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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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Gideon's Profile
Gideon's family
Gideon
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
27
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($468 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My additional goal is to be able to clear debt awed to me by a motorcycle company that had sold me one of their motorcycle on credit. Once I will be able to clear this debt means that I will be able to use all the money got from motorcycle business and be in a position to meet all my family's need with much ease. This is the only source of income for me and my family currently and I look forward to bettering the living standards of my family with it.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly criteria of choosing people within the village to benefit from the program was the fairest of them all. Almost everyone in my village was able to be enrolled and received their transfers successfully. There is however one person whom I thought should have been enrolled but failed to be enrolled and that got me thinking like GiveDirectly should make sure they do not exclude anyone in future who deserves to benefit from the program
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 20000 to pay for a motorcycle that I bought on credit. The amount owed to me was very huge and I decided to reduce the burden of paying for it monthly and be in a position to create enough income from it to sustain my family and make other valuable family investments that will better the living standards of my family. I am happy that I was able to do this and I can be sure to go a couple more months before I can feel the pressure of having to pay for it manually. I used another KES 20000 to buy goats. These goats are a long term investment that will help me meet my family's emerging needs once they multiply. I chose the goats since they easily multiply over a short time and can help me sooner to even clear the debts owed to me by the motorcycle lending company. The remaining amount of KES 13000 was used to buy food, clothes and other basic household necessities for my family. The transfers were a game changer in our lives and I can't feel any happier than I ever felt on receiving it.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the nearby shopping center when I received a message confirming the receipt of my first transfer. I was filled with joy knowing that most of the projects that I had been having in mind were soon starting. I thanked God and informed the other members of my family that we had received the amount we had been expecting as we needed to plan on withdrawal in the next few days.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the presence of five sheep currently in my field. I had been hoping for such a long time to invest in livestock given that I have enough grazing fields but had not gotten enough money to obtain the livestock. This to me is a great project that will help me a lot in the future since I can sell them anytime I require immediate financing.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I received the first transfer with a great focus on and hope of accomplishing a lot. I had been planning since I was enrolled and was glad when I finally received it since I knew I would be able to do a lot. I spent the KES20000 on obtaining five sheep that I am currently rearing with the hope of seeing them multiply after breeding. I also invested some in farming where I tilled my piece of land, and after buying seeds and planting maize and beans, I had spent a total cost of KES 8000. With the other part of the remaining amount, I spent KES15000 on the construction of an extension of my original house where I bought 12 iron sheets, timber, and also paid the labor charges. I also paid part of the credit asset I had with KES10000 and used the remaining amount on obtaining clothing and foodstuff for my household.
 
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money would mean more income for my family. I currently depend on casual jobs which pay US$2 per day to earn a living. With Givedirectly transfers I would like to buy a cart and two donkeys for US$500 so that I can use them to carry water that I will put in 20 litre jerrycans from the river. I will be selling every jerrycan for US$0.20 and I will be able to make approximately US$7 or more per day which is way better than what am getting right now. For the other US$500 I would like to buy ten sheep. I consider this an investment since in the next 5 years when my first born will be joining high school they'll have multiplied and I'll sell them to support me financially.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is usually during the middle of the day because I usually move from house to house looking for casual jobs and this is the time that by then I already have gotten one.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Having to survive on a low income has been my biggest hardship. As a man am sad that I cannot sometimes meet the needs of my family. It's a worry that if not managed well can lead to having suicidal thoughts which I have had before.