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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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Completed
Newsfeed > Daniel's Profile
Daniel's family
Daniel
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
63
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($462 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?
My new goal is to be able to start a small business of buying and selling cows. Right now we rely entirely on casual farming to put food on the table and to meet other familys expenses but with time, I have a goal of strting this business. Farming is often affected by prevailing weather conditions and yiels very little for the family but with the livestock business I can be sure to sustain my family well and even pay school fees for my last born son more comfortably. I look forward to accumulating enough capital to actualize this.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did well in making sure they they discharged their duties independently. They would not allow anyone whatsoever to advise them or influence them on who to enroll or who not to enroll. They made sure that they visited every household within the village and took time to find out who was alligible for the benefit and who was not. Above all, they maintained the highest standards of professionalism in doing this.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 6000 to pay for my NHIF contribution. This is a contribution that will cover me and my wife for the next one year without me having to be worried on where I will get money to contribute at the end of the month. The hustle that I recently went through of having to sell some of my assets to pay for my hospital bill was the motivation behind this. At least I know my wife and I are now secured at the event that any of us falls sick. I used another KES 10000 to clear school fees arrears for my son who is now sitting for his KCSE examinations. All along I have had to rely on his elder siblings to help me pay for his school fee but I felt it was time I helped them clear the fee since they also have their own family responsibilities to take care of. I saved another KES 15000 that I will use to buy a heifer for keeping at home. Right now I do not have any cows left for rearing having sold them all to pay school fees for my son. The remaining amount was used to buy food for my family and we still have some of the food stocked. With this we are sure not to struggle with buying food for the next couple of weeks. We are so grateful to GiveDirectly for the support they gave us. My family and I are extremely happy during such times and we would wish that we caould always get people who are as genuine as GiveDirectly in offering aid.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
We felt so happy as a family when we received the money from GiveDirectly. We had our plans on how to spend the money already but then the plans had to change when my husband fell sick. We felt sad that he got sick but happy at the same time that we had money to take him to hospital and save his life. We are grateful that he has his health back as we look forward to getting the next transfer and resume with our initial plans
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in our daiy lives that was brought about by this transfer is the fact that we have our head of the household health restored. He was attacked by a couple of diseases and his health had really deteriorated. The worst of these disease was covid 19 which we discovered much later but all in all we are so grateful and happy that his health is fully restored.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Nearly all the transfers were used to meet medical expenses. It was unfortunate that by the time we received the money my husband had fallen ill and had to be admitted at different hospitals. We had to halt all our expenditure plans and concentrate on his heath. Thankfully enough he has had his health restored and we can't be grateful enough for the funds we received from GiveDirectly.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Raising livestock has played a fundamental role in generating income that I use to cater to my family's basic needs. I sell 3 litres of milk at KES 90 per day. This is not quiet enough as I have to supplement with my wife's profits that she gets from selling vegetables. Receiving this money means I will add two dairy cows to the one I have at a cost of KES 60,000. Milk production will triple from 3 litres to about 10 litres a day earning me KES 210 more. This will earn me financial independence and enable me to pay for school fees for my son who just joined high school this year.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My son just proceeded to his final year of high school in August 2021. His performance has been improving each term and this makes me happy because however how much I am struggling to pay for his school fees, I know it will bear fruits one day. Seeing him working hard in school to achieve his dream of joining university to become a mathematics teacher brings me joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a semi-arid area, rains are not consistent thus unproductive farms and low yields from livestock. I wholly depend on livestock keeping as a source of livelihood and it is difficult to even educate my children with the current high cost of education because it is unreliable. For the last year, milk production has dropped by half directly reducing my income by half. This is the greatest challenge I am facing.