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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 > Esther's Profile
Esther's family
Esther
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
64
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($517 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?
I would depend on casual jobs to feed my family and sometimes we would miss taking food when I wasn't luck to get some to do to earn. When I got the money I bought some maize which took us some days and we wouldn't miss what to eat as I had some cash to buy food with it.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Being selected to the programme was a great privilege to me as I really needed money to fulfill my goal. Being selected to be part of the program me, I believe that the organization did fairly to everyone in our village. There was nothing bad about enrollment and selection at large.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
The money which Give Directly sent to me, I spent a large portion to purchase a water tank. I opted to buy one so that I would use it to store harvested rain water. I spend the remaining portion to buy furniture for my house.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($549 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now have the energy to do other things other than just worry about where to get the next meal or money. My family can now eat well because we have enough in store for a whole year.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
That moment I received this transfer I was so happy. I have never received such an amount in my entire life. I immediately dressed up and rushed to the next market. That was the most exciting moment. We even decided to eat meat for the whole week.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spend my transfer on a tank, furniture, bedding, and food. I have never had such items in my life. I have always wanted to own a tank because of our region occasionally rains and we lack water. I'm an elderly woman and I don't have the energy to go to the river anymore to fetch water.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I current live in a two room house that is still under construction. I went in before completing its construction since I had no more money to use. I depend on my sons after a goat broke my hand sometimes back hence can not do casual jobs to earn. I engage in my small garden that I only get vegetable for my family consumption. It has been hard asking for more help from my sons since they also have families to attend to. Receiving this money means that I will be able to renovate and complete my house also will buy a cow to help in more income from milk sales.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when my herd of goats are back from the gracing piece of land. I currently look after this herd after one goat broke my hand sometimes back hence I can't engage my self in casual jobs. I find myself enjoying my evenings the most since I always find myself done with the daily duties hence relax as I prepare my supper.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life is educating my children alone after passing on of my husband. My husband died in the year 1983 when our first born child was a form one. Coming to terms with the incident was hard situation to tackle and to make it worst was providing for my family basic needs. I had no job hence I had to rely on casual jobs to meet my family daily basic needs education for my children being the hardest of all.