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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 > Sally's Profile
Sally's family
Sally
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
71
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($436 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I want to enhance the food security status of my family. To realize this I intend to plant an acre piece of land with maize that will suffice to produce maize that I can utilize the whole year. This way I will have an easy time in having enough food to last my family for the whole year. Food insecurity has been and is still so biting and therefore it needs proper planning to be able to produce enough food for consumption.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The GiveDirectly staff work around the clock to ensure that all the households are attended to even the old, that no one is left out, even the meek and the downtrodden are considered for the transfers .They talk to people nicely and respond to questions asked in a dignified manner.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a widow who fends on my children on my own. Life is a struggle. I am aging at the moment and running household chores like smearing the floor of my house is an uphill task since I have a lot of difficulty bending down. It is for this reason that I decided to use the transfer to cement the floors of my two houses. I am happy that this has relieved me of the stress that I used to experience before. I used the other part of the money to purchase a water tank.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($471 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 am and I had just woken up when suddenly I heard my phone ringing. I took it from where I had placed it last night and I gave it to the children who were with me to check it for me since I do not know how to read. They checked it and one of them happily told me that I had received the transfer of KES 55000 that GiveDirectly had promised us. I didn't believe them and I thought that they might have not seen it well. I hence went to my helper's house who lives nearby to confirm for me if indeed it was true. He took my phone and after reading the SMS, he also told me the same that indeed the transfer had been sent. I was so happy on hearing this and I thanked God for it since I now knew that I was going to be able to fulfill the plans that I had already made.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a big difference in my daily life. This is because I now have clean rainwater for my household consumption having bought the water tank. I hence no longer rely on my grandchildren to fetch some for me when they get home from school. Other than that, I will be able to renovate the floor of my house after all. I also managed to clear the hospital debt and hence I no longer owe anyone anything. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for the support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 21000 of my recent transfer on buying a water tank. I decided to buy it because I have grown old and I am no longer able to go to the river to fetch water. I hence usually rely on my grandchildren to fetch some for me in the evening when they get home from school. I also spent KES 15000 on paying a hospital debt. I had fallen ill sometime back and I had not managed to fully pay for the hospital bill since I didn't have enough money at the time. With the remaining transfer amount of about KES 19000, I am planning to use it in renovating the floor of my house that is damaged with cracks. I have been meaning for a long time to do the above, that is, to renovate my house and buy the water tank but I was not in a position to since I didn't have the money needed. I have a cow that I am rearing and I usually sell the milk to get money for buying food. Sometimes when the cow is dry, my children usually support me. I am thus so much grateful to GiveDirectly for making all these possible.
 
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means access to clean and safe water for drinking. In our area, our source of water is the river and I have become old. I am no longer able to carry water and most of the time I depend on my grandchildren to fetch water for me. However, this water is not safe for drinking and I am afraid that I will get waterborne diseases since my immunity has gone down. So when I receive this transfer I will spend KES 60000 to purchase 10000 liters water tank. I will then harvest rainwater from my house thus reducing exposure to waterborne diseases.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In my small piece of land, I had planted maize and the yield was good. This has brought joy and happiness since I have enough food and I can sell some to generate income.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is my health condition. I suffer from arthritis and I walk with the support of a walking stick. This condition has rendered me dependent on my children to do house chores. Hospital visit trying to find medication for my ailment has also drained my resources and I am afraid that if I do not get another source of income I will not have more money to pay for my medication.