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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 > Weldon's Profile
Weldon's family
Weldon
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
36
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53010 KES ($367 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Building on my three years of experience in baking, my aspiration is to continue refining my skills, progressing from cakes to the category of bread production. At present, I am effectively distributing cakes using my two motorcycles along with an additional pair of rented bikes, servicing shops both within and beyond the county. Over the next one to two years, I aim to extend the scope of my venture by transitioning into bread manufacturing, achieved through the acquisition of an advanced oven capable of producing substantial quantities without compromising quality. As I proceed, I intend to accumulate savings from my current enterprise while embarking on educational visits to more advanced baking facilities. If circumstances permit, I also aim to hire an expert capable of producing a consistently high standard of quality that can compete effectively within the market.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly demonstrated commendable selflessness and impartiality throughout its operations, maintaining transparency from inception to conclusion. They fulfilled all their commitments in cash, affording individuals the freedom to allocate the funds as they deemed fit. The entire process was well-organized; however, I would suggest enhancing the practice of conducting spontaneous in-person follow-up visits. This precaution is necessary to ensure that some recipients do not misuse the transfers while withholding accurate information during inquiries. By addressing this, the program can prevent families from remaining in poverty despite receiving a significant sum of money.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since the inception of GiveDirectly's presence in our village, its impact has been evident across the visited communities, and I am grateful for the significant progress I have achieved with the support I have received. For over three years now, I have been running a local baking enterprise, producing and distributing tea cakes within the local shopping centers and now even beyond the county borders. Utilizing the entire last transfer, I upgraded the venture by acquiring a $1200 electric cube kitchen oven. This enhancement has markedly improved efficiency; although it's a single-deck oven, I can now bake up to 90 tea cakes simultaneously. Previously, I relied on firewood and a large pan to fry cakes, resulting in inconsistent quality due to unregulated heat. However, the new oven is both user-friendly and energy-efficient, allowing for precise temperature control and immediate shut-off after baking. I am pleased that I have employed seven individuals on a wage basis, occasionally increasing the workforce depending on the workload and customer orders. This has enabled me to provide for my family of four, and my aspirations include further expansion through the acquisition of more advanced machinery capable of producing bread, which is highly competitive in the market.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($444 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
A neighbor messaged me asking if I had received a message from GiveDirectly confirming the transfer. I wasn't at home at the time, and because I hadn't traveled with the registered SIM, I had to confirm it later when I got home. My wife was overjoyed when I told her the news. I decided to keep the collection for a week because I was not sure how to spend it with my family at that moment.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the joy in my family since bringing in a heifer. This has rekindled our hopes of producing enough milk from our farm to reduce the cost of buying from neighbors. I expect the heifer to be served for nine months before giving birth and beginning milk production.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the past year, I have purchased at least two liters of milk daily for my family of four. This would set me back at least $8 per week. I spent $200 on a heifer after receiving the first transfer, hoping it will be productive when it calves. I am still buying milk and expect to do so for another year before it matures enough to provide enough milk for my family. I also spent $50 on household items, including food for my children. I decided to save the rest of the money in preparation for expanding a bakery business I am currently running. Even though I have been selling cakes locally, I have always wished to expand by introducing a mixing machine geared to reduce labor costs, improve quality, and expand a venture into a wider range of customers. The machine costs $700, and I am hoping that the second transfer will help me purchase one. I am thankful for the progress I have made with the first transfer and hope to see more transformation in the coming months.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
We have always wanted to buy a dairy cow but it has just remained a mere dream because of lack of enough money to purchase one. We buy 2 liters of milk daily for our household use, just enough to prepare tea, and for our children's consumption at $1.6, which is high. It is for this reason that we intend to buy one for $400, a good breed which is about to calf. This will enable us to be milk sufficient upon calving and even be able to sell the surplus to earn a living from it. My daughter enjoys taking milk a lot and so if they are available in plenty it will satisfy her more. The joy of every parent is to be able to provide adequately for their children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Sometimes last month we were blessed with a baby boy, Kiprotich. We were so moved and elated because our firstborn and only son had unfortunately passed on in 2020 after a short illness and therefore the arrival of the little angel seemed to have healed us from the loss. Our family has now expanded and we feel the warmth and love of being with our two lovely kids. Our daughter is the happiest, she plays with the young born and enjoys every time they are together. It seems she had been lonely without a sibling after the demise of the elder son.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am involved in the bakery business where I bake and sell cakes. Recently, my business has hit headwinds because the cost of raw materials shot up, a bale of wheat flour that use to sell at $13 rose to $23 and the cost of 20-liter cooking oil skyrocketed from $20 to $60 and it had a huge impediment to my business. I had to take painful measures of cutting down costs since I could not transfer the cost to the consumers which subsequently affected the sales volumes. The cost of gas also went up and so transporting the product to the consumers became costly. My business is on its knees, if the situation continues this way I am on the verge of closing it down. Where I have reached I have no other option, I have reached a dead end. I feel bad that the business that I have built for years with sweat, tears, and blood is facing imminent closure. It bothers me a lot.