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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 > Kavumbi's Profile
Kavumbi's family
Kavumbi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
51
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($467 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 main aim was to buy a piece of land especially for agricultural activities because I used to borrow a place during the rainy season. This used to be so inconveniencing because it was never a guarantee that I will have a place to farm or carry out agricultural activities like any other person, and it used to make me so sad and unhappy. Therefore, I decided that getting my own land was my main goal for this second transfer.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am so grateful for what GiveDirectly did to me. I see all and everything good up to date. I didn't have anything that I could depend on to address the challenges that I had been facing but with the coming of GiveDirectly to our village, I got to address them and I am so grateful. I saw everything good, and there was nothing that was not done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer which was KES 40000 on buying a piece of land that I would use mainly for agricultural activities because I didn't have one before and used to borrow. I am so happy to be finally in possession of a piece of land that I am calling mine and with the freedom to plant and grow any type and kind of plant and trees irrespective of the duration they will take to mature or how much space they will cover when they grow. This is the kind of freedom and independence I could only wish to have but had no means to achieve it since I didn't have much of a job as I depended on casual weeding jobs in people's farms for a little pay which mainly went to raising my kids especially buying them food and getting them a few essentials. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly, for making this impossible dream come true as I never expected such a thing could be possible.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($497 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9 in the morning when I had just arrived from the dam then I had a message tone. I asked one of my children who it could be. I was shocked to realize it was from GiveDirectly. I was so excited, I remember leaving whatever I was doing that morning and started celebrating with all my family members. We finally knew that we would acquire a better shelter.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily is that daily life is that I am now healthier because cash has enabled me to buy enough foodstuffs for my family. This has been the greatest challenge that I have been facing all along. Being a widow, taking care of the five children on a meager income ( KES 200 a day ) from the casual job was not that easy. Currently, my family takes three meals a day unlike before whereby they used to have a single meal or sometimes go without. We are now happy as a family because this organization has generally transformed our whole life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a new wooden bed at KES 6250 and a mattress worthy of KES 4000. These were to replace the old rags that I have been using for years as beddings. I also bought a water tank of 2400litres at KES 1700, and I am happy I now have a place to store the rainwater that I will be harvesting in the next winter season. In addition, I bought twenty pieces of iron sheets, building poles, nails, and timber KES 23000. This was for the construction of a new house because the initial one was a small hut with a grass-thatched roof that could leak excessively whenever it could rain. Also, it was very small and it could not accommodate my five family members. With there remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money from GiveDirectly means a decent and a spacious house for my family. I am planning to use 500 dollars from the transfer to construct a two bedroom house which is enough for my family of four. One room will be mine and the other room will house my three children. I will use the balance to buy a piece of land for subsistence farming. Currently, I do farming on a half an acre peace of land. This is not enough for my family and can nolonger sustain us. The extra piece of land will assure my family of food security because there will be a rise in productivity.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. During the evening hours, I buy airtime to call my relatives and this makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship in my life is prolonged illness. Over the past three years, I have been suffering from backpains and this has made my life miserable. I have been surviving on over the counter pills to releave the pain.