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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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Newsfeed > Maria's Profile
Maria's family
Maria
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Raising livestock
faceAge:
56
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Maria's next check-in.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($283 USD)
access_time 4 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the upcoming years, I aspire to immerse myself in the world of farming. This endeavor holds the promise of not only providing a steady income but also ensuring an abundant supply of food to sustain my family of ten. With eight children to care for and their education being a top priority, the earnings from farming will play a pivotal role in covering their school fees.Embracing a life centered around agriculture not only signifies financial stability but also serves as a means of liberating my husband and me from the unpredictability of casual jobs. As we cultivate the land, we envision a future where the fruits of our labor not only nourish our loved ones but also pave the way for a more secure and sustainable future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The support I received from GiveDirectly has truly transformed my life. It's not just different but better. The impact of their assistance has been profound, ushering in positive changes that have touched every aspect of my existence. I am sincerely grateful for the brighter outlook it has bestowed upon me.GiveDirectly's commitment to making a difference is nothing short of inspiring. I hope they continue their admirable mission of touching and improving even more lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I received a second transfer from GiveDirectly of$450. I decided to invest $100 in acquiring a one-acre piece of land through a hiring arrangement. This move was prompted by the need to increase our agricultural productivity, as I had been renting a quarter piece of land for the past few years. In 2012, we relocated due to security issues and initially rented a quarter acre since we don't have our own, but now I've expanded to a full acre. $140 went towards purchasing two goats. Adding them to the one we bought earlier with our first transfer, we now have three goats. Goats thrive well in our area, and we envision them playing a crucial role in securing our children's education and meeting other family needs. Despite relying on farming, its unpredictability, influenced by erratic rainfall patterns, sometimes results in no harvest. My husband and I also engage in casual jobs to supplement our income and ensure our eight children meet their needs. we purchased food for $80, a challenging expense given the unpredictable nature of our income. To improve our living conditions, I spent $60 on iron sheets to build a room for my children. The previous structure had collapsed due to ant infestation, a common issue in our area. Additionally, I invested $65 in household items to enhance our home, as some of our belongings were old and few. This financial support has significantly improved our living conditions, offering hope for a more stable and secure future.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($133 USD)
access_time 6 months ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I vividly remember the evening; the sun was setting, and I had gone to the nearby market to buy food for my four children. The air was filled with a sense of companionship as I chatted with my fellow villagers. While engrossed in our stories, one of the women suddenly shouted with joy—the transfer had arrived! We all checked our phones, confirming the wonderful news. The sheer delight on our faces was palpable; we could not contain our happiness. We danced and sang, expressing our heartfelt gratitude to GD for their timely assistance. When I returned home, I gathered my family, and together we celebrated the good news. The transfer brought hope and possibilities, and we eagerly began planning how to utilize it, ensuring it would make a lasting impact on our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Receiving the transfer has profoundly transformed my life. The peace of mind I now experience is immeasurable, knowing that my daughters' school fees have been settled, allowing them to fully focus on their studies without the looming threat of being sent home. Additionally, I have utilized a portion of the transfer to expand my livestock holdings by adding another goat to my existing herd of five. This strategic move not only ensures the continuity of my livestock but also provides a promising future source of income. Goats multiply rapidly, and with their increasing numbers, I can anticipate substantial earnings from their sales, offering financial stability for my family. The impact of this transfer goes beyond the immediate relief; it paves the way for a brighter and more secure future for my household.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The timing of the transfer could not have been more perfect. At that moment, I was facing one of the most challenging periods of my life. My two high school daughters were sent back home due to unpaid fees. It was heartbreaking because I, as their parent, felt responsible for their education. For years, our family's livelihood relied on the income from my maize farming. This year, however, the short rains failed us, leading to a crop failure. The source of my children's education funds was slipping away, and I was burdened with worry and a sense of parental failure. With the arrival of the transfer, a glimmer of hope emerged. I used $100 to clear the outstanding school fees, ensuring my daughters could return to school and focus on their studies. Understanding the importance of sustenance, I allocated $50 to buy a sack of maize for our family's consumption. With the remaining $50, I made a strategic investment—I added one goat to my herd. I knew this decision was an investment in our future. Goats multiply, and in the coming years, they will be my savior, providing the means to secure my children's education.
 
Enrolled
access_time 8 months ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
This money means everything to us. We are so delighted and eternally grateful for the transfers. Life has been hard and unbearable, we have undergone a crushing sense of hopelessness because of destitution which makes it almost impossible to meet the demands. The challenge of raising school fees is big, we are really upset. We have a son, Rotich, who is due to join University in September and two others who are in Secondary school, the institutions are opening in a week's time and we are required to raise the needed fees. We had been left scratching out heads and wondering where to raise the school fees but the GiveDirectly's transfers have come at the right time to salvage our dire situation. We intend to use $ 700 to pay for their school fees and use the rest of the money to purchase a few goats for keep.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In February we leased a half an acre piece of land and grew maize in the nearby farms next to Wasekes River where there are irrigation farms. We were lucky that the crops did well, we have started harvesting and we expect a bumper harvest. This means that the issue of food insecurity that we have been grappling with will be a thing of the past, we can now breathe a sigh of relief and have a temporary reprieve from the struggle of having to buy the commodity at high prices. We are so elated and certain about the future now that we will have an easy time and only concentrate on looking for school fees.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We were displaced by bandits in Arabal. We borrowed land here just to sojourn as we hope for the security situation to get better so that we can return to our land. Our livestock was taken away by the bandits from Pokots and it exposed us to poverty since it was the only source of our livelihood. We were forced to reconstruct and start from scratch and it has not been easy, it pains us a lot to imagine the loss we experienced. It is so bad that we are now struggling to see our 3 children through their education. We hardly afford and it worries us.