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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 > Antoney's Profile
Antoney's family
Antoney
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
48
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53075 KES ($511 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The poultry project I started with part of my transfer has brought a lot of financial changes in my life. Since I only depended on income from casual work, I was not able to provide for my family well. The income was not much and very inconsistent. As a result, I would have to borrow to ensure I meet all my needs. I did not have much in life. This is why I needed an income-generating activity to help me boost my income. My needs were rising on a daily basis but the income was not growing at all. When GD sent me the transfers, I used it to buy chic for starting a poultry project. I am glad it is doing well and as a result, I get money from the sale of chicken and eggs. Through the income, I am able to handle financial difficulties easily because of |I do not go borrowing and begging to meet my family needs. GD has taken away my shame.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GD did well in giving cash unconditionally to everyone in the village. Had it been conditional then most of us would have not seen the benefit. Letting everyone use the transfer in his/her own way was very helpful. I feel GD should have done better in creating more awareness of the amount given to each recipient. Some had not received the same amount of money in their lives hence they ended up misusing.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on buying building materials for my son who is in secondary school. His junior brother has married and had requested to build his house already. According to our culture, the junior son is not allowed to build before his elder brother. I was not ready to break the norm hence I had to aid the elder son in acquiring building materials. I did not also want the junior son to look down on his brother and feel he was an obstacle. So I used my transfer to buy building materials such as iron sheets, timber and nails which he used to put up a house. The rest of the transfer I used to buy a television. I have always burdened my neighbour by entertaining my children because I did not have any form of entertainment in my house. My children would go watching at my neighbours' house and this really motivated me to buy my own form of entertainment. Thanks to GD for the transfer I was able to achieve this goal.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($547 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I feel safe whenever I sleep in the night after buying and fixing steel windows. I have also cleared my son's school fees.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
''Daddy,look,I have received money from GiveDirectly''. My son shouted. We went inside the house and started celebrating. We were happy for him,but in less than 2 mins,I also received a message confirming the same. We were so happy. At that moment,we celebrated and we agreed to wait until the next day when we are sober before we could spend it given that we were drunk with happiness. I have never handled such an amount in my entire life.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer on paying school fees for my son who in secondary school. He owed the school so many arrears and we had to at least reduce it. I also constructed him a house and the remaining amount I spent on constructing a poultry house and more on buying steel doors and windows that I have since fixed.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that my life is going to improve to a greater extent. I shall us my transfer to construct a chicken house, and thereafter start a poultry business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when we gather together around dinner table, and share meals as a family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I face is a constant struggle to educate my children because I only live from hand to mouth. I do not have a stable source of income since I am jobless.