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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 > Emily's Profile
Emily's family
Emily
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
44
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($465 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?
I got a new goal of building a better house and paying school fees for my three children who are in their secondary education level. When I received these transfers, I decided to invest in livestock as an investment that will help me in future and I did not get to remain with some money that would allow me pay school fees. It is for this reason that I am looking forward to getting some money to pay school fees and even build a more decent house that will see me and my family live decently.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well by giving each and every person that they enrolled an opportunity to choose how they were going to spend the money. I now have bought livestock-an investment I thought would empower me greatly and I also have made other investments meant to raise our living standards as a family. On the other hand, I did not see anything that I thought GiveDirectly should correct or should change in how they do their things.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 40000 to buy a lactating dairy cow and another KES 10000 to buy goats. The livestock investment was to make sure that I will be able to pay school fees for my children and even meet other emerging needs in future. I look forward to making more investments that will see me and my family have better living standards and make life more worth living. The remaining amount was used to buy food for the family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($493 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 early in the morning when my son and I were at home trying to figure out where we could borrow money so that he can go back to school, that was when I heard my phone ringing, I told my son to check what the message was all about, upon confirming he saw a Mpesa notification showing that we had received money from GiveDirectly, I was so happy and thankful because I knew that my son's school fees would be catered for. GiveDirectly has impacted our lives big time and we are thankful.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life today is that I was able to pay for my son's school fees arrears without selling any of our properties, I am at peace and relieved because I don't have any arrears. In addition to that my children have a decent place to sleep on, I was unable to do all this due to financial constraints, GiveDirectly has lifted our living standard, it has restored the hope to thrive on in life and we are grateful for the support
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was so relieved when I received my first transfer, at that time my son had been sent home from school to collect fees, it was like a miracle because I had run out of options, therefore I used KES 30,000 in clearing the fee balance and also managed to pay ahead, as a parent I feel fulfilled to have cleared the school fees arrears, I then KES 20,000 in building a house where my sons would sleep, the house that was there was old and the roof was leaking.,lastly, I used the remaining part of the transfer in buying foodstuffs. I am so grateful for the support that I received because it gave us hope for a better tomorrow.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Recieving this money means I will have a better home and good education to my children., I am a single mother of four, and I live in a small compound that I was given to stay with my children and out of this I built a small structure that we have since stayed together. I am now a grown up woman and really feel ashamed to sleep with my children in one room who are also grown up. I plan to spend KES.60,000 to extend my house and use the remaining to pay for school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am happy during evening time when I have just arrived from the market and meet with my children, I love being around with them and so this is the time we are all together.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been struggling to pay for school fees and since I have no job, I usually go the nearby market to roast maize in order earn a living, this has been a usuall business to me and I have not been able to pay for school fees. My children are always at home and this makes me feel frustrated in life, I really thank Givedirectly for coming to my home and I believe my life will change.