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:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
54
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Joseph's next check-in.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($511 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
If was over our breakfast when the good news reached us, this was a surprise packed with excitement as happiness filled the air once we confirmed with the notification message. Even though everyone was set to clear the bowls of their morning porridge, I could not hold back the excitement as I needed to reconfirm at least by visiting the nearest shop and try at least a withdrawal, and together with my wife, we were not disappointed by the results.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life after receiving the transfer is the great joy from my children after getting their own room. This has been a challenge for a long time and managing to put up a new house that is now fully furnished with bedding makes them happier. This has ensured their safety, comfort, and also a great deal of privacy as they enjoy their space in their own house at the moment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Construction of a new house for my two daughters who have been moving out every night in search of a place to sleep not because they had been homeless but the space in our small hut was too small to accommodate them at their age. I have a family of six, two sons who have completed their secondary school studies and teenage girls who are currently schooling. Providing a bed space for them within the house had been so hard and the only option had been to see them off to my neighbor's place who has a spacious house. This has never been safe especially during rainy seasons. I am glad that I managed to finally put up two houses one for them and the bigger one for the whole family.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that my worry of losing the only dairy cow we are currently relying on for milk production will end. A friend of ours gave us the cow to be providing us with milk mainly for consumption. However, the owner may opt to take away the cow at any time they may wish, a move that will make us more vulnerable to hunger and poor nutrition because we rely mainly on milk as a source of protein and relevant minerals. In that regard, we shall use some of the transfer on buying a cow that will act as a reliable source of milk for us.
What is the happiest part of your day?
During the day, I could either be working on my farm or handling some casual jobs within my locality. As such, the happiest part of my day is in the evening when I have completed my tasks. This is the moment that I would have acquired some food items or money for purchasing food stuffs for my family. As the household head and the main breadwinner, ensuring that my family is well fed is a great achievement.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship we have faced as a family is the frequent instances of lack of food in our household. Frequent droughts and tropical diseases have been destroying our crops. Hence, we always do some casual jobs to supplement whatever we could attain from our farms. As such, we have never managed to save any money that could be used in purchasing a cow that would serve as a reliable source of milk for consumption.