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 > Leonard's Profile
Leonard's family
Leonard
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
33
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Leonard's next check-in.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 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 in the next four months is to construct a new kitchen. Currently, we are using an old one which is almost collapsing and it is no longer safe for us to cook there. I will save my next transfers so that I would spend it on buying a few iron sheets and timber for building a better structure which would be more safer for us.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In the last four months, I have been spending part of my transfers on paying school fees for my child who was sitting for her class eight exams recently. I believe she will perform very well since she was not sent home for school fees as it use to before when I wasn't able to pay school fees on time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
After I completed constructing a new kitchen I am thinking of starting a poultry farming. I believe that when I got some chicken I would collect some eggs which when I get to sell I would earn money which would enable me to cater to my family needs. This would relieve me from the daily hustle of seeking casual jobs to meet my daily bills.
 
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 currently different from how it was four months ago in that I have been able to expand the size of my land under tea cultivation. I decided to expand the size of my farm because It is the surest type of investment that will not disappoint me. It is a long term investment which will not only benefit me but my children also. Having a large portion of land under tea cultivation will increase the number of kilograms of green tea leaves that I will be delivered to the factory. Due to this, there will be an increment in my monthly income. Finally, there is the hope of improving my living standards courtesy of Give Directly
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The additional goal for my life for the next four months is to build an iron sheet roofed kitchen for my family. This will save me the hustles and cost of replacing the grass roof every year so as to prevent it from leaking during rainy season.
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 I have been able to furnish my house by cementing it. This has made it easier for my wife because she can now take less time cleaning it. The amount of dust circulating inside has also reduced thus I am no longer living with the fear of my family contracting a respiratory disease. Initially, my mud floor would dry and emit dust. It was very risky for us but I thank God for sending this organization on time.
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 built an iron sheet roofed kitchen for my family. I am planning to achieve this by buying the building materials in bits every month using my transfers. I wish to build an Iron roofed kitchen because of the dangers that come with cooking in a grass thatched kitchen. Grass thatched houses are usually cheap but very risky as it can catch fire easily. I feel lucky because I can now afford to build it through the help I get from GiveDirectly. In addition to this, I am optimistic that I will have cleared paying school fees for my children thus they will not be sent back home from school.
 
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 different in that I am now able to accomplish most of the things that I never thought I would accomplish in my life time. I have been able to take my child to a boarding school and paid school fees comfortably. I have also bought a cow that has helped my family a great deal and I can buy the basic household needs without any difficulty.
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 bringing into completion my newly constructed house.I want to have the floor cemented and the windows fixed by this time. I plan to do this by saving the GiveDirectly transfers and saving from the sale of farm produce 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 is that I have been able to buy my own cow. For a long time, I have been taking care of a neighbors cow just so that we could get milk for family consumption. This has often made me feel low and has also reminded me to always struggle and have my own cow. When I got GiveDirectly transfers, I saved the transfers for four consecutive months. I then used profits from my farm with these transfers and bought a highly productive dairy cow. We now have a cow that produces enough milk for family consumption and we get surplus for selling and which gives us profits. This has raised my self esteem in the family and made me so proud as a father.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months my house shall have come to completion. I shall have been able to cement the floor of my house,fixed the windows and paint the roof and the walls. Our new home shall be more comfortable than the one we have now and we shall be a happy family once more.
 
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?
My life currently is different since I have been able to increase the size of my land under tea plantation and my children have also started wearing decent clothes.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The only goal I now have is to furnish my house into a semi-permanent one.
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 happiness since my children have food always.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect I life to change in that I will furnished my house.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($4 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?
I now have the plans of improving my house into a semi-permanent one by cementing it. I also want to change the roof top of my kitchen from grass thatched into iron roof thatched one.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life currently is different since I have been able to clear school fees for my child. I now days do not have to travel for long distance to look for someone since I can easily call them and deliver my message.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect that my life will have changed since I will have cemented my house and I will no longer be straining when it come to paying my child's school fees.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life has changed since I now have a phone and thus can easily communicate with people.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My 11 year old son passed away in November 2017 due to road accident. Up-to now I am still coming to terms about his demise and my wife is still traumatized together with my other siblings who usually ask about him. It usually pains me to see the younger one play alone when previously they used to play together. This is my 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 am with my family-taking supper together and trying to crack some jokes with my two kids. When I see the happiness portrayed on their faces, that makes me feel alive.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on house improvement -equipping my house with required furniture and other accessories as well as expanding my acreage under tea farming.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
In the year 2013, I started tea farming on a small scale level and four years down the line I have been extending the acreage gradually. From tea sales, I have been able to realize increased returns yearly and as a result I have been able to not only provide for my family but also to save for future use. This has been my proudest achievement.