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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:
Raising livestock
faceAge:
22
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($461 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My New goal is to start a new business selling vegetables within the village and even in town. Currently, I am jobless and I feel it's high time I should also be earning a living so that I can support my spouse in providing for our family which is growing. I believe if I will get sufficient income, our lives will never be the same again.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, the organisation played a very big role in transforming my life positively. The idea of offering us unconditional cash transfers has empowered me enough to own assets like livestock, and a beautiful house and managed to clear fees for my children. Therefore I do not think there's anything that deserves a change.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying eight goats worthy of KES 20000. I choose to purchase them purposely for my children by the time they will be transitioning to high school, they will have increased in number. Therefore, I will sell some so that I can tell them to school. Apart from that, I bought two dairy cows at KES 30000. In a few months to come, I will start a business supplying milk in town and earn a living. Also, my children will be healthier because they will be drinking milk daily which will be a surplus in their meals. Additionally, I paid fees for my two children in primary school and I am so glad that they are continuing with their studies without any hitches. With the remaining amount, I bought food for my family and decent clothes for the children.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so good the moment I learned that I had received my transfer. At that time, I was held up on my farm preparing for planting season. Immediately I heard the message notification, I quickly checked it and to my surprise, it was the transfer. I could not control my happiness at that time because that was a very unique situation in my life. I had never received such an amount of money in my life. Without consulting an outsider, I just planned with my husband to use the transfer to buy some goats, as this would boost our asset value.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
For several years, I have been ailing from an eye problem. Since I had no money, I had never bothered to seek proper medication. However, with the transfer, I have been able to seek medication and I feel some improvement. Although I have not been discharged from the hospital, I can testify that my life is relatively better. I am hopeful that very soon I shall fully recover from this condition and I shall be glad to rejoin my family members.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Although my husband owns a tribe of goats, about 200 in number, sadly I have none that belongs to me. Immediately after I received my transfer, I opted to spend it on buying 3 goats for KES 14,000. I am so glad that courtesy of the transfer I have begun to rear goats. Through raising goats, I shall be able to support my husband in meeting our children's education needs. I also spent KES 5,000 on meeting my medical bills. I have an eye problem that has been disturbing me for a while. At the moment I am admitted to the hospital and what has been sustaining me is the GiveDirectly's transfer. As a matter of fact, my family has been able to obtain daily food from part of the transfer that I saved. I am not really sure how it would have been supposing I never received the financial aid.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been yearning to get my own source of income instead of fully depending on my spouse. Receiving this money will help me achieve that. I will invest 25,000 KES in goat farming. My plan is buying at least 8 goats for a start. I will be grazing the goats myself since I am usually free and it does not require a lot of effort. I see this as a good investment that will help me educate my children and help me during emergencies like medication.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Seeing myself and my family healthy has been the source of my joy in the past few months. Before I gave birth to my last born who is now 1 year old, I had lost my second born. I feel happy now that my two children are healthy and doing fine.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I mainly depend on rain to earn income because I am a subsistence farmer as well as a livestock farmer. The recent long dry spells have been a let down. This has led to shortage of food as well as lack on money from selling farm produce. On many occasions we skip meals because of it's scarcity. Being the second wife in a polygamous family, my spouse struggles a lot in providing for us all.