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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:
28
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on Leonard'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 additional goal in the next four months is to use the money I receive on paying school fees for my children. I will keep saving some of it in a merry go round so that I buy a dairy cow.
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 enhanced farming capability that I have when I use the money on farm inputs. I used part of the money over the last four months to buy maize seeds, beans seeds, and planting fertilizer. I have harvested the beans already and stored them for food and also for the sale in the future to pay school. The maize crop is doing well too and I expect a really good harvest which means I will have sufficient food for my family this year.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will be having a dairy cow on my farm. I will buy a dairy cow using the money I have been saving in a merry ground in my village. This way, I will have acquired a source of milk to use in the school that I run. I will have reduced the money I would incur from buying milk for daily use. I have over 160 students in the school and the feeding program would otherwise every expansive. This will even increase the benefits I get from my business.
 
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?
My additional goal in life for the next four months is to buy a dairy cow. This will help me to save the money I would otherwise use in buying milk. Also, I will be able to earn an income through the sale of surplus to my neighbors.
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 was able to lease a farm to plant this season. Also, I was able to do timely cultivation, applied enough fertilizers and used quality hybrid seeds. Due to this, I am hopeful of a good harvest that will last us until the next harvesting season. This will enable me to save the money I would otherwise use in buying maize flour. When the schools reopened for the first term this year, I have been able to clear school fees arrears for my children. I am now a happy and contented parent since I know that they will not miss their classes due to being sent back home. I am also certain that their grades will improve since they have enough time for their studies and revision. All this would not have been possible had it not have been for GiveDirectly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, my life will be different from how it is currently in that I will be a proud owner of a dairy cow. This will be an added asset and I believe that it will calf soon thus giving us milk for both household consumption and sales. Also, I will not be buying maize flour anymore since I will have harvested my maize. Having achieved all this will enable me to reduce my daily expenditure and save some money that I can use in case of a financial crisis.
 
20th 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 different from how it was four months ago in that I have been able to buy a goat for rearing. I am happy that I have added an asset as well as security for any financial need arising in my family. My daily household needs had been a challenge meeting them on time due to limited resources. I am currently at peace since I have been able to cater for these on time with the help of GiveDirectly monthly transfers. My spouse has also been able to help me with meeting some of our bills.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I majorly rely on farming to earn a living and support my family needs. I have realized that early and timely cultivation leads to better yields. My goal for the next four months is to prepare early enough for farming. I am planning to buy maize and beans seeds, fertilizers and set aside money to use in hiring a tractor.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life preceding the current transfer is that I have been able to buy a goat for rearing. I am happy to have bought this since it is an added asset in my family. I prefer a goat since it is affordable for me and it reproduces within a short period hence they will increase in number. I expect my family to benefit from it through milk production for household consumption thus will be saving what I would have spent on milk. I will later sell them and use the money to buy a dairy cow.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect an optimistic life in the next six months since I will have done early and timely cultivation thus I will have my crops in good condition. I expect better yields from these for both household consumption and sales. I have a plan to put up a private school as a business and service provider to the society thus I expected in the next six months to have started a saving plan towards the attainment of this project.
 
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?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that I currently don't overwork myself to meet family basic needs. I spend my monthly transfer on my children school fees and other households daily needed hence I get humble time to plan other things since the urgent one are settled on time. I currently have bigger plans that monthly transfer has triggered in my life like having an improved dairy cow that will help have higher milk production for both household consumption and sales unlike before when I had no other business ideas due to low income and overwhelming family needs that I only strive to satisfy.
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 to buy an improved dairy cow. I currently have exotic breeds with low production of milk. With the monthly transfer from GD, I will be able to buy an improved breed that can help me have more milk production hence more 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 my current transfer is the two goats that I have added to my farm. Even though I have a business, my household daily expenditure and children education is too high that I spent all the profits on these needs. I see my two goats to be the biggest difference since I would not have bought if it was not for GD. I am happy and hopeful that I will soon get milk from them for household consumption and young ones to sell in case of emergencies requiring money.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I have started a private school that has really picked up well even though I haven't fully registered it hence operating with few challenges. In the next six months, I expect to have fully given my school legal documents hence will be operating fully and all the returns will directly improve it and other investment. I will have more income to improve my school and invest in other business unlike now where I spent all the profits to put things in order.
 
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 life is currently different from how it was four months ago since I am now able to pay school fees for my kids. In the past, I was struggling to pay school fees because I was earning very little money as a teacher. My children were sent home more often to collect school fees and they could even stay at home for a long time hence performed poorly in school. Currently, I am able to pay all the school fees on time using the money I get from merry go round and my children are in school for the whole term hence performing well.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to buy a plot and build a school. This is because currently, I am renting the premises where the school is located and this is very expensive. I will use the money from table banking and also the income I get from the school to buy a plot. This will reduce operational costs and I will be able to build many classes with time so as to increase the number of pupils admitted to the school. This will therefore bring more income into my home.
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 in the past I was not able to pay school fees for my children.I used to struggle so much because I was earning little as a Parents Teachers Association (PTA) teacher.My children was sent home daily and this impacted so much on their studies hence poor performance. I am now happy since Give Directly has enabled me pay all the school for my children through merry go round. My children are now in school through out the term hence it has made them improve in their performance.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am planning to buy a dairy cow using the money I will get from merry go round and income I will be getting from my school. This is because currently, I am spending a lot of money to buy milk for my family and also for the school. Owning a dairy cow will reduce this cost and will also ensure constant supply of milk to the school and my family. I will be able to save more money and use it to build more classes so as to accommodate more pupils come next year. I really thank Give Directly for the support they have given me.
 
6th 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 these transfers have enabled me to start my own school by boosting money for household expenditure.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to buy a dairy cow come November from merry go round contributions. I also intend to hire more piece of land for farming.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that these transfers have reduced household expenditure hence saving my income and boosted school fees payment.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have bought a dairy cow, hire a piece of land and increase my school project.
 
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?
My new goal is to buy a cow which shall help me to feed my family as I have been buying milk on daily basis for use. This will act as a source of income to my family through the sale of milk.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The difference in my life is now I get the transfer from GD on monthly basis and will be budgeting for it as am assured of the payments.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
God willing in the next six months, I would have bought a cow which I have been willing to by but have not have enough money to buy. I have been struggling to feed my family and left with less to buy a cow but with the help of GD, we have initiated Merry Go Round where we contribute KES 1000 and that when my turn comes I will use it to buy a cow.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The difference in my daily life is that now am relieved a from daily hustle for school fee for my children. The money I received from Give Directly I spent part of it to pay school fees for my children and that the burden has been eased now I can focus on other issues related to my family development.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have a very small plot where I settled my family hence it is congested which leads to family discomfort.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I like the morning part of my day because I wake up very motivated to do my daily work while still energetic.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend the transfer to pay school fees for my children and also to construct a good house for my family.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
I am proud of the school that I initiated begging of this year.