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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Completed
Newsfeed > John's Profile
John's family
John
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Street trading - food (self-employed)
faceAge:
22
workCampaign
FSD / Urban Youth
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on John's next check-in.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($40 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The biggest difference brought in my life with GD transfers is that poultry project I have now. Before I started receiving these transfers, I used to depend on casual work as my main source of income. Income from casual work of garbage collection in my area has not been enough to meet my needs. I have been struggling and life has not been very easy on me. I decided to start a business with the transfers but chose poultry because other areas such as cloth business, had been flooded in my area. I know when I finally get a good place to supply with chicken and eggs, I will be getting good money which will change my life.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
Currently, I want to focus my transfer in boosting my chicken business. I am determined to make this project my main source of income. The only way I can achieve this is to boost it and make it stable. When it is stable, I will be getting a good profit which will be my income. From the profits, I will be able to sustain my family needs well and keep the business going.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers on buying chicken feeds for my poultry. I started buying chicken for this project bit by bit as I received my monthly transfers and I am glad it is growing. I would not have started the project without the transfer. The rest of the transfer I used on paying rent. I had not paid rent because I used most of my savings to take my children to school by paying for there fees arrears.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($39 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it was in that, I can see self-growth. I used to depend on unreliable casual jobs which limited me from reaching some of my goals. I am glad that when I started getting transfers, I started my first business which helped me to buy thirty hens that I sold and in turn bought household items. I saved some of the money which I added to the recent transfer that enabled me to start a second business. I now sell socks which is doing well.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to boost my business to a point where I will be restocking in bales. I feel that this will be cheaper. When I reach this level the business will be stable and I will be able to get more profit.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I topped up 3000KES to the recent transfer and started a different kind of business. I sell all types of socks. Previously, I was selling kales. I was not making more profits mostly because I had to transport it from home hence using an extra fee and the nature of the kales which are perishable made me lose money at times. Many people were into this business too. The business that I started recently is a good one because not many people are into it. The weather is also cold and favorable for this market.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($48 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different in that I am happily in good terms with my landlord because since I started receiving the transfers, I have never defaulted in paying my house rent. Besides, With my new poultry project, the transfers I receive has greatly helped me to purchase enough chicken feeds that would enable me to run my project well. I am at a good position to earn a better income in the near future unlike before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My next goal now is to improve my project of chicken rearing by adding more and construct a good structure for them. I am assured through this project, I will be able to sell them in the near future and generate more income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 2500 of my most recent transfer to pay for my house rent. I was able to clear the rent that was outstanding. I am currently running a project of rearing chicken. I will be them selling in the near future so as to generate income, thus I spent KES 1500 to buy adequate chicken feeds that would take a longer period of time. I spent the remaining amount on buying foodstuffs for my family.
 
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($50 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My goals now that I have started receiving the money is to join college. It has always been my dream to study a course in the field of business. My main aim of going back to school is not to come and look for a job but to earn knowledge which will help me manage my businesses and other projects. Having a business which is stable will enable me to get more income which I will use to pay for my bills and also support other people around me.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before GiveDirectly came for enrolment, I used to depend on doing some odd jobs which were paying less. This could not cater to all my bills and I used to live on debts. I am now glad since I have been able to start a business of my own. This has enabled me to pay all my bills on time and clear all the debts I had. Having a stable source of income which enables me to meet my daily needs on time is so far the biggest difference I have ever experienced in my daily life since I started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer to buy some chicken and chicken feeds. It has always been my prayer to start a poultry keeping project back at home. My grandmother will be running it for me. I settled on this because its starting cost is not high and it does not require a lot of attention. This will act as my alternative source of income which I will be using to cater for my needs.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I became so happy the moment I started receiving my money. I started receiving this money at a time when I was going through many difficulties in my life. This money gave me a lot of hopes that I would be able to use this money to solve most of my problems.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My plan is to boost my existing business which is selling kales with a handcart around mathare. Pay rent every month without delay to my landlord and lastly provide for food everyday.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is unemployment because since I finished school I have been looking for a job and I have never found one. Secondly is housing because in mathare there is always fire and I have been a victim and that worries me. Lastly is police violence because sometimes the police harass people and collect bribe everyday.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambitions is to become successful in life by doing business and create opportunities for others people through employing them.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I wake up early in the morning at 5:00am prepare for tea and then take tea. I then go to town board a matatu travel to muranga to buy kales. At around 11:00am am back in mathare with kales grab my handcart put the kales on top and go round the community selling them. I finish selling at around 8:00pm. I then go back home and prepare for supper eat then I sleep. On my free time I stay at home and listen to music and watch movies.