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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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Cynthia's Profile
Cynthia's family
Cynthia
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
26
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($521 USD)
access_time 4 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 from how it would have been had I not received the transfer because I now live comfortably in my spacious and decent house. Also, I have an asset that I can rely on in case of a financial challenge. The cow I bought using part of the transfer has calved and I now earn income through milk sales. I always use this income to cater for our daily needs as I save some.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well buy giving the unconditional cash transfers and I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my second transfer, I spent a good from it to buy a dairy cow. I settled on this so that when it reproduces, my family will get enough milk for consumption and for sale to earn an income. This is also an asset to me that I can depend on in case of a financial crisis. I used the remaining amount to buy some decent clothes and food for my family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($544 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Having a decent and bigger house to add one I have had always been my big dream but since I am unmarried and jobless, the casual jobs I do has not been able to earn something enough to allow me a new house. I live in an old, single room, grass thatched house with my two children. Even though this could be enough for my young family, having a bigger and more decent house had always been my dream. When I received my first transfer from GD, I used part of it on purchasing building materials-timber, iron sheets and nails. I am hopeful and certain that soon my dream of having a bigger and decent house will be possible and this has been the biggest difference in my daily life since this has raised my hopes of a brighter future for my family.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was awoken by my in-law sister who decided to come to my house after receiving the transfer. I was deeply asleep and my sister in law knocked my door trying to ask if I had received the transfer, I immediately turned to my phone and to my biggest surprise I found a message notification that I had received money from GD. I was heartily thankful given the reflection of the hard life of a single jobless mother had been to me that I an helping hand had shown up to me.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I am a single mother that always struggle to bring up a family that I will always be proud of. I majorly depend on low paying casual jobs and investment in my life had just been an unrealistic dream since I mostly spend my wages on my household daily expenditure and my son education hence saving had just always been on hopes. I used KES 27500 of first transfer on livestock-a cow and a goat since these are my added assets and will help me in milk production for both household consumption and sale hence in the near future I will be saving money I could have spent on milk and from milk sale. I live in an old, single room, grass thatched house with my two children. even though this could be enough for my young family, having a bigger and more decent house had always been my dream. When I received my first transfer from GD, I used KES18100 on purchasing building materials-timber, iron sheets and nails. I am hopeful and certain that soon my dream of having a bigger and decent house will be possible. I used KES4000 to restart a merry go round that I had stopped after falling sick hence leaving with nothing to contribute. I spent the remaining part of the first transfer on my household daily expenditure and items.
 
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live in a very tiny house and therefore my first priority is to build a house after I receive the first transfer.I am also planning to buy two cows which will be another source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I wake up at 5:00 am and quickly do the house chores and then report to work at a nearby farm where I work as a casual labourer.I report to work at 7:00 am and work till 4:30 pm.The happiest part of my day is when I come back home in the eveningand unite with my children.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I gave birth to my first born at the age of 20 years.This was a few years after dropping out of school at standard seven,primary level and underwent FGM few years later.At 24 years old I gave birth to my second born and this is where I started feeling the pressure of bringing them up.This is because I do not have a good source of income enough to meet the basic needs.I am a single mother and raising up the children alone is not easy.After giving birth to my second born I began having conflicts with my parents since I was slowly becoming a burden.I had to start living seperately from my parents last year and it hasn't been an easy ride since I am just a casual labourer.