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 > Stephen's Profile
Stephen's family
Stephen
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
66
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Stephen's next check-in.
 
17th 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?
I was able to install water in my house with the previous transfers. This has saved us from the struggle of walking for long distance in search of water. In addition to that, I was able to clear a loan I owed One Acre Fund foundation. I feel free and happy because I can now do my projects without being interfered with.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The current house is a mud-walled house which is usually very hectic to maintain especially during the rainy seasons. The walls are usually washed off whenever it rains leaving it in a bad condition. My spouse is normally forced to repair it during such seasons which is usually a very tiresome process. I, therefore, have the plans to save the coming transfers for the next four months and purchase both sand and cement for plastering the house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Water has been a challenge in our area. The nearest water point is about 6 kilometers away from my home. We are aged thus it is hectic to walk all the way to and from the river carrying heavy jerrycans of water. I'm glad I was able to save the previous transfers and used it to install water in my compound. This has given us an easy time thus we no longer walk for a long distance in search of water.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I'm planning to save the coming transfers so that I can purchase a dairy cow. With the cow, I'll be assured of enough milk for both family consumption and for sale. This will earn me additional income thus my living standards will improve. I believe I will be able to achieve several goals such as building another house which could not be possible when I only depended on the wages I got from the casual jobs.
 
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 currently different from how it was four months ago because l no longer go places while walking since I now have my bicycle back.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in the next four months is to save and buy dairy cow where I will be getting milk for my consumption since I like taking milk tea so much but it is very expensive I can not afford it everyday.
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 l am now staying in a nice spacious comfortable house as compared to before when l was staying in a very small house that sometimes when I am away I feel so much relived. I also manage to buy a nice furniture being that the furniture that I had before were in a bad state that can fall somebody down. I had a bicycle that I could use to move very fast while going somewhere but it developed technical problem that I could not repair it, I thank give directly because I manage to repair the bicycle and I now riding it whenever I want to go anywhere, I do not walk any more.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have bought dairy cow, where I be will getting milk for my consumption and also to sell some to the community and get money for the up keep.
 
12th 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?
Another difference in my life is that I have been to pay all my debts. I used to have a lot of debts since I had many demands and the only source of income in my life was from farming which was not enough to handle all my needs. This is why I ended up having a lot of debts in the village. I find peace when moving around in the village and I don't hide from my friends because of debts anymore. Since I started receiving the transfers, I have been able to pay the debts bit by bit until I cleared all of them. I am glad GD transfers have transformed my life.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to buy building materials such as iron sheets, nails and timber to build a new kitchen. I have a grass thatched one which is too small and also houses my goats and sheep. I would want to build a bigger one where my grandchildren can sleep when they visit me.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have always used fertilizer and hybrid seeds in my farm. This has been my desire to use inputs in my farm but due to low income from farming, I have not been able to do it. I have been getting very little harvest which cannot sustain my family needs since I had used all the soil fertility over the years. I have been getting three sacks of maize but when I started using fertilizer and hybrid seeds, I have been getting eight sacks of maize which has been sustaining my family well and I also sell the rest to raise money to handle other family needs. I don't feel poor anymore.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I want to buy a cow. This will be an investment for my family. When it reproduces, I will be able to sell part of the milk to raise a small income to solve other family issues. I know in three years time, I will have a herd of cattle which I can sell to raise money for other needs.
 
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 different from how it was four months because now I am able to purchase my farming requirements like fertilizer and good seedswit ease.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have no new goals currently.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that I have able to purchase fertilizer and high breed seeds for farming.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have a bumper harvest and start a new business to increase my income.
 
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I would want to buy iron sheets which I will use to build a new house.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal, I would want to build shed for my chicken.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I will have a good harvest because I used fertilizer and seeds at the right time. Thanks to Give Directly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference caused by this transfer in my life is my farm which is doing well as a result of the seeds and fertilizer which I used during planting and top dressing. I will have a good harvest this time round because of Give Directly.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is the inability to do better farming due to lack of proper equipment and money.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I see my family wake up in good health.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to purchase modern farm equipment which will enable me practice good farming and live a sustainable life.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is getting clean piped water in my home because I used to walk a long distance in search of water especially during dry seasons.