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Newsfeed > Mercy's Profile
Mercy's family
Mercy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
23
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($470 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do not have any new goals that I never had before receiving the transfers. I have been able to accomplish all the plans that I had successfully after receiving the first and the last transfer. I have been able to purchase a water tank and started poultry keeping business that I did not have. My life is currently different in that I no longer have to travel for long distances in search of water and I can afford the rising cost of living with the help of poultry that I have. I have 10 egg laying chicken with over 20 chicks and I cannot be grateful enough to GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The fact that GiveDirectly visits each and every household within the village and enrols them is something to give credit for. I was impressed that every household irrespective of their economic status was able to be enrolled and benefitted from these funds.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used part of my recent transfer to buy a water tank and used the remaining amount to start a poultry keeping business. For a long time, my family has had the problem of lack of clean drinking water where we have had to travel for long distances in search of water which is time consuming and a lot of times bringing stress. In terms of the poultry keeping project, I was not only able to build a poultry house but also erected a chain link that will help me keep more chicken and at large scale. I was also able to improve our house by putting up a ceiling board and buying furniture as well.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The excitement and happiness I had on receiving the message that confirmed the receipt of the first transfer was immeasurable. I had waited for two good months after the first group received their first transfers, I had seen them initiate their new projects to their completion but still had a great hope that I will still receive mine since the GiveDirectly Call Center had been in touch as they made the few corrections that were still blocking mine. I was in a group meeting with other neighbors who were expecting their second transfer that day too, and when they started receiving their confirmations, I could not imagine missing again. With great hope, I kept my phone inside my pocket and only checked it up on my way home when I heard the message alert. I thanked God after receiving and since I had all the plans in place, I could not wait but withdrew the same day and made my first purchases.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Looking at the great projects that I have completed within a very short time amazes me a lot. I had been much grateful to see the unique fencing on my compound that has made the rearing of chicken so easier. This project has been a dream come true to me and I am glad to say that this so far has brought the biggest difference in my daily life. I can collect and sell eggs now that cushions me in settling smaller household bills that I was struggling with before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the delay on my transfer for a period of two months, it finally came when I had put all plans I had in place. With the first KES13000, I managed to obtain four rolls of chain links, poles, paid the labor force that worked on fencing all around the compound, and also obtained ten layers each at KES300. I had been hoping to establish a poultry unit but had been hard since I had no finances. Alongside the huge investment in the poultry project, I also obtained a goat at KES4000 that I am currently rearing as well. Living in an area prone to frequent droughts, I needed a water tank to collect rainwater that had been going on waste whenever it rains. With this great support, I could not afford to miss a chance of obtaining a tank. I am glad that I managed to secure a 2300-liter plastic tank at KES27500, ferried it home, and now enjoying the clean water after establishing a water collection and conveyance system around to the house to the tank. The challenge of walking daily to and from the river to fetch water has reduced drastically as I have been keen on ensuring that all the rainwater from the roof is collected. With the remaining amount, I had to use part of it on interior furnishing of my house by obtaining 18 new cushions at KES6300, bringing in an additional chair worth KES1200, 10 pieces of soft boards used as ceiling boards, and also obtaining clothing and foodstuff for my children with the remaining amount.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My intentions now is to renovate our house and buy a plastic water tank (Kentank) to help us harvest rain water and avoid perennial water shortages. I will therefore budget $150 for renovation and $200 to buy Kentank. I will also buy a dairy cow with $300 as it will enable tap income through sell of milk. My husband has Kiosk and I will give him $200 to buy more stock to the enterprise, the remaining $150 I will use to buy clothing and food for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am always happy during the early hours of morning especially when I wake up with good health. I usually have day's target and my child to take good care of. It is my happiest part of the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am struggling financially and to provide food to my family, I don't have job and rely on subsistence farming. We also depend on what my husband gets from the enterprise which is not sufficient for us. We at times skip meals a day as a coping strategy.