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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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Completed
Newsfeed > Zeddy's Profile
Zeddy's family
Zeddy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
45
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($508 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 life is different than it would have been if I have never received the transfer. I am now much happier, having settled my children's school fees. Previously, my kids used to miss a lot with regards to education because of being sent home to collect the fee that I did not have since I had sold all the cattle I had previously. Through the transfers, I was able to settle the school arrears I had. I also invested in a business that I am confident that its profit will cater for the school fee for the rest of the three children who are still in school. I am optimistic that in some years to come, the cows I bought will reproduce and I will be owning several as did before.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well giving us a lump sum amount of money. Money has changed people's lives especially those who had utilized it very well. I did not see anything that GiveDirectly has not done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Some time back, I used to own several cows which came in handy in milk production. Unfortunately, I was got up by school fees, I ended up selling all of them to cater to my children's school fees as that was the only source of income I had. When I received the second transfer, I used KES 20000 to clear school fee arrears. I also bought two dairy cattle to replenish what I had lost before. I used the remaining amount of money to add stock to a business I had started earlier (buying and selling oxen at a profit).
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($508 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At the moment we received the transfer, happiness was at its peak; we could not hold back our tears knowing that we had been struggling a lot to make ends meet. I had a son in the university who was approaching his examination period and if I still remember his last words when he called were that he won't be able to obtain an examination card which will allow him entry to the examination room since he had some balance to clear. Receiving this money was worth a celebration from all of us and we really did and thanked God for making it possible.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Receiving the money has really changed a lot in our household, and also relieved us of the burden we previously had over the huge unsettled financial obligations. The biggest difference so far in our daily lives is the peace of mind on seeing our son actively attending classes with no pending areas. It is even amazing that we managed to clear another extra semester to cushion us from being caught up by time in the future. We are grateful to be part of the GiveDirectly's project and we are praying that all will work out well with the second transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Having struggled with the construction of a new house which had previously cost us a lot of money, and had come to a forced stop just before we complete the roofing, we committed part of the money on purchasing iron sheets with additional woods which saw our house completed. With the remaining amount, we had to consider clearing school fees for our son who is currently in the University, both for the exams he was soon sitting for and also for the following semester which summed up to 30000KES. We also established a small-scale poultry unit, purchased enough foodstuff to keep us for some months, and also clothing for every member in our household. This transfer gave our family a new face and we are always grateful especially with the fact that we are still hoping to soon receive the second transfer which will still be helpful in the forthcoming project.
 
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means reduced worry level on how to clear school fees for my four children, two girls studying at Karatina University on their second year in campus and two boys in high school. I was planning to sell all my 50 chickens which are yet to mature enough for sale in 3 months to clear the $460 fee arrears but Give Directly has come in handy to relieve me of this bother. I will now proceed to sell my chicken after they are fully mature and channel the money to next year's school fees payment. I plan to also spend $250 of my transfer to build a more spacious modern Poultry unit that will enable me to add more chicken using the remaining part of my transfer since poultry keeping is my passion and my main source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have a deep passion for poultry farming which is my greatest source of if income. I usually begin my mornings by ensuring that my chicken coop is clean and also ensuring they get enough water and feeds for the day before proceeding to do other household chores, which makes morning the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Seeing my children being sent home for school fees every now and then makes me a worried helpless mother, and this has been the biggest hardship I face in life. I have two children in the university and two in high school and all their approximate school fees required annually amounts to $350 yet agribusiness is all I depend on to ensure they get all their needs as well as pay their school fees. Poor climatic conditions in this region has made farming unreliable hence a great struggle on my side