payment and other household needs to be easier.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 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?
The new goal that I have come up with since I started receiving the transfer is to buy a new power saw.
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 had not received the transfer in that I can now save through merry go round.I currently see many goals to engage in due to monthly income.I am currently happy and hopeful of good things to come in my life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I expect to have bought a power saw and I will be getting a higher monthly income.
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 the transfer is that I currently have enough food.The transfer has made me engage in less casual job unlike before.I am happy that I feel uplifted with the transfer.
 
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 lose of my power saw.my power saw that I had been using for a long time was recently stollen.This has exposed me to joblessness and hence my life has become very difficult.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon.This is when I take a rest in a shade and sometimes take a nap.It's always a feel good time.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to save the money from this cash transfer so that I can buy a power saw.I take part in lumbering and so I need my own power saw to enable me to benefit from this job.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement am so proud of is having learnt the skill of lumbering.I am able to use a power saw to make timber from wood.This enables me to comfortably fend for myself.