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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 > Betty's Profile
Betty's family
Betty
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
29
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($420 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?
I have plans to expand into large-scale tomato, cabbage, and vegetable farming. Notwithstanding the severe drought we are currently having, I am planning to make some savings from my current farming and from the sale of cabbages to help with that.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The money has been so helpful to me in terms of paying school fees for my form one daughter. I really never had anything. It also helped a great deal in supporting other family's needs. Thank you so much GiveDirectly, No complaints at all.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My daughter Cherono, who was entering form one, was able to pay her educational expenses thanks to the second transfer. We spent $300 on school fees and $130 on uniforms and other necessities for school. The timing of this transfer was perfect because I really needed it. Certainly, God used GiveDirectly to reach others. My children had been in bad health for a while due to a lack of sufficient and nutritious food, which I also managed to purchase. I was able to buy clothes for my children using the money that was left after replacing their outgrown outfits. I also paid the children's primary school tuition. I cultivate tomatoes, onions, and cabbage and am a mother of 6. I do go to sell cabbages on most days. I typically go to the market on Mondays to sell cabbages in order to earn more money and cover my children's tuition and food for the family. My spouse also sells goats and cows to provide for our family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($465 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so much happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. I was with my child who was waiting for the money more than us the parents were. She was supposed to join form one but we had no money to take her to school and we could only hope against hope that we get the money. We later received the money and we used it to do her shopping as well as pay her school fees. I am happy that finally she was able to join school courtesy of GiveDirectly funds.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is the fact that we have peace of mind and we are so happy first as parents having settled our first child in school and secondly as a family having settled on what to do and in a peaceful way. I honestly could not imagine that my child would have an opportunity to join secondary school of her choice and stay there comfortably.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We used the entire transfer to take our first born child to secondary school and to do shopping. I normally rely on casual labour to earn income and with this kind of lifestyle I could not get enough money to take her to school yet my husband too was jobless. We have other five children that looks up to us to meet all their needs and we could only hope against hope that we get a financial breakthrough like the one we had from GiveDirectly.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a mother of six majorly relying on casual jobs. Having a happy and healthy family is always my priority. My eldest child is currently in class eight and the second born is in class seven. I always feel good seeing them go to school and study hard because I am certain with good grades they will be able to change their lives. I sell milk from my two cows to support their education and I thank God since with this I have been able to meet their school fees. Receiving this cash transfer to me means a good education for my children. I am planning to buy a cow worth KES 35000. Besides being an added asset in my family, I will be producing more milk from my farm for sale. This I will save to pay for my daughter's secondary school fees. I will keep the offspring to expand my farming and as financial securities in my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My family's daily needs are always my priority. Making sure that we have enough meals each day to keep my family healthy. In the last six months, my joy has been drawn from the maize plantation we have on our farm. These are my hope for enough food in our family in the coming days.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial instability is my current challenge in my family. My husband and I do not have formal jobs to earn a living. Taking care of seven household members with an average of KES 100 is not an easy task. I have daily household needs and children's education which all need money to run. If I had a better financial source, my life would have been better.