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 > Richard's Profile
Richard's family
Richard
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
54
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Richard'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?
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am nowadays happy and contented. I am able to meet most of my needs unlike before when I couldn't afford to cater to my personal items. It was too bad to an extent where we would miss meals because I couldn't afford them. I'm happy through the GD transfers I was able to meet most of my goals and provide all the basic needs for my family. I thank this organization for bringing me this far.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Currently, I do not have a house. I'm staying in someone's house. My family is in Nairobi and I'm afraid I can't bring them home because I do not have a place to host them. I, therefore, have an additional goal to save some of my monthly transfers and use it to purchase building materials which I'll use to construct a house. This will finally remove the shame and guilt of being homeless.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
For the last four months, life hasn't been as challenging as it was before. The financial boost I received from GiveDirectly has made life better. I feel proud of myself because I can now save and meet some of my goals. I know life will never be the same. I will still be able to sustain my self because I have enough capital to start a business that will sustain me for a longer period of time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I have always believed that cows are sources of wealth because they produce milk which is usually a rare commodity in this area. They also reproduce at a relatively short period of time which means I get to own additional cows. My plan is to sell the young one in case an emergency arises.
 
9th Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
8th 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?
I have already bought two sheep that I will rear within the compound and I am sure that they will give birth within the next few months. Once they give birth and the population increases, I will sell them out and earn some cash. That is about the future but the difference is the sheep that I have already purchased yet I could not be able to buy the sheep four months ago because I never had the finances that could see me do that. I had to save some cash for almost three consecutive months in order for me to be able to buy the sheep and I thank God for bringing me this far.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a plan of saving some cash so that I can buy new iron sheets that I intend to use in erecting a new house in the near future because the house I live in today is too small for my family. I know that it will not be an easy affair considering the little money I make but I know that this dream will eventually become a reality.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The money has been of so much help to me in the recent past. I can say that the biggest difference is that I have been able to buy enough food for the family without straining so much unlike how I used to struggle in the past where I had to look for casual jobs offered within the village and earn some very little cash which I would then use to buy food for the family. Right now I have enough stock of food that can take us through the next three to four months from now. Getting money in the past was so hard for me because I had to work for long hours in order to get even 400 KES per day, but right now I no longer have to overwork myself because I am always sure of getting some cash every month from GD.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I want to become a full time poultry farmer because I know that this venture has a lot of profit. The reason why I say that is because I have tried it in the past and I am so sure that it works, it only needs dedication and patience. Having tried the business before, I know there is a ready market for the business and the buyers are always available, so long as the birds are mature and ready for sale. I am eager to get into this business because for one it does not require so much capital to kick-start, and the more birds I keep the more the profits I will be generating.
 
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 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.
Biggest difference in my daily life is that I bought iron sheets that I am planning to use to build a new house as I had a smaller house that could no longer accommodate my growing family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I have a plan to start buying some goats which I want to rear and sell later to create more and and vast source of income for my family. I am also planning to venture more into farming to get more produce which I can consume and sell the surplus.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different as I can now afford a better life and healthy meals for my family. We do not go hungry as we used to most of the time before I started receiving the transfers.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
Currently am planning to rear chicken for sale to generate family some more income.
 
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 was Sudan civil war. In 2014, civil war broke in South Sudan where I was working as a mason. People were butchered, tortured and manhandled. I narrowly escaped through a friend who sneaked me back to Kenya. It was a hard and hostile place to be in.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of the day is in the afternoon when I am through with farm activities. I find time to rest and listen to the sweet songs played on the radio. I feel refreshed then.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I intend to spend to my transfer to improve my small scale business. We operate a small shop on a small amount of capital but with the transfer, it will be injected into the business to stock more goods for our customers. This will increase the profits thus more income to the family. From this our livelihood will improve.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is when I bought a motorcycle from small scale farming. I employed someone to operate it commercially and would earn a living from that. I am very proud of that.