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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 > Dama's Profile
Dama's family
Dama
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
59
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($501 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before the coming of GiveDirectly, I was living in a mud house and my dream was to upgrade to a more permanent brick house. I am pleased to live in a good and decent house. I had no hopes of improving this life was it not for GiveDirectly coming to our village and giving us the transfer. I am now happy to live in a newly renovated Iron-roofed house and spacious enough unlike the one I used to live in.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well in giving us the money and freedom to choose on what to spend our transfers on. As at now, we have been able to build new houses and buying livestock which are assets to us. We now have access to better shelter. The livestock is a source of wealth to us. To me, I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well in their operations. Our living standards have greatly improved because of GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on purchasing building materials to renovate my house. My plan was to upgrade to a more permanent house since it was initially a mud house. I purchased several bags of cement and sand and made some nice bricks through this to facilitate the rebuilding of my house. The money also enabled me to pay for labour cost and other expenses incurred on this project. As I speak now, my house now looks decent than it used to be since I also plastered it well. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me build my dream house.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($534 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I am currently in the process of making bricks for building my house having lived in a small grass-thatched house for quite a long time. I have always wanted to build a better and more decent house but I could nit afford to do so. The biggest difference in my life, therefore, is to be finally able to put up a decent house. This to me is a dream come true.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was a usual morning in my village and like always, one village mate came visiting and he looked unusually excited. On inquiring, he asked me if I had not received the transfer from Give Directly. I immediately sent for my helper and upon checking, he confirmed that indeed I too had received the money from Give Directly. I got excited and I was thankful to God and Give Directly for the help.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I have been living in a small, old temporary house for quite a long time and I have been planning on building a better structure. As if God listened to my prayer, He sent Give Directly with this aid. I am currently in the process of making bricks from sand and cement. Through these transfers, I have bought 23 bags of cement and a few tonnes of sand. I have also bought some pieces of iron sheets and all these are geared towards putting up a semi-permanent house. Now I am confident that my plan will come into reality. I am spending the rest of the transfer to meet my family's basic needs and other household items. Receiving this money has ensured that I am in a position to buy enough water for both our household use and for brick making process especially now that we have an acute water shortage. I am so proud of Give Directly.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Despite having separated with my husband twenty years ago, I managed to construct a small iron roofed house which as at today, its condition is not worthy for living. The only business I do is to sell tobacco within the village and this earns me only five hundred shillings per month. Considering my son's job of taping wine, I am forced to supplement his income in order to have our daily meals. Receiving this money means building a good house for myself and also support my son who hopes to own a shop business. The income from this business will sustain our basic needs and hence changing our life for the better.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being old and unable to do tedious jobs, I usually spend my day at home. I majorly enjoy my afternoon hours because, it is at this time when I get ample time with my grandchildren. Their campany makes me feel so happy and therefore, this is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I separated with my husband twenty years ago something that forced me to depend on my son who is a wine taper. His business is tedious and this makes him struggle a lot to provide food for his family and I. This makes me feel that, lack of reliable source of income is my biggest hardship.