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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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Enrollment
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Completed
Newsfeed > Kiprono's Profile
Kiprono's family
Kiprono
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
25
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($455 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Sure, my goal was to buy livestock something which I achieved having bought two dairy cows. In few months time, I will be earning income from selling milk and therefore my new goal is to save this income towards building a decent house for my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
First, I want to applaud GiveDirectly for the amazing job that they did in uplifting my community. 90% of houses in my village were grass thatched but now, everyone seems to have an iron sheets roof. Majority of them also bought dairy cows and this means in few years time, most of them will achieve financial independence.The change is so evident and I pray they continue doing great work of uplifting communities and restoring people's dignity.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For a long time, I have longed to have dairy cow because being in an area with a good climatic condition, starting as a small scale dairy farm is a good idea. I could not raise enough money by my own to buy a dairy cow because I didn't have a job and I was relying on a local breed cow which used to get us three litres of milk per days for income. I knew opportunities like this of being enrolled in such programs are rare and I had to utilize this one to achieve my dream. I spend KES 32000 of my second transfer to buy a dairy cow and that's makes them two because I had bought another one with part of my first transfer. I also spend the balance to buy enough food for the family and clothing for my children who had torn clothes. I am so happy that I achieved my dream and I can't wait for the time I will be milking more than ten litres of milk per day.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7:00 pm. I was at home just relaxing with no idea of what to have for dinner because my spouse had traveled to visit her parents, so I was all alone. I was holding my phone then a message streamed in and on checking it was a confirmation that I had received money from Give Directly. It was such a joyful moment. I could not wait any longer, rushed to the nearby shopping center to withdraw some cash, and bought beef for my dinner.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is the feeling of content for having invested in sheep. I feel proud to have something I own. At least I have a fallback plan whenever an emergency arises. At the end of the year, I am hopeful that I will have more than 10 sheep which will be additional.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought 10 pieces of iron sheets at a cost of KES 8000 which I am planning to use to construct a better house. At the moment I have a single room which also acts as a kitchen. It is so squeezed and our households have been ruined by the smoke emitted while we cook. I am planning to construct a two-room house so that we can use the current house as a kitchen. This will give us some privacy and comfort especially while hosting visitors. Part of the money (KES 15000), I spent on 5 sheep for rearing. Since I do not have a large farm the sheep are ideal because they do not need much space to rear. KES 3000 I spent on my sister's tuition fee which was needed at that time. I also gave my spouse KES 10000 for her personal belonging which she did not have and spent the rest of the money on both foodstuffs and my clothing.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
First action will be to build a house if I receive this grant. I am currently living in an old grass thatched hut which is unhealthy given that there is so much dust from the walls and the floor. I also need to start keeping a dairy cow to earn me an income instead of relying only on menial jobs.I will spend about KES 30,000 on building a house, KES 40,000 to buy a dairy cow and KES 40, 000 to buy land and settle in..
What is the happiest part of your day?
Over the last six months, there has been nothing notable to be happy about. I only have hope for the next six months that I will have earned a source of income when I buy a dairy cow.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is a lack of food. Since 2010, food crops that we have grown year in, year out because of poor weather and having a small piece of land to do it. I have to do menial jobs to live on.