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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 > Zipporah's Profile
Zipporah's family
Zipporah
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
53
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($340 USD)
access_time 2 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Because I'm old and can't do tough work, I plan to buy goats and look after them. Goats are good here because they can handle dry weather, unlike cows and sheep. I also pray to God to help my kids find jobs. It's been hard for me to support them through school, and I hope they can finish their education and do well so they can take care of me.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
At first, when we heard about GiveDirectly, we thought it was just a tale. I never imagined I would receive free money. In my village, many people have never even held $200 in their hands before. But GiveDirectly gave them their first taste of free money. When we heard about GiveDirectly, we gathered as neighbors and decided to welcome them just like we do with other organizations like World Vision and Red Cross. We hope they continue helping people in nearby villages, encouraging them to grow and invest in themselves.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
.I can't help but express how happy and excited I am. GiveDirectly has truly changed my life. Before, my life was hard to explain. When I got the money, the first thing I did was use $150 to pay off my two children's university fees. Before, I relied on government grants and community donations to pay for their education. But now, thanks to the money I received, I don't need to depend on those sources anymore. I also used $50 to buy food because I used to work selling firewood and water door-to-door, but it didn't pay much. It was hard to support my two grandchildren with just that money. My husband passed away nine years ago, so I'm the only one my kids rely on. Life has been tough since then.With the rest of the money, I built a small room made of Ironsheets for my grandchildren. Before, they lived in a house made of mud and grass, which wasn't good when it rained. Since I got the money, my life has changed. I don't have to work odd jobs anymore; I can stay at home and take care of my grandchildren.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($312 USD)
access_time 9 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the upcoming year and beyond, my goal is to initiate a goat rearing project and secure funding for my children's university fees. It's challenging to make plans without immediate funds, but I hold hope that my children will find employment and eventually assist me. Most importantly, I feel a deep sense of contentment and gratitude for what I have accomplished thus far.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The assistance I received brought a remarkable uplift to my life, as it empowered me to construct a home for my children. What particularly stood out to me was the unconditional nature of the funds and the enlightening session that provided valuable knowledge. Thus far, everything is flawless, and I haven't identified any areas that require correction.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my transfer, I immediately recognized the opportunity to use the funds to purchase iron sheets in order to construct a more suitable dwelling for my children. They had been sleeping in an old mud house, and financial limitations had previously hindered my ability to provide them with a better living space. Being the sole provider, my income comes from occasional jobs and selling firewood, making it challenging to make ends meet. As a single mother raising five children, covering school fees has been a particularly difficult task. Consequently, I spent $150 for building the new house, dedicated $150 for my son's university tuition fees, and wisely utilized the remaining funds for food and transportation. The sense of achievement I've experienced in such a short period of time brings me immense joy.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
18010 KES ($128 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the middle of the women's merry-go-round when I got the transfers. With my joy, everything came to a halt as I ran towards home, where my husband was, so I could tell him the wonderful news. We both got excited about it because we knew how difficult it had been for us to pay school fees for three children, one in secondary school and two in university, and the one thing that we all wanted to see done was to clear the debt we had in the schools where our children were enrolled in order to be debt-free.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My business has grown from selling vegetables and hawking them from house to house to establishing a shop where I offer a variety of home goods. On a daily basis, our revenue has increased from $5 to $10, and we are very pleased about this. We plan to grow the business by adding more products, making it a one-stop store that my husband and I will run together. We are also glad that we have paid off all of our debt bills, which makes us feel so light; all of our burdens have been lifted thanks to the GiveDirectly transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We used the transfer to pay off debts at our children's schools; thus, we paid $60 to our daughter in Form Three, $50 to our boy in University, and $50 to our girl in University. We felt so much better after doing this since we were worried about disappointing our children, despite the fact that education is one of their basic requirements. We've been selling vegetables throughout the area to make ends meet, but sometimes all we can obtain is enough for food, and school fees become less of a priority. GiveDirectly transfers have brought us so much joy as a family and as individuals too. I saved $40 in the merry go round savings account and then borrowed $150 to establish a small business where I built a kiosk. I chose to save because, in the merry-go round, whenever I want to borrow any amount of money, I will be given it without any security, and this will allow me to run my business without much struggle. To add to that, the business is producing double revenue compared to the other one, where I used to sell vegetables for $5, and we are now at $10 daily, which shows good progress.
 
Enrolled
access_time 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My dream is to see my children get quality education. I have two children who are in the university and one in secondary school. I have sold all the livestock to keep them in school and now I rely on fundraising from friends and relatives. I plan on using the transfers to pay for their school fees. I am so excited because, in two years, they shall complete their courses in teaching successfully. This will enable them to secure good jobs in the future and help me make our lives better. The rest of the transfers I will use to build a pit latrine.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiness is to see my family live healthily and in harmony. For the past six months, we have not had anyone fall sick and I am thankful to God for that. I keep praying for good health because I will have the energy to fend for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When my husband passed on seven years ago, I became the sole provider for my family of seven. I do casual jobs and also fetch firewood to earn a living which is hardly enough to meet all the family's basic needs. Sometimes I hardly have money to sustain my two children at university and another in secondary school. If I had a stable source of income, my life would be better.