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 > Joseph's Profile
Joseph's family
Joseph
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
23
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Joseph's next check-in.
 
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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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 ensure I have enough food in the house. I once tried buying food in bulk and it was less expensive and very economical. I realised that is one way of saving money hence I will always ensure I buy food in bulk onvce a month.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have never owned livestock in my life before GD transfers. This is because I did not have a good income to help me raise enough money to buy one and meet my family needs. I had to content with the situation because I had a small income from casual work which could not even meet our needs. This is why I chose to buy a cow with part of my transfers. I used to save part of my transfers as I used the rest. I am glad I was able to raise an amount to buy a cow. I will not sell it until it reproduces. I know I will have a number because it is an investment I know increases in value very fast.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I know I will have built a better and bigger house than the one I have now. The current one is grass thatched house and cannot accommodate my family well. I would want to have an iron-roofed house just kike my neighbours in the village. I am tired of having to look for grass every three months to repair the roof of my house. I would want to handle the issue once and for all. Since I will be getting my transfers on a monthly basis, I know I will achieve this goal because I had started saving for the house four months ago.
 
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?
Currently, I have bought some building materials like iron sheets that will see the replacement of the roof to an iron sheet roof. I am now a better person as I am able to save the transfers to help fulfil half of longer time goals. I no longer have to beg around for any financial help from relatives and friends as I gained independence that moment I receive the first transfer.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to save and buy building materials like iron sheets, poles and nails that I will use to change the roof from grass thatched to iron sheets roof.
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 major renovation I did in my house. I have a thatched roof house that leaks whenever it rains and sometimes it gets hard to get the grass to mend it as we have to buy from a faraway place and due to lack of stable income, I am always not able to rectify the defect. The fact that I was able to buy the grass to renovate the roof makes a huge difference in how my life is now better. I no longer get rained on as the roof is in a better condition. I only wish to change it to iron roof eventually when I save enough of the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have bought the required building materials and renovated my roof. We shall be living in better living conditions as we will no longer be rained on again. My house will also look better and beautiful something that will be the envy of the entire village.
 
16th 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?
As am gearing toward changing my entire life by constructing a new house and getting married, I have been working hard and making savings that have been mostly supplemented by the transfers I have been receiving. This has enabled me to buy some household items such as chairs and a table and more building materials that have now given me the hope of having a new house soon. Months ago my tiny thatched house had no decent seats but just a few plastic chairs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am currently living in a thatched house which leaks a lot during the rainy season because I have been unable to find grass to rethatch it due to the unavailability of grass in our area. For this reason, I am planning to continue buying the building materials I have been buying so that I can construct a new house as soon as possible.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have an elderly mother who depends on me to provide for her as the only living son. This was not such an easy task before considering my lack of stable income, but with the transfer that we both receive from GiveDirectly, life has not been so tough especially during the recently witnessed drought and famine when food was scarce and very expensive. During those tough months, we had it easy as we could afford our daily needs all thanks to the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
At this moment, I am living in an old leaking thatched house which has made it impossible to have a wife after my first wife left me due to the embarrassment associated with living in such a house. I have been buying the required materials to build a new house bit by bit using the monthly transfers I have been receiving from Give Directly, and I hope that in the next six months I will have a decent iron-roofed house.
 
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?
Currently, my life is different in that I have been able to buy building materials to replace the grassed thatched house into iron sheet one. The money I used to spend on repairing my grassed thatched house in a span of three months. For instants, I now spent it on feeding my family hence they are healthy and happy having three meals in a day of which before it was a luxury to us.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I don't have any new goal now but rather I am still saving to complete renovating part of my house since my priority is to have decent and comfortable shelter for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Before I used to maintain my grassed thatched house in a span of three months and fetch it from afar which was costly. The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have been able to buy building materials to replace the grassed thatched house into iron sheet one. The money I used to spend on repairing my grassed thatched house . For instants, I now spent it on feeding my family hence they are healthy and happy having three meals in a day of which before it was a luxury to us.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect in the next six months that I will be able to save part of the profits from the business and buy a goat since with the goat, I believe I will earn an extra income through the sale of some of them to cater for my needs in future.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 6 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 because l am now at peace, l do not need to worry so much because l am sure of staying in a nice comfortable house.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have new goal a part from building a new house.
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 l have started buy building materials and l am now very sure of building iron roofed house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have started building my house.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 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?
Currently, I do not have any new goal.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have iron sheets which assures me of a new and better house. I already have household items which I really needed in my life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I would want to build my house so that I live in peace. I would also want to start up a business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have been longing for to have a better house because the one I have now is too small for my family but because my financial ability has been low, I have not been able to get it. Thanks to Give Directly I am going to have it finally.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is getting a sustainable job because I am unable to provide adequate food to my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening because I relax with friends after hardwork.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to build a descent iron roofed house to accommodate my family since my grass thatched house usually leaks especially during rainy season and makes my family live uncomfortable life.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The proudest achievement in my life is when I bought furniture,bicycle and a sheep. This is due to the little amount I got from farm produce and it makes me live comfortably with my visitors.