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 > John's Profile
John's family
John
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
48
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on John's next check-in.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 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 is to save and buy materials in order to construct a new and bigger house. Now that my children are growing and need more space and the current house we are living in is quite small.
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 glad I am able to pay my son's monthly house rent in college with less difficulty. The transfer dates always coincide with the rent date. Before I was sometimes forced to sell my farm produce at a throwaway price in order to meet this need and this resulted always on losses on my side. I am glad that I am able to sell my farm produce optimally since I am not longer forced by circumstances. Therefore I am able to maximize of my far.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to grow financially by improving my business. Growing financially means I will be in a better position to take of my family and meet their daily needs and pay my children's school fees. I hope to be in a position where I no longer have to struggle and overwork in order to meet all these needs.
 
15th 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?
Even though I am a farmer and businessman, my income is not a steady hence making it unreliable. I had always been forced to get into debts or sell my assets to meet my family basic needs on time. My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that I am currently enjoying a steady flow of income that has made me take my responsibility as a parent. I am able to pay my children school fees on time avoid debts that used to accrue due to daily family needs. Through GiveDirectly monthly transfers I can say I am a responsible father since I meet the household needs on time unlike before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I currently have children in schools and college hence paying their fee is my priority but an additional goal that I have for the next four months is to build a house. I have grown up children that makes us uncomfortable sharing a room with. My children school fees are too much for my source of income hence I had not been able to build one. If I get extra money in the next four months then I will build a house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have a passion for giving my children a better education and I have considered their education to be the most important thing to give them. I always struggle to meet their school fees, needed materials for their studies and also their daily upkeep in school. I am a farmer and businessman but my income is not astable hence making it unreliable for my family basic needs. I had most of the time my children being sent home due to lack of fees and could stay at home for long until I raise money through either selling of my assets or borrowing whenever my business is not doing well. In the last four months, the biggest difference in my daily life is the fee clearance I made on time hence giving my children humble time to study and also get humble mind and time to look to get more resources for future needs. I am currently not selling my assets or borrowing money too much like before. I am happy that my big dream of giving my children a better future is well taken care of through education.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I will have to build a house. In the next six months, I expect to be living a better life than my current life in that I will have built a house. I currently live in one house hence forcing to always sent my daughters to my mother's house to spend their nights there. This a habit that has made me look down upon myself in that I see to be failing as a parent by not giving my children shelter and also endangering them during the night as they move to my parents home. I expect to see my family around full time in the next six months and also give my children humble time and place to read and live in and this will always be my happiness.
 
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, I do not sell my green tea leaves which I use to sell on cash to get money for food. Now I can deliver to the factory for processing and am paid on monthly basis with a fair price. This has enabled me to pay school fees for my child.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to build a house for my second wife. I have got two wives and at the moment we are spending in the same house. I feel that it will be good to have a house for my second wife. I believe in the next three months I would have built for her with the money which I get from GD.
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 used to sell green tea leaves to earn money for paying school fees for my son. Now am happy that I'm able to pay school fees on time through the monthly transfer which I received fom GD.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have constructed a new house for my children. They are currently living in a house which is in bad condition and is almost collapsing. This would at least improve my happiness since we would be having a clean home with more space in the house for my children to read and sleep. We are praying to God that all our plans to establish that new house will go through.
 
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 life is currently different because I do not lack sugar anymore and these transfers have acted as surety for items bought on credit.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is buy iron sheets to aid in construction of my son's 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 these transfers have enabled me pay school fees and boosted tea crop buying in my family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have completed construction of my son's house to aid them in revision.
 
Initial 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?
My new goals is to build a new house. Since the three of us in the family are receiving GD payments we would pulled together the money and buy building materials as the one we live in is not enough for my growing family.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different in that my son is full time in school unlike when he would spent sometime home due to luck of school fee. My happiness is that my son would concentrate with his studies without being interrupted.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I expect to have built a new house and be living in happily with my family as the one we have right now is squeezed for my growing family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that my son is now fully in school as I was able to clear school fee with GD payments. I am happy as he can now concentrate on his studies without being sent home for due to fee arrears.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Two years ago I was attacked by robbers on my way home. One of them hit me on the chest with a blunt object. I was admitted to hospital for a week and discharged. This was followed by a series of check up trips to hospital for further medication. My family was affected the most because I am the sole breadwinner. This is the biggest hardship I have faced in my life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is during lunch time. This is when I have concluded my day's activities and happily taking my meal. This makes me re-energized and gives a peace of mind.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I have four children in school, one of whom is in secondary school while the other three are in primary school. Therefore I am planning to spend my monthly transfer to pay for their school fees, buy books and the rest to cater for domestic needs like food.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
I have a tea farm that has been my source of income for more than 10 years. The money I get has helped me build a house, take my children to school, buy food and clothing. This farm is my life. Owning this farm has been the proudest achievement in my life.