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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 > Chelangat's Profile
Chelangat's family
Chelangat
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Teaching
faceAge:
28
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($512 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My desire even before GiveDirectly cam, was to own a decent house. I used to feel dismal when I compared my livelihood with the neighbor's and how I wished to change this situation but there was nothing I could with the little earnings I made that was not enough to sustain my four family members. I almost slid into depression seeing my children being sorted in rain water or staying up during the night at a certain point in the house where they could not get rained on. Having bought the necessary building materials and resources that will facilitate the construction of my house. I am happy and peaceful knowing that my children will no longer frequent the hospital due to disease that resulted from cold. The fact that I will own a house like my neighbors also gives me a sense of satisfaction.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion ,GiveDirectly did well by raising my community economy through issuing money which didn't need refund. This gave the beneficiaries the freedom of using the money in the things that they needed most such as building houses and paying school for their children.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the entire second transfer on buying timbers 20,000 KES , 24 pieces of iron sheets 20,000 KES. The remaining amount I have saved since I intend to pay workers with. I am certain that in the next two months I will own a decent house. What is delaying me is that fact that I am a teacher and its hard to monitor the construction process when school is in session. Therefore, I feel carrying out this activity on the school holiday will be the best time.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($530 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life that has been brought about by this money is that I have acquired a dairy cow. I feel so proud as a mother that I can now milk one of my own and the menace of continuously buying milk from the shops or the neighborhood is now a thing of the past. Soon enough we will have more milk when this cow shall have calved and we can sell the surplus to meet other basic household needs. I was also able to use the GiveDirectly transfers to acquire a TSC number; a number that is important if I want a government job. I am optimistic that I shall be able to secure an employment opportunity soon and have my living standards changed.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I woke up at 6:00 o clock in the morning on that day. I took my phone to check the time before I could prepare myself to go to school-my work place. I was so happy that I had received a sum of KES 55000 that night. I could not believe my eyes and I had to check again and again.I then informed my husband that I had just received the money and he was equally delighted on learning about the same. We already had plans on how the money was going to be used and we just waited for the excitement to subside before we could embark on actualizing our goals.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I used part of my transfer to buy a dairy cow and used part of the remaining amount to buy chain link and other basic household needs. I also used part of the transfer to acquire a TSC number that has prepared me for any job opportunity in the teaching fraternity that may come my way. For a long time, we have been buying milk as a family and this has often left us with very little or no amount of money to save for other family needs. It has always been our desire to own a dairy cow and when we got this lump sum amount we decided to make it our first priority to buy a dairy cow. We have since stopped buying milk and we are even looking forward to having more milk in the near future that we can be able to sell and make more money.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Immediately i receive my transfer, I plan to buy wiremesh and tree logs to enable me fence my land in order to avoid conflicts with my neighbours whose cattle always find their way to my farm to destroy my crops. Buying a dairy cow is also part of my plans since i always spend alot of money buying milk for my family consumption. This will enable me to save the money that i usually spend in buying milk and also boost my income by selling some.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being a tutor in a nearby primary school, i usually spend the whole day in school leaving my husband with my child back at home and after work, i go back home to catch up with them which makes evening the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband completed his Diploma course 2 years ago and has never gotten his Certificate since he has never been able to complete paying his college fee arreas. He therefore can't secure full employment as a teacher hence i am the breadwinner of the family. This makes him feel bad since he ain't supporting me in providing for the family hence culture has it that a man should be the one providing for his family and not the other way round.