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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 > Dama's Profile
Dama's family
Dama
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
39
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($466 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As my norm, I only plan for something that is in my hands or something that I am very sure I will get. So, currently I do not have any goal that I can say once I get money I will accomplish but the fact is if I get money then I will sit and properly plan on how best that money will be wisely spent for the benefit of my family and I.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am very grateful for the support I received from GiveDirectly. The thing that I can point out is the plot that I will use for farming. Initially I used to till the same portion year in year out thus the yields were insufficient for my family. As at now I am certain that if I make good use of the new plot which I will, I will get good harvest. In terms of which areas the organization can improve, I can say it is very much fine the way it is.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After withdrawing the money, I bought a plot of land for KES 25000.00. The aim of buying the plot is for subsistence farming. The land that I used to do some farming is no longer productive and I am sure this new plot will give me a high produce. Since I have six children who are in school; 5 in primary and 1 in secondary school, I settled their fee payments of KES 4000.00 and KES 10000.00 respectively. I also desired to have some animals at home hence I bought three goats for KES 9000.00. And since the period we were in was a hardship season in sourcing for food and water, I used the rest in buying food for the family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I can still recall vividly at exactly 9 AM when I was preparing breakfast for my children. I can also remember at that moment, I was so stressed up because my children had been sent home due to the school fees balances. I had no idea where I would get the required cash to settle the arrears. suddenly, my phone started vibrating and I suspected there was a new message. I asked my helper to read its contents since I could not read on my own. He realized that it was an Mpesa message from Segovia Technology. I felt wow! and I remember living what I was doing and shared the news with all my family members. We all happily celebrated more so my children since they knew that would go back to school.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Having the goats that I am currently rearing I my compound have brought the biggest difference in my daily life I will forever be proud to mention. I have been dreaming of at least a single livestock to act as my security but I could not afford to purchase even one becasue they were very expensive. I settled for goats becasue their pastures are readily available and their offsprings matie very fast as compared to the other domestic animals. I am positive that within a short period, they will reproduce and multiply which will enable me to achieve a lot through the goats. To add to that paying school fees for my children has been a major challenge to me and I had to think of a permanent solution. Since some of my children which aw eight in total are still n secondary and primary schools, I am very certain that the goats will be of great helo to them. Because I have been jobless my spouse has been the breadwinner of the family and he only depended on casual jobs whereby paying school fees allowed a challenge. I am now happy and ambitious that I will be able to pay their fees in good time because I will be selling some of their offspring and cater for the fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on clearing school fees of KES 8000 for my son who is in form three in the nearby secondary school. I later bought a piece of land ( a quarter an acre) at KES 20000. This will now be a reliable asset that I will forever be proud of in my life. I also bought four goats worthy of KES 12000. These have been the well thoughtful assets that I have been yearning to own for years but I couldn't afford them becasue of the poverty that had stricken my household. I also bought few pieces of iron sheets to construct a specific house as a kitchen because, for all those years, I have been cooking under a big tree which has been so hectic. I finally used the remaining amount to buyng enough foodstuffs for my family.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have a daughter who has desired to do a salon course but this has never been possible due to lack of money. This has been pissing me off and sometimes I feel like having failed as a mother. Receiving this money means fulfilling her dream since I intend to spend $300 of my transfers to help my daughter to do her course. This will enable her to have an independent life as well as a source of income for my household. The remaining amount will help me to smooth-finish my house which is still rough at the moment. This will change our livelihood as a family and hence, a happy life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
During morning and afternoon hours, my children are always away; some at school while others in various areas and this makes me feel lonely. In the evening they are all around and their company gives me the feeling of happiness. Hence, I consider the evening being the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a housewife and I depend on my husband who is a casual laborer at Mombasa. His weekly income is usually $40 but considering our household needs, this earning is never enough to sustain us. Sometimes my children are sent out of school due to lack of fees, also we have been skipping some meals. This kind of life has been so stressful to me since it pains me to see my children at home or missing food. Therefore, financial instability has ever been the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life.