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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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Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Margaret's Profile
Margaret's family
Margaret
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
50
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($442 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
We depend on both livestock and subsistence farming for our daily income and payment of all bills in our household. After the receipt of the first and the second transfer, I spent most of the money on improving my farming practices, which are still running at the moment. I don't have any other new goals that I never had before receiving the money but currently preparing my pieces of land for the planting season.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly executed the project excellently right from the start to the end. The knowledge imparted to the villagers in the initial meeting was instrumental in ensuring the safety of the money. They mandated everyone to spend in ways that fit their needs. Nothing came unexpected since all they promised was delivered to us, making everyone happy and grateful to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I live with my last-born son who is currently in secondary school. For the past two years, I had been struggling to meet the timelines in his school fees payment, which have never been easier. I am happy that GiveDirectly came in when my son was on the verge of dropping out of school because of a lack of school fees. After paying part of the arrears with the first transfer, I spent KES 40000 of the second transfer on clearing the current term's fees. He is now enjoying ample study time since they have not sent him home since the start of the term. In addition, I spent KES 10000 on buying him a new pair of school uniforms and a shoe that I believe will help him through the next year. I later spent the remaining KES 2000 on foodstuff and other household goods for my current family of two.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($479 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was in the evening when I was at home milking my cow. Suddenly I heard my phone ringing, I never checked my phone immediately since I was busy milking. Upon checking, I saw a Mpesa message showing that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and relieved because I knew that I would be able to execute my dreams at the right time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My daily life is different, this is because I was able to construct a decent and spacious house for my family. I no longer worry during the rainy season because I was able to solve the problem with the transfer that I had received from GiveDirectly. In addition to that, we now enjoy clean water because of the availability of a storing water tank. I am thankful for the great milestone that I achieved in a short time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The house that I was living in before, was too old and the roof was leaking. Upon receiving my transfer, I saw it has an opportunity for me to build a decent home for my family, thus I used KES 33,000 in realising that goal. I then used KES 10,000 in purchasing a water tank so that we would harvest rainwater. I am glad that I have been able to accomplish this goal within a short period, I was unable to realise them before due to financial constraints since I fully depend on farming to earn a livelihood. I am so grateful for the support that lifted my life amazingly.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Building a house for a son is a priority. We share a sleeping place yet he is already grown up. It is important so that I secure some privacy. I also need to buy a dairy cow. I will be using the money I get from selling its milk to provide school fees for my son, and food for the household.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 4 months, my only source of joy is hearing of the news that GiveDirectly will visit us. It send good tidings knowing that I would get a chance to buy a dairy cow and have daily income.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is my biggest challenge. This has been caused by the failure of my crops that I depend on as the only source of food. I am just a subsistence farmer without a job.