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 > John's Profile
John's family
John
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
71
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on John's next check-in.
 
26th 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?
My new goal for the next four months is to save money to rent a piece of land to plant Napier grass for my dairy. I will be in a position to have enough milk for my family and even sell the surplus at the market to earn an income.
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 in a position to cultivate my farm on time. I depend on small scale farming to earn an income by selling the produce at the market. The amount of money I get through this is so small and cannot gather for all the basic needs including paying school fees for my children. I used to cultivate small pieces of land because I did not have money to hire workers to do the work for me. The produce was so small and could not last us to the next season and this means I had to buy food through seasons. Currently, I am in a position to hire workers to cultivate my farm and I am able to plant a bigger piece of land. I am also in a position to buy seeds and fertilizers which was not possible before. I am so happy because I get enough food for the family and I do longer spend a lot of money like before.
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 some money to buy a dairy cow. I will be in a position to save the money that I could have used to buy milk to do other activities at home and pay school fees for my children in school.
 
24th 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?
At the moment, I am planning to start saving towards the building of some rental houses in my land. I live near a school and most of the teachers are operating from a distant place since there are no rental houses nearby. Building these houses will not only help the teachers save some money, but I will also earn an income through it.
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 build a cowshed. Due to this, my cows are now milked in a clean environment. Also, it has become easier for me to feed them while milking unlike before due to conducive environment. Connected to the cowshed is a store that I use in storing my livestock feeds. Before, I used to store this feeds together with my farm produce majorly maize in one place and I was not comfortable with this idea since my store was always congested. Having a separate store for my livestock feeds has enabled me to always plan on time on how and when to purchase more before I ran out of stock.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I believe that my life will have changed from how it is currently. I believe that I will have started saving some money towards achieving my goal. Also, I will have divided my land into two and look for different title deeds for the two lands so that I can use one to apply for a loan. I will then use this money to achieve my goal of building rental houses. I will be using the income from these houses to repay for this loan.
 
19th 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 from how it was four months ago in that my family no longer lack their basic needs. This is because I have been able to achieve a lot using my transfers. I have been able to buy feeds and licks for my livestock. Due to this, my milk production has increased hence my income.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My goal for the next four months is to start poultry keeping project. This project is much affordable and its starting cost is a bit lower compared to other investments. Also, it can be ran alongside other projects.
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 am now a happy and fulfilled person. This is because I have been able to support my granddaughter in her education. She had been sent back home from school recently since there were books which were needed and she did not have. When she approached me, I was glad to help. Seeing her currently in school gives me much joy.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, my life is will be different from how it is now. I will have started poultry keeping project. One-acre fund organization has an upcoming project of dairy farming in my location. I am optimistic that I will have taken one dairy cow from them so that I will be paying for it every month. This will increase my daily income from dairy farming which will allow me to invest more.
 
16th 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?
Currently, I feel so happy knowing that I will be getting monthly payments from GD. Before whenever I needed some cash I would wonder on how to go my daily operation. The challenge is no longer there since I can use my transfers to take care of some basic I would have rather missed.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I will be saving my transfers to help me support my daughter who recently chose to further her studies. After she got her diploma, she opted to pursue a degree and this will call for financial support from my side. I believe that educating a girl shall not only her to have a good life in future but I know that she will also supportive of us in our old age.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Sometimes I would lack money for use as I mostly depend on farming which is commonly dependent on weather condition. This would make my life so difficult and my operations would come to stand still due to lack of money. Now with the money which I get from GiveDirectly, it enables me to take care of my basic needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months would have built a poultry house so that I can raise some chicken. The investment will enable me to meet my daily needs through the sale of eggs.
 
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 is life currently different from how it was four months ago in that the monthly transfers from GiveDirectly has made so easy to give my family daily needs. My wife and I are both farmers hence our source of income are unstable. I always prioritize my children school fees hence spent most of our income on their fee leaving us to stretch to meet petty household daily expenditures. I had always been ashamed of accruing debts of petty household commodities from the nearby canteens but since the monthly transfers came in, I have always been able to provide for my family with a lot of ease. I currently have a lot of self-esteem and peaceful minds which had been taken away by debts in my neighbors business.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goal that I have for my life in the next four months is to start a rental house project. I live next to Chesilyot secondary school hence I target the school staffs as my tenants who they currently go far to get rental houses.
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 is preceding my current transfer is the ease of accessing family daily basic needs. I have children and grandchildren and in various secondary and colleges. I use my entire farm income in education hence I finding it hard to meet the daily household basic needs. I have currently been using the monthly transfers from GiveDirectly for my household daily expenditure and this has been my happiness since it has reduced debts that I used to accrue before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect my current plans to be underway with my children education being the most prioritized for me. I expect to see my children going on well in various colleges they are in and this will be my happiness.
 
8th 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 how it was four months ago in that milk production has really improved and my livestock health has also improved.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
At the moment I have no additional goals since I would wish to concentrate on the current livestock farming project since I find it lucrative and needs much of my time.
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 is the fact that my livestock are well kept and getting their feeds timely and in plenty.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Currently I don't have a new project but in the next six months i expect the livestock farming to have expanded.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
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 poor harvesting of maize caused my the maize disease that affected the area leading to poor yield hence famine.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is afternoon when I am taking lunch With my son and my wife after the day's work.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer to built rental houses.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is that I managed to provide everything for my family for example pay school fees for all my children.