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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 > Christine's Profile
Christine's family
Christine
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
53
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($416 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The cost of purchasing food on a daily basis had been difficult due to scarcity and rising market prices. In the coming year, I hope to expand into farming in addition to my vegetable business, which I hope to restart soon. My son has been supportive throughout the time I have been out of business, and we have been discussing the return to business plan in the last few days. He is willing to give me the necessary start-up capital, and I believe that with it, I will be able to expand the business and make a profit, which will aid in the purchase of farm inputs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The support I received from GiveDirectly was great, and the joy I have felt since then has been immeasurable. I needed financial assistance because I had built a house on my brother-in-farm law's and had no place to live. I am glad I built mine after paying in full for a plot of land in the neighborhood. With the overwhelming support we received, we hope that the same can be said for other villages.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For a long time, I had been living in a small house built on my brother-in-law's land with my three sons. As a squatter, I could not build anything permanent on the land because I knew I would have to leave whenever the owner wanted to repossess it. The support from GiveDirectly provided an opportunity to restart. Despite the fact that I required a lot from the two transfers, I managed to complete some that I thought were at the top of my priority list. I spent $450 from the second transfer on a tenth-acre plot of land, which I immediately built on before moving out of the small hut we had been living in. At the moment, I am relieved that I have more space to do my farming and that my sons have enough space to live in the previous house we had. I also contributed to the construction of my elder son's house by purchasing two $20 windows. I used to run a grocery store in a nearby shopping center, but I stopped when my daughter-in-law gave birth and needed support with her daily household duties. I've been there for two months, but I am hoping to get the business back on track soon. In addition, I used the remaining funds to pay labor charges for the construction of a new house on the new plot of land, as well as to purchase construction materials.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($460 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I do farming as my main source of income and I major grow vegetables for sale. Since I felt sick, I haven't been able to do farming as I used to before. The moment I received the money from GiveDirectly, I felt so happy because I had some plans to fulfill but had financial challenges due to low productivity. I knew from that time that my plans would come true.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Due to my health, I have been taking drugs and that requires me to eat well. I am glad that the money which I received enabled me to purchase foodstuffs in large quantities and in addition I get milk from the cow which I bought. Having a balanced diet meal has given me energy and now I am in the process of recovery. I can't imagine how I would have been if I wouldn't get these transfers. I thank God for sending GiveDirectly my way when I needed these necessities the most.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
First I used to spend a lot on buying milk for use at home since we had no cow which would give us milk. I then spent KES 30000 on buying a lactating cow so that we can have milk. Secondly, I spent KES 9000 on buying iron sheets which I needed for the construction of a new kitchen. The one which I had was old and had a leaking roof. For the remaining amount, I spent KES 4000 on buying some new clothes and the rest of KES 12000 on buying food items like maize, beans cooking oil, and rice.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I'm a widow and I have been struggling to raise my children alone. My husband died in the year 2010 and life has been difficult for me, given that I'm in a polygamous family. Give Directly money means that I will build my own house and increase the capital of my small business of vegetables vending. I'll also by a cow as a beef farming business given that we have plenty of feeding ground (near by forest) in our area. I'm very happy that I'll be getting this money.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I heard that Give Directly were to enroll people in this village I was so happy that at last I can fullfil the dream of having my own house once I get this money.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been living in my brothers structure and I was dreaming of building my on house and Give Directly money has come at a right time. My children has been borrowing a place to sleep in the neighborhood but now I see hope.