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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 > Muche's Profile
Muche's family
Muche
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
60
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($512 USD)
access_time 4 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 currently different because I now boast of owning livestock, three cows and a pair of oxen. I am expecting the cows to reproduce and increase in number, they will help me in raising finances in future in case of a dire financial need. The pair of oxen will help me in doing my farming timely for better harvest.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done well in helping us financially, since we were facing financial hardships that even meeting family's basic needs was a problem. Our lives have greatly improved because providing for our children is no longer a challenge. We have also been able to build decent houses as well as taking our children to school. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly doesn't do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on buying a pair oxen to aid me in my farming. I was previously using other peoples oxen and paying for the ploughing services. I am glad that I won't be hiring from anyone. I also spent the money on buying household items that I lacked in my household. I spent the remaining amount to do some household shopping on foodstuffs and other basic needs and paying for some households expenses.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($549 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Owning livestock is one of the best assets that one can have in our area especially when it comes to farming, meeting the cost of a tractor or hiring is expensive and having own pair of oxen is a good thing, I was able to acquire one through the transfer that I received from GiveDirectly, I will do farming timely so as to obtain better yields. Owning the pair is the biggest difference in my daily life because it reduces all the cost that I usually incurred before.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I got the message early in the morning and on checking, it was a message that I have been anxiously been waiting for. I was filled with joy in my heart as I went through the contents of the message that I had received my first transfer. All I could do was asking God to prosper GiveDirectly to uplift many more lives.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer to purchase a pair of oxen which to me was a need that had been finally fulfilled for a long time, I was using farm tools that were inferior and I could only till a small piece of land and the harvest was just a handful. I was hiring the oxen from my neighbours whenever I wanted to till a big acreage, this was costly to me. I am now assured of obtaining abundant yields since I will no longer be hiring from neighbours and I will be increasing the acreage of my arable land so as to get enough food for feeding my family. I also bought a calf which I rear until it matures and reproduces and I get milk from it. I am happy that I will not be buying milk. My husband was ill and I spent part of the transfer to pay for his medical bills and now he is recuperating well. I spent the rest of the transfer to buy food for my family and other basic necessities.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I depend on subsistence farming which is not enough to sustain my family needs. This has made it difficult to educate my children which saw my two sons missing secondary school education. Therefore, I will use part of this transfer to enroll my daughter who completed secondary education two years ago in college. I will also start hotel business at Tindini center in order to sustain her education, and also generate more income to cater for food and medical needs. From this business, I will save and purchase oxen that I will use to plough my land and also for commercial purposes. This will help curb food shortage and increase my family income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am mostly happy in the evening after completing my day's activities. This is because I am mostly busy during the day doing farming and cutting trees to burn charcoal. These tasks are cumbersome and they wear out my energy. However, in the evening I get enough rest and time to talk with family on issues pertaining our future. Having my family around me brings so much joy and satisfaction.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is my biggest hardship. This is as a result of unproductive land and poor rainfall in the area. In most of the seasons, I harvest around 2 bags of maize that can only sustain the family up to two months. In this regard, we are forced to supplement from the shop but it is quite challenging due to unsustainable income. In some cases we are forced to go without food for three consecutive days.