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 > Reuben's Profile
Reuben's family
Reuben
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
46
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Reuben's next check-in.
 
23rd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 4 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 for my life for the next four months is to invest more in farming by planting potatoes because they fetch a good price in the market. It also takes a much shorter duration on the farm compared to other crops. I plan to use the proceeds to invest in a retail shop. I know with these two investments, I will become financially stable. This will enable me to achieve both my short and long-time goals
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Four months ago, I managed to purchase a dairy cow from the contributions I got from a merry go round that I recently joined once I started receiving transfers from Give Directly. The merry go round assisted me in saving a god percentage my transfers which enable me to buy a dairy cow. The dairy cow has really helped me to provide sufficient milk both for my household consumption as well as for sale. The income from the sale of milk has assisted me to meet my other daily family needs such as the provision of food and transport for my kids to school
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will have been different in the next six months because I will no longer strain much doing casual jobs. Since I had the resources to invest in my farm, I am planning to concentrate more to ensure I get good returns. This will guarantee me high profits and my well-being will positively change. I also believe my children performance in school will improve because if my business picks up well, I plan to enrol them in a private school and purchase supplementary books for them
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 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 from how it was before I started receiving transfers from Give Directly. Nowadays I have peace of mind. I no longer worry much about how I would get money to meet our daily needs because I now have two sources of income. I am able to get little money through casual jobs and through the monthly transfers from Give Directly. Through these sources, we can now eat well.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next three months, I will have finished repaying the loan and I will start saving with an intention to open a kiosk. I want to take after my late father who was a successful shopkeeper who was admired by many in this village. I believe that this is the best opportunity for me to generate income and get a sustainable income. I really thank Give Directly for facilitating all my projects. They have really changed my life through the unconditional payments they send to me.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Two months ago I borrowed money from the bank and bought a cow. I had always wanted to buy a dairy cow but since I couldn't buy it using the wages I get from casual jobs, I decided to loan some money from the bank. I don't regret this decision because the cow calved a few weeks ago. I was lucky to get an expectant cow which was a double blessing to me. I no longer buy milk. The idea of buying a cow came when I got this transfer. The monthly transfers and the proceeds from the sale of milk will now help me pay the loan. Life is now better because we have more than one source of income
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I believe that my life will have changed because I will have saved enough money to start a business. I have not yet decided on the kind of business I want to start, I am still want to do research in order to find out the challenges and dynamics of the different businesses. But I have a plan of saving for the next six months in order to have the capital to start me for the business I will have chosen to do by that time
 
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?
Before I would hardly get the money for paying school fees for my children and so, they were being sent home for school fees frequently. This lead to poor performance as they would miss attending classes continuously like others. Now am happy that after I managed to pay their school fees they are now going to school regularly and I get time to look for more money to take care of other family needs as for school fees I do settle with the money which I get from Give Directly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
We are now living in a small two-roomed house and my new goal is to build a bigger house to accommodate well my growing family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I use to depend on buying and selling of maize but it collapsed. Recently, there has been poor harvest due to a disease which destroys maize crop. A loan which I took from the bank I spend to pay school fees for my children. My children are now performing well since I have been paying school fees on time. They use to be sent home for school fees. Having my children in school throughout has brought a big difference in my life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would like to start a business so that I get to I can get to generate income. This will enable me to get money for catering for my family.
 
7th 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?
My life currently is different since my children now days eats and dresses well.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The only goal I now have is to start a shop business.
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 happiness.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in that I will have opened a shop.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 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 new goals now is that I want a dairy cow that will also assist me in paying of school fees when I start selling milk.This milk will also be used at home thus serving as addition to foodstuffs.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently differently since I don't overwork myself very much like before.My children are well dressed and happy as they play since they know that I can take care of them now and this makes me very happy.GD transfers has brought happiness in my life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that I will have a continuous flow of cash thus ability to cover all needs at home, since I will be having a dairy cow and also a small business that will help in more income generation.I will be self employed managing my shop that I plan to have.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I am happy because I am able to take care of the needs at home easily.I was able to pay school fees for my children at ease earlier unlike before it used to take time.My children are also happy and continuing with their studies and this relieves a lot of stress to me.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I've faced in life is lack of money. I've done alot like selling maize carrying the maize using a donkey and imagine i could travel along distance from chebalungu to konoin which was really a big task.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is when by the end of the everything that I had planned for is accomplished.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Iam planning to spend my tranfer on farming.since iam a farmer, i use to expand my farming like growing more tea.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement iam proudest of is the planting of tomatoes.This has helped me really alot because through selling i get a big profit of 2500/ which helps me feed my family.