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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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Paulina's Profile
Paulina's family
Paulina
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
62
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($442 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do not have any new goal now, I wish to focus on my poultry keeping project and small-scale farming. This will be my source of income since I will sell the eggs and my farm produce to meet other households
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does very good work in that they conduct their training so well and does the enrollment without any biases. Most of the people who received the transfer spent it well and this has improved their standard of living. I do not find anything that GiveDirecly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20,000 on purchasing some of the materials to complete the construction of the new house that I started using the previous transfer. The house is now done. I had a small kitchen that was grass thatched and it was leaking from inside. I am so happy because now I have moved to a decent and spacious house. I spent KES 15,000 on purchasing a heifer. When it reproduces in the next few months I will get enough milk for my family. The remaining amount of money I spent on food and household items that I was lacking at that particular time.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($482 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was relaxing at home taking tea with my husband at around 5 pm. That's when I heard a message alert on my phone and because I am illiterate I gave it out to my helper. He checked and confirmed that I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and still happy to date.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is building a modern and spacious Iron rooted kitchen. This is because the previous one was old, worn out and its grass thatched roof had been leaking for about a year. I had desired to build a better one because smearing mud and grass-thatched have become more expensive. Additionally, the process of smearing a mud-walled house is cumbersome, especially at my age.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before GiveDirectly, I used to live in an old worn-out kitchen with leaking roofs. I had desired to build a better one but could afford it. This is because at my age I can't do much and have relied on dairy and poultry farming for food only. Fortunately, when I received my GiveDirectly transfers. I saw this as a dream come true. I, therefore, demolished the old Kitchen and used some of its materials and KES 37,000 of my transfer on the construction of a two-roomed 42 Iron roofed modern kitchen. The remainder was spent as follows; I spent was KES 2500 on the latest clothing for me and my husband. KES 3,000 was spent on a 250 liters water container this will help in the storage of water for a longer period, especially during the rainy seasons. Lastly, I spent KES 3000 on a bag of maize, and 2500 on other food and household items. This is because the maize crop has failed in our area but this will sustain us for a longer period.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will improve my home. I will do a concrete floor to reduce dust that I have to live with in my earthen floor old house. This will improve my health as I am sure to avoid common flus. I will spend about KES 50,000. I will then buy a dairy cow at KES 30,000. Milk from this cows will be a source of money for my household needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last six months,the only joy I found was when we stocked enough maize after selling a sheep. We used the money to buy 3 90kg bags that lasted us for 3 months. I hope to buy another 3 bags again when I receive the transfers.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity because of persistent droughts in my location is the biggest challenge that I currently face. Poor crop performance has deprived us of enough food that we used to get from the farm. We now have to be buying all of them . The income, from selling eggs and chicken or sheep is our only way of survival. When I get my transfers and strengthen this sources of income, I will have enough for my family.