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 > Meshack's Profile
Meshack's family
Meshack
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
64
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Meshack's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I entirely depend on casual jobs which are sometimes hard to find. but with these transfers, I find it easier taking care of my family's needs. Most especially in the provision of food on a daily basis. As a result, my family and I are happy and healthy.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am currently saving part of my transfers which I am planning to use to start a poultry farming project soon.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
This harvesting season, the yields were worrying because I was able to get two sacks of corns which could not take as through to the next harvesting season. The biggest difference in my daily life is that GiveDirectly's transfer has come in handy since I have been able to eat a balanced diet on a daily basis. I am glad that I haven't borrowed money nor slept without a meal so far
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will have saved enough money to expand the domestic poultry keeping project because I foresee a recommendable market when it is on a large scale. When combining the wages I make from the casual jobs to the sales from this project it will be enough to sustain my family's need comfortably.
 
15th 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 this is because my family has enough provision in terms of food to eat and this makes me a happy parent and household head. Before we could go without food on days that the hustle was difficult and all under my care were suffering, this really pained my heart but \I had no powers to change the whole situation but to push harder until when GD came to my rescue.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Sincerely speaking, my plan is to see my household have enough food so that the situation mentioned above never repeats itself again.
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 access food in my household. This was the biggest challenge before I started receiving the transfers. I used to do casual jobs and with my age, this felt like death. I struggle to make ends meet and on most days we could choose which meals to take and the once to forgo so that our budget fits in. This meant sleeping on an empty stomach on several occasions.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I am hopeful that anything else might lack in my household but not food. I will work to ensure east or west adequate food is there in my household. This will give me peace having been in a place where my hands were tied I would want to face that ever again.
 
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?
I was malnourished because of lack of adequate meals. Proper feeding has boosted my immunity and I have not experienced sickness more often as before. Surely GD has lifted my life.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Already, I have managed to lease a parcel of land and it has been tilted, ready to plant maize. This I will enable to sell to do other projects.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In the past, in several occurrences, I did not have capacity to afford meals. I am landless and farming is not that easy. This resulted to lack of food in the house. Since I started receiving money from GD, I could afford meals daily.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will definitely change. As per my plans, I hope to get good harvest from my farm. I intend to start poultry project to sustain my life. I am old and poultry project will supply me with eggs and chicken, both for sale and for nutrition purposes. The project does not require a lot of movements and therefore will be suitable for an old man like me.
 
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 family now gets enough food and I do not have to be working so hard due to my old age.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I plan to buy a goat in the near future. I wanted to buy a cow but this amount is too little to buy a cow.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been able to get food for the family without so much difficulty.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I will have my goat and I also plan to add more chicks that I will rear and earn some profits out of the business.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($5 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?
The goal I have is to start rearing goats. Building a shelter for the goats and be able to increase their number and grow it up to become a farmer.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The difference is I will be able to feed well without having to go through a hustle of fending for my family and at times going without food.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will change, I will probably be having a larger number of goats. My son's school fees will not be a problem any more. We will also afford to eat well in the household level.
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 is I am able to eat well and feed my family with ease. There are days that we could go without food due to lack of enough money and increased needs.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship is that my land inheritance was a mere little percel that can hardly produce enough food for my family. I have to buy food to feed the family in as much as i do not have a steady income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is usually in the evening when my son is back from school and we are having meals together. Evenings offer me the time to mentor my son and be with my family.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to buy iron sheets to build cattle shed. I have lost my cattle to theft before and would like to secure them since they are my source of income.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My greatest achievement was buying cows while i was still employed. It was this investment on cows that i later sold to settle high school fees for my children.