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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 > Martha's Profile
Martha's family
Martha
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Tailoring
faceAge:
59
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($534 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?
The GiveDirectly financial support has enabled me to enrol my son to a college. He is now comfortably progressing well with his studies. It has also been our dream to start a polytechnic which would be providing some tailoring skills since my husband is an expert on this. He was doing some classes in a rented room which he was paying every month. Thus through this money, we managed to buy the plot of land and built the classes. We have now enrolled some students who are learning, and this has been our greatest achievement even to helping the society. I give credit to GiveDirectly for helping us realise our goals.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Having been given the money unconditionally has helped us to improve our lives and save ourselves from the pangs of poverty which in my opinion, I feel GiveDirectly has done well. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well in our region.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
My son had completed his high school studies and was to join college. Thus on receiving this money, I took KES 26000 of the second transfer to pay for his tuition fees and also did a shopping for him. We also acquired a piece of land at KES 16000 from which we have been able to buy enough building materials for the construction of a small polythechnic.My husband is running this polytechnic from which we have been able to enroll some students to take a tailoring course.I also purchased four goats to keep in my homestead.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($537 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the ability to raise school for my child with a lot of ease. I am so happy that I was able to let my child smoothly proceed to form four without any fee issue. It has always been a big problem for my husband and I to raise school fee for our children since I always stay at home taking care of the disabled grandchild. My husband on the other hand, through his tailoring business, works hard to raise some income for the family basic needs which hardly pays for the children's school fee.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was asleep till dawn that day when the transfer came in. Early in the morning, I was surprised by a message notification icon on my phone, unlike other days when I hardly get messages. Opening it was a message from GiveDirectly notifying me of receiving cash from the organization. I was so happy and immediately informed my family, a message which received by a lot of excitement by all.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I used eighteen thousand to buy six goats. It has always been my wish to own goats since they are easily managed and requires little money to buy but since I got sick and with my disabled grandchild living with me, I could spend the little I could get on our basic needs and so making it hard and almost impossible to acquire even a single goat. I also used twenty-nine thousand to pay school fees for my children in secondary and primary schools. The remaining amount I spent both on settling a debt I had previously acquired and on medication for myself and the disabled grandchild.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a change in my family. I will be able to take my children to school, buy goats and I trust after some years I'll be in a position to purchase dairy cows. It will be delightful to see my children get basic education and better future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning. Waking up in good health and seeing my family members in good health each morning makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I've faced in my life is taking care of my disabled granchild after a failed marriage. We have tried all possible ways to get him better health care but the situation is still the same. He is 4 years old now, and neither can he talk nor walk. It is hearbreaking to have a vulnerable child in the family.