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 > Brian's Profile
Brian's family
Brian
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
20
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Brian's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Currently, I do not have any additional goal but I am planning to start planting sugarcane for business which was my second dream. I thought of investing in sugarcane because it is easy to manage and it does not require frequent supervision. In addition, I got motivated by a friend who is doing the same and he even offered that once I am ready with the inputs then he will come to help me do the planting work.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been using my monthly transfers from Give Directly to buy tomato seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides. We have a big land along the river bank. Before I started receiving money from Give Directly I used to cultivate a smaller piece of land due to lack of enough inputs, now that I am getting money from Give Directly I managed to cultivate a bigger portion because I have the capital to buy the basic inputs required. I want to thank Give Directly because the last season I managed to get a bumper harvest after investing my transfers on my tomato farm and this is my biggest difference. I am proud to say that I used part of the profit I got after selling my tomatoes to buy a cow for rearing. I am optimistic that it will give birth soon because I am taking good care of it. I am planning to sell its siblings so that I get money to buy another motorbike so that I can have multiple businesses that give me money to support my family effectively.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I am planning to buy another motorbike for business purposes. I feel happy because through the help of Give Directly I am going to create new employment for one person who will be riding it. I have hope that is is going to succeed now that u I have one too.
 
18th 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?
I have been buying new building materials such as iron sheets, nails, and timber which I intend to use to erect a new house in the not so distant future. I currently live in my brothers' house who has been accommodating me for quite a long time now.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a plan of planting more tomatoes on my farm so that I can be able to get more revenues from the business going into the future. I also plan to get another piece of land on a lease basis, then use the farm to plant maize which will supplement my tomato business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference that I have seen so far is the expansion of my agricultural projects. Initially, I started with a small portion of land but I later managed to secure a one-acre piece of and which has so far been earning me some good return every single year.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Six months from today, I should be able to have a house of my own and I will also have been able to hire a farm on a lease basis from a willing neighbor. The first priority, however, goes to having to build a new house for myself because currently, I live in my brothers' house, and it does not feel comfortable anymore.
 
15th 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?
I have been able to see some difference in my life as a result of the agricultural business that I have been running for the last year. Every time I get money from the sale of my tomatoes, I make sure that I use the money to buy a goat. Today I can boost of owning up to six goats, which is like a dream come true. Were it not for the transfers from GD, I do not think it would have been possible for me to purchase the livestock.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have been planting tomatoes on a large scale and then selling them out to my customers. The business has been doing so well for the last year. For the next months to come, I think it will be time for me to expand my knowledge and get into planting vegetables so that I can widen my net as well as increasing my income.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that the money has helped me in expanding the size of the farm where I have been cultivating tomatoes for the last three years. Initially, I used to do half an acre but currently, I do more than one acre.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I want to build my own house within the next six months Currently I live in my brothers' house which is quite small as compared to the number of people that are housed in the structure. It will be a good idea for me to get a house of my own because I lack privacy in my brothers' house and I think my brother together with the wife also lack some privacy in the house.
 
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 in that I am no longer stressed in terms of money to cater to the basic needs of my family. The profit I make from the tomatoes business after boosting with the transfer I received from GiveDirectly is overwhelming. I have saved some of the income and I am planning on starting selling cabbages. I am so grateful for this support since it has really changed my life.
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 jointly save up some money with my mother and start a joined business of selling cabbages at the nearby market. This will earn us an extra income.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I am a farmer and mainly I cultivate tomatoes for commercial purposes; before I used to get little profits from the business. The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have been able to buy farm inputs with the transfers and this has expanded my business. At the moment the profits I make through the sales of the tomatoes is so impressive hence I am able to meet my basic needs with much ease.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
The money that we shall have saved jointly with my mother, I expect in the next six months to use it on starting a business of selling cabbages at the nearby market.
 
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?
I would not have been able to buy the building materials that I l already purchased.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am now planning to start a farming business where I will be planting and selling tomatoes to members of the community.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been able to buy a goat in addition to buying eight new iron sheets that i will use to erect a new housing structure.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I will expand the size of my farm so that I produce more tomatoes which then would translate to more cash in the future.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($4 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 additional goals is to build a house and buy livestock
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I now have a poultry business which I would not have had since due to my low income.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I will have house and livestock which have been my dreams but have not been able to attain them since I dont have stable source of income
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is my improved income as a result of the poultry business I began after receiving my first transfer.
 
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 lack of equipment to do horticulture. I realized a great loss last year due to extensive drought. I was unable to irrigate my vegetable farm.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I go to the farm. Proper care of the farm usually gives me good harvest.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend the transfer in buying workshop tools for carpentry. I am getting trained for carpentry work and hope this will enable me be self-employed.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement in life is buying a goat from meager earnings from casual work. I hope to sell it in future and buy a plane as one of the tools I need to start my carpentry work.