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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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Completed
Newsfeed > Richard's Profile
Richard's family
Richard
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Raising livestock
faceAge:
68
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($518 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?
My children previously used the granary as their bedroom and they didn't have any comfort at all especially with the cold. It was worse during those days after harvesting since there was limited space they could sleep since it was a small granary. I am glad that when I received the second amount of the transfer, I built them their own house and they sleep more comfortably than before. I am also glad that I would not have to sell any of my pieces of land anymore to pay my children's school fees. Before GiveDirectly came, I had already sold a small piece of my land in order to pay their school fees and other school requirements. I am glad that that is not going to happen again because I paid a good amount of school fees upfront.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion, I loved that Givedirectly were specific that once you got the money, you could use them in whatever way one wanted. I really loved the flexibility and freedom that came with the transfer. Everything was well planned and executed.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the second transfer to till my piece of land and to buy seeds and other farm inputs as I prepared for the planting season. I also paid in full my two sons' school fees who are in Secondary school using some part of the transfer. I used the rest of the second transfer to build a small house for my sons to sleep.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($532 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have built a better and spacious house for my family. I used to live in a small mud house which could not host all my family members comfortably. Whenever I had visitors it was so embarrassing to take them to the neighbor's house to sleep. The house I used to live was leaking from the inside and during the rainy season there was a big challenge for us in our family, we were exposed to cold during those seasons. Currently, we have a better house and my family members are happy because they are in a good house where there is no more cold like before. We are so great full for the support because it has changed our living standard.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy. I remember it was very early in the morning when I heard the message on my phone and when I checked it, I could not believe my eyes because I have never received such amount of money in my entire life. I could not sleep anymore. I went to the Mpesa shop, withdrew the money and bought the building materials.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer on buying building materials to build a better house for my family and the rest of the money I will use it to buy food for the family and pay school fees for my two children in secondary.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will help me buy a dairy cow.Dairy farming is a good source of income especially in this area since crop farming is not reliable.I will also build a mud house with a iron roof.The house that I have as a kitchen is very old and grass thatched and the roof leaks during the rainy season.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend most of the day around my compound.I feed my cow in the morning hours before going to the farm.I have grown beans and its almost harvest season.I spend the afternoon hours relaxing making this one of the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is lack of money to support my family's needs.I depend so much in agriculture but it has let me down because of crop diseases,long dry spells and the small piece of land I have.I was forced to sell almost one acre of land to educate my children.This is the reason I have a small piece of land;2 acres to be precise.I have seven sons who depend on this same piece of land.This is what has been a great challenge because this is where I depend on to get money.