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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 > Livingstone's Profile
Livingstone's family
Livingstone
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
53
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Livingstone's next check-in.
 
19th 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?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that I no longer buy some items from the shop on credit. This is because I can easily sell some eggs and use the money to cater for this. Most of the shopkeepers in my nearest shopping centers are now amazed since I no longer bother them with debts.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal is to buy a Friesian heifer. I am planning to use the income I will be getting from my poultry keeping project to achieve this. Buying a Friesian cow will increase my milk production.
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 started a poultry keeping project. As a result of this, my family at times take eggs during breakfast. I at times sell some eggs and use the money to cater for our basic needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, my life will have changed in that I will have bought a Friesian heifer. I will have also improved my poultry project in terms of buying them some feeds. Since I am rearing kienyeji chicken, I will maintain the free-range system but will only be buying them the necessary feeds. I will also be vaccinating them frequently according to the schedule.
 
16th 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?
Our household has really registered several changes since we started receiving the transfer but what is so encouraging and different from how we were in the last four months is the sufficiency of resources in our household. We used to go borrowing right from matchbox to the maize flour but nowadays we can run to the shop anytime to replenish any deficiency. Our confidence has also been boosted by the continuous transfer which we are receiving every month. This has in many ways acted as security when we don't have cash. We are still able to obtain any required items from the shop to be paid when we get paid by GiveDirectly. We really thank God for bringing this organization our way.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Even though we have been buying milk all along, we have started a saving scheme towards buying our own cow. We are planning to start dairy farming in our house so that we can put to an end the buying of milk and start selling the surplus from our production. I have a large piece of land under spring onions and if by God's will they give us a good harvest, it will be a great boost in purchasing a dairy cow. That is the new goal we currently have and we are hoping to see it come to pass in the next four months.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
For several years now I have been struggling to buy milk for domestic use in our household among other household goods. Though I was working too hard to ensure that I get some bigger income enough to accommodate all that, milk was still insufficient. I could only make to buy enough for the morning tea. When I received the transfers, I promised to supply my household enough milk even when we don't have our own cow. I decided to book three liters every day from a neighbor whose payment will be made every end of the month when we receive the transfer. The strategy has been working to the best of my family which have turn out to be the biggest difference in my daily life since we are now taking good tea with the remaining milk used in other household activities. The effort has been boosted by the poultry project which I started also after receiving the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Expectations have now been raised since everything have been running smoothly since we received the transfer. We have had a successful plan after the other and going forward we have great hope to plan and accomplish even more. In the nenxt six months, we hope to have completed the ones which are underway now. Among them and which is a priority is the dairy farming unit which we are establishing in our household and since that might come to pass before the six months elapse, I will be starting the construction of a new house. All this will be possible if all factors concerning the transfers are kept constant.
 
12th 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?
Apart from my family enjoying adequate provision of food, I am also able to take goods on credit from the village shop because the shopkeeper has confidence in us now that they know we receive monthly transfers from Givedirectly. I also rear sheep that I bought using savings that saved from the transfer that I receive on a monthly basis.a These when when they grow up and reproduce, I will be able to sell them and buy a cow or even help me clear off my children's school fees.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to start a poultry project at home. The government recently built a technical institute less than a kilometre from our village and there hasn't been enough supply of food and other stuff with the influx of students and the institution's employees. I want to tap that market by ensuring I supply eggs and even chicken meat to the institution.
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 able to provide adequate food and other essentials for my family. Before, I could sometimes go a day without earning and this could mean my family will have some little food for that day. This would make me a little insecure because the work of a father is to ensure that his family has enough food and stays well. I am glad my status as a father has been maintained, thatnks to Givedirectly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect that my life in the near future would have improved considerably. I want my children to enjoy good food and even high standards of education. I also expect to start a dairy project which will help as one of my source of income. This will also provide an alternative source of food.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My family is generally happy since they can get the basic needs as they want unlike before when i had little money not enough for their needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to practice poultry farming that will help me get food i.e eggs and also money by selling them.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My life has totally changed since i can now afford food everyday for my family unlike before when i could not afford things like sugar.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I will start a business of selling eggs and chicken to get more money.
 
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?
My new goal to join a table banking group in my village. We will be saving our transfers together as a way of pooling funds. I have mobilized 10 people in our neighborhood, each of us will be contributing KES 1000 per month. We will then have a kitty from which a member will get a loan when they need to, so as to invest in an income generating venture. I personally plan to buy livestock for dairy purposes through my membership in the group.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it was before. I am happier. It feels like I have a monthly pension pay. I am always smiling at the thought of a monthly income and I am excited about it.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to be different in the coming months. I will be having my own dairy cows which will be giving us milk within our own compound. My income sources would have increased and my family will be well fed. Malnutrition will be a thing of the past for us.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
This was my first transfer. The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now have a phone that GiveDirectly gave me. I am connected with people and I can talk to many on phone even those who are abroad. Earlier I was not able to make phone calls but now I can and I am happy about it.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship i have faced in my life is having a challenge to raise school fees for my children since i have a child in college and others are in secondary boarding school
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is during the evening when i am done with the day's activities and have time to rest
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfers to buy a dairy cow as well as begin poultry keeping in order to boost my income
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement i am very proud of is paying full dowry for my wife