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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 > Mwalimu's Profile
Mwalimu's family
Mwalimu
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
44
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?
After completing my plans of owning a decent house and educating my children. At the moment, I have a new goal. I intend to purchase a motorbike which will assist me in transporting my charcoal to the market. Currently, I bought a bicycle with my second transfer which I am using to ferry my charcoal to the market. It is a very tiresome activity and always I could only carry two bags a day to the market. With a motorbike, I will be able to transport more bags to the market on time.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in helping the less fortunate people in the village. Currently, there is a lot of development in our village in terms of the new shelter and most households own some livestock as an investment for their future life. Presently, most households are now happy due to the transfer that had changed their life for the better. My wish is for the program to continue assisting the poor in society. I do not see anything that it does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent larger part of my second transfer to complete the construction of a two-roomed house for my family. This is because I was living in a grass-thatched house that leaks a lot during the rainy season, moreover, it was collapsing. In addition, I boosted my charcoal vending job by purchasing a second-hand bicycle for KES 4500 which is assisting me in transportation. I also spent KES 10,000 to clear the school fees of my 5 children who are in primary school. I am currently happy to see them learning without their education being interrupted. Furthermore, I bought two goats for KES 8,000 to boost the livestock rearing.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($492 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so good and grateful when I got the money because it was something that was going to assist me to address the very many challenges that we were facing as a family. From not being able to settle my children's school fees arrears to struggling to provide food as the sole provider. It was a very difficult and challenging situation since my charcoal-burning business could barely raise me enough money to address the challenges. Therefore, it was a very huge relief getting this money from GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I no longer struggle like before. I used to depend on the charcoal-burning business that could barely earn me enough to provide for my family because a sack of charcoal could hardly go for KES500 and I could only manage to sell a sack for a very long time which used to be a very huge challenge and it is why my children could not stay in school for long. Right now, however, I addressed most of those challenges and acquired some investments that will enable me to continue addressing the challenges I will be facing. All thanks to GiveDirectky.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought iron sheets at a cost of KES21000 to build a better house because the one we had previously was in a very poor state and there was no difference from sleeping out in the open because it could barely shield us from any extreme weather conditions especially sun or rain during the day or cold at night as well as when it rains then we had to spend the entire night awake. Therefore, when I got the money all I wanted was to build a better house for my family. I also spent KES7000 to settle my children's school fees arrears because I personally believe that education is the key to a successful life and with a good education my children will be employed and I will be able to depend on them in the future when older and unable to actively fend for myself. I bought three goats at a total cost of KES9000 because that too is an investment and I believe in the future it is one of the things that will enable me to educate my children, as well as provide food for them especially milk that can be used to prepare tea for breakfast as well as use it to accompany any other meal.
 
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a decent and safe house for me and my family. My current house is one small room with a grass thatched roof. During the rainy and cold season, we suffer a lot. The roof leaks and my bedding soak. My children also get cold. I plan to build a two roomed house with an iron sheet roof at an estimated cost of KES 35,000. I have 8 children , and with a more spacious house we can all fit in. I also plan to spend KES 8,000 to settle school fees arrears and the rest of the first transfer to buy food for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Preparing and selling charcoal is not an easy job. It requires a lot of energy. I work more in the morning since I feel energetic after resting all night. This makes it the happiest part of my day since I am more productive. High productivity translates to more income at the end of the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The cost of living is currently very high. I have a family of 8 children and with lack of a stable source of income, I am really struggling to provide for them. This is well evident by the condition of my house. I have not been able to provide good shelter for my children since the little money I get from my charcoal business is only enough to buy food for my children. Lack of money to satisfy the family's needs is therefore the biggest hardship in my life.