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 > Stephen's Profile
Stephen's family
Stephen
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
64
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Stephen's next check-in.
 
14th 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?
Currently, I have a fallback plan as I receive the transfers. I can invest more in income-generating activities udsing the transfers like farming. By hiring extra manpower, my farms are now well tended to which sees us harvest better and more proceeds. This we can sell to earn us income and also consume some to nourish our health. I have also been able to pay back some debts I had in the past and that has really made me relate well with my neighbours and relatives. I do not go around borrowing money anymore as I ma financially contented.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a new goal of buying building materials that I plan to use to build a new store for my farm produce. This will help in guarding and protecting my proceeds.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been uplifted financially as I am able to settle or fulfil my goals without having to borrow money from friends or family. I was able to pay the casual workers to plough my farm something I was not able to do in the past as I did not have a stable income to invest more in farming. I am also able to buy better maize seeds to help boost my farm proceeds and also bought bags of fertilizer to boost their growth. That is how different our lives are.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have built the store to keep the maize and other farm proceeds from the thieves who can steal them and also from stray animals and help in keeping a headcount of how much I have used and how much I have left.
 
11th 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?
There is a difference because for one, were it not for the transfers, I would not have been able to pay the casual laborers who have been helping me with the cultivation and weeding process in my farm. It is through their help that I am today able to be proud that I am going to get a good harvest within the next month.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My short term goal is to buy hybrid seeds and fertilizers which I intend to use in the coming planting season. My primary goal is to get enough harvest at the end of every season so that I can have enough food stock as I can. I know that in a family, once there is enough food in the house, then most problems remain sorted.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I would say that the biggest difference is that I have been able to finish the construction process of my house which had almost come to a complete stop. I have so far done the finishing bit including plastering both the interior and exterior parts of the house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
There are changes that are going to take place in my life because for one I will be able to pay my casual workers in a timely manner which of course will be a big motivation for them. Once they get their pay without delays, they will definitely do a good job on the farm, which will eventually translate to a good harvest at the end of the season. Once we have a good harvest, most of our problem will be solved because in the event that I run out of money, then I can easily sell out part of my stock in exchange for money.
 
7th 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?
With Gd transfers, I have been able to get hybrid seeds and fertilizers which has really improved my harvest for the last one year. I used to harvest one or two sacks of maize when I use my normal planting methods as before. Ever since I started receiving these transfers, I have been able to get a good harvest of six-eight sacks of maize per harvest. This has really helped to get enough food to feed my family and even sell the rest to raise money to solve other family needs. I know if I continue in the same direction, my life will change and I won't struggle anymore.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in the next four months is to buy hybrid seed and fertilizers to use on my farm. I have experience in farming where I have used improved farming methods such as fertilizers and hybrid seeds which have given me a good harvest to help me sustain my family needs by selling a surplus harvest to raise money for other financial needs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have a new kitchen. I do have a small house which cannot accommodate me well with my family and even cook in the same house. In most cases, I have always had to cook from outside and it is difficult especially at night and during the rainy seasons. The new kitchen has created space in my home because my children no longer go to my neighbour's house at night to seek for a sleeping place. I am glad am not risking my children's life by walking at night. Even if I have visitors, I do not go about asking for a sleeping place from my neighbours anymore.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would want to buy a goat or cow which I will name Give Direct. This will be a remembrance for what GD has done in my life and also as an investment for my family. I will sell its offsprings to raise money to handle other family financial needs.
 
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($44 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving is that I am financially stable. I used to struggle financially because I depended on casual work for survival. The little I could get daily was too little to sustain our needs. Since I started receiving this transfer, I have been able to settle most of my family needs in time. I no longer have to beg for help from my friends as I used to. Give Directly has given me a new version of life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would want to ensure I pay school feess in toime for my children. If I sell opart of my harvest and add to the tramnsfers I get from Give Diretly, I would be able to achieve this so that my children cannot be sent home again.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before I started receiving these transfers from Give Directly, I used to struggle through casual work and farming to make ends meet. My casual work would earn me very little which would support me on food mostly. I would work hard during planting seasons but without fertilizers, my harvest has just been the little I get of 3-4 sacks. When I received this transfer and bought fertilizers and hybrid seeds, I had a good harvest. In fact, the best in my life since I started farming. I managed to get 8 sacks of maize which was a miracle to me. I feel my hard work has been repaid with the help of Give Directly.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
As we enter planting season next year, I would want to buy fertlizer and hybrid seed which I will apply on my farm. I have had a good experience on the same this year and I wiuld want to continue with the same next year.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is the death of my wife because it came at a time when I had no job and we had children to take provide for, yet I did not have any reliable source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of my day is in the evening when every member of my family has returned back home from their daily activities and we are discussing our developments as a family.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Am planning to spend the transfer in improving farming and pay school fees to my to children who are currently in college.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is that I have been able to pay school fees for my four children through secondary and college with the little income I get from farming.