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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 > Richard's Profile
Richard's family
Richard
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
43
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($518 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The difference in my life since I started receiving these transfers is that there is peace and happiness in my family. Before, I would only depend on a small income from casual work which was very inconsistent and very little before the transfers. I could not even meet my daily needs comfortably with my income. I would struggle to provide for my family as I rarely had money. This forced my wife to go back to her parents after a petty quarrel for not being able to provide for them. Ever since I started receiving these transfers, a lot has changed. First, I went back and brought my family back home and planned together for the transfers which we received. We bought food which would sustain us for some days put up a good shelter and pay school fees for our children. All these united us together and I believe that I wouldn't have gotten such were it not for Give Directly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give Directly did well by giving us unconditional transfers. What I knew about other NGOs is that they support specific projects or even distribute items to the beneficiaries. I love the idea that every beneficiary would decide to spend on what he/she may need.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my second transfer to purchase a water tank. I decided to buy one so that we would have enough space to store harvested rainwater I am glad that my wife will not be travelling a long distance to fetch water for use at home. Additionally, I bought a television, mattress, blanket, food and pay school fees for my children.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Considering the great things which I have initiated in our household, we can now testify as a family that there has been a lot of difference. The biggest of them all in my daily life is the presence of a heifer which we are now rearing as we expect it to calf down in the next few months. This to us means that we will no longer be buying milk as we used to do but instead we might be lucky to sell some after getting enough for our domestic use.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Receiving the money brought a lot of joy to our family. Celebrations filled our place and that was the time that I felt that the long-lost harmony was coming back. This also was the first time after a very long period that we gathered as a family and hold prayers to thank god for the great blessings that we had gotten.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
It was a great pleasure having been part of the recipients who made to be enrolled and received the first transfer last December. We were very happy about it as a household and had a lot of projects lined up to be initiated. We spent part of the transfer on buying a heifer which was worth 15000 KES, used part of the remaining on constructing a new house for my children after buying 18 iron sheets and some woods. With the remaining amount, we saw it good to spend on buying clothing and household foodstuff which will serve s for quite sometimes.
 
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wanted to Venture into agro business, ie. planting tomatoes, carrot, water mellons, pepper,butter nuts, spinarch and kales, hence this money will enable me realize this dream. I will then use the remaining amount as capital to initiate poultry keeping since it is a lucrative project that i have seen many people engaging in suceed.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually spend my morning in my farm weeding, watering, transplanting and sometimes harvesting my crops. This is the time i am most happy seeing my crops blooming well, a sign of good harvests and more sales.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My daughter who is now 10years old is mentally unwell. She was born dumb and so she can't speak. I haven't been able to afford taking her to a special school due to lack of finances to cater for her education. This is the biggest challenge i am facing but i am grateful to GD. I will use part of my first transfer to enroll her to school