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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:
57
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on Joseph's next check-in.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
After receiving the transfers from GiveDirectly, things have kept changing for the better. Initially it was really hard for me to manage more than one project since I never had any certain source of income. Currently I have witnessed a lot of differences in the farming sector as I am producing more than what I was producing in the last four months. This production has enabled me to clear the school fees for my children which was once a great problem. I am really thankful that things are now moving on well and I am able to manage all without much stress.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Alongside the subsistence farming I have been doing, I am also much involved in dairy farming which is another productive venture. I have been able to obtain a better breed which is giving us more milk enough to sell after sparing some for our domestic use. My cows have been grazing freely on the field which have never been favourable for them since that expose them to many pests and diseases. I now have an additional goal to construct a dairy farming unit where my cows will be confined and fed without them having to wander in the fields. I expect this to increase productivity since there will be no wasted energy by the cows working around and the quality feeds I will be supplying them will most likely translate to an improved milk production.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Farming in our household has been our sole source of income for a very long time. Although this has been our source of income we have not been able to produce enough since we only had a small piece of land. For the last four months, I have been able to lease an additional acre of land for a period of nine years. This to me will increase the food production and surplus for sale which will then bring the biggest difference in my daily life and the lives of my family members.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
With the current plans to establish a dairy farming unit, I expect to see it's completion in the next six months. We have been participating in the Merry-go-round which we started with other GiveDirectly beneficiaries and in the next few months my turn to receive the contribution will come. This money which will be coming as a lump sum will be directed to sourcing the construction materials for the dairy shed and will also be useful in paying the man power involved in the construction.
 
16th 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 is different in that I am now a changed person. I now have a dairy cow that gives me enough milk for family consumption and the surplus is taken to the cooler. I had sold all the dairy cows that I had when I had a huge school fees areas balance. GiveDirectly transfers were so helpful in that it enabled me to have another dairy cow that has been so helpful to us as a family. My wife has also started a poultry keeping project that has enabled her to assist me in meeting other basic household needs and generally improved our living standards.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
We are going on with the merry go round and it will be my turn within the next four months. I plan to use the money gotten from this to start commercial farming. The current farming practices that I undertake only gives us enough food for family consumption. Practicing commercial agriculture and especially on short term horticultural crops like potatoes shall help me a lot in terms of paying school fees and meeting other arising family needs.
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 have been able to be part of a merry go round and the contribution I got that amounted to KES 30000 was very helpful to me. I used the money collected to buy a dairy cow that did not take long to help us as a family. We now have enough milk for household consumption while the excess is sold out to earn extra income. I had sold all the cows that I had in the past to pay school fees for my children. I am now happy that GiveDirectly transfers have come to help me out as I was already feeling the heat of the rising cost of living as a sole provider in the family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months my life shall have changed in that I will be practicing commercial farming and I can be able to take my children to boarding schools and give them better quality education. Practicing commercial agriculture shall enable us as a family get that extra income and be able to meet most of our family's needs and secure our future and the future of our children
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 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 from how it was four months ago. This is because we own a television. Subsequently, we remain entertained and informed on different aspects across the globe. Moreover, I have managed to purchase and plant certified potato seeds unlike before. I used the money that I had saved through table banking to finance the projects. Hence, I feel more empowered to explore my potentials with regards to farming. I expect to reap heavily from the project. Still, we are residing in a new and bigger house that was built courtesy of my wife's savings through table banking.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new or additional goals for my life for the next four months is to buy an additional piece of land. I look forward to attaining a huge harvest from the potato plantation.
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 now have a television at my home. Initially, I felt that television is a luxury, and never thought of owning one since I have been struggling to attain the most basic items including food, clothing and shelter for my family. Indeed GiveDireclty has changed my life such that I find television as a necessity. Television serves crucial roles in my family because it entertains and informs us. I am now living like a king - leading a happy life while updating my villagers on what goes on all over the world.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change drastically in the next six months. This is because my son who is at the university will have completed his studies. Consequently, we shall have more money to use which could otherwise have been used on educating him. Besides, my son will be available to support us physically and financially. Moreover, we shall be getting huge income from the sale of the potatoes that I have planted. Hence, we shall enjoy a higher standard of living - we shall have relatively adequate funds to be used in meeting the basic and non-basic needs for our family. Still, I will consider buying an additional piece of land because the one I have is a bit small. Overall, I will have bigger dreams in the next six months.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 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 from how it was four months ago as I currently own an additional dairy cow which I did not have before. I no longer hustle to get some money to buy milk for my family since the one I get from my farm is enough to sustain my family needs
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I plan to buy new potato seeds which produces high yields. The one I currently have in my farm are of poor quality
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life in the last four months is that I am now happy because with the contributions I received from the merry-go-round, I bought a dairy cow. I now have enough milk to sustain my family consumption
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I do not expect my life to change so much in the next six months simply because with the merry go round that I am currently participating in, I plan to use it for school fees since I have a daughter who will be joining secondary school.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 7 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
Currently I have resolved to looking into means of ensuring that I improve the the house we are living in which is currently having walls plastered with mud into a better walls made of sand.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The happiness I have currently is really a big difference since if I was not among the recipients,I would now be thinking hard of where to source money meant for the farm inputs but since i am in the program together with my wife , we now have an easy time in doing all the farming processes.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In six months time I am sure I would have added a piece of land through renting and also the plan to start an agrovet would have materialized.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
This is a step ahead since it really boosted the ease of finding all the requirements in terms of gricultural
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lacking school fees for my children is the biggest hardship i have faced. It was challenging to see my children miss out of school because of money. Am glad was able to pull through that situation.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. This is the time i spend with my family and friends.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Am planning to use my transfer on improving my farm work. I Will get more land for expansion and purchase better seeds.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
Starting up dairy farming is an achievement am proudest of in my life. My life has changed and am seeing significant improvement. I can now save and provide for my family.