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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 > Christina's Profile
Christina's family
Christina
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
57
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($525 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The money enabled me to continue building a house for my family. I had started the foundation when I received my first transfer and I had no hope of continuing building it before GiveDirectly came for enrolment. I am now glad since I am almost completing building it since the only part remaining is furnishing it. Had it not have been for the transfers, I would not have been able to continue building it.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GD did well by giving us unconditional money so that we can use it to develop ourselves.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my recent transfer, I spent KES 10000 to pay school fees for my daughter in college. I used the remaining amount to continue building a house for my family. I am currently building a permanent house for my family and its almost coming to completion.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($529 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have built a better and spacious house for my family. We used to live in a small house before which could not host all my family members comfortably. I depend on the small scale farming to earn an income and the small amount that I get from this is only enough for the basic needs of the family. I had children in school and paying school fees was the first priority. Currently, I have built a permanent house and I have confidence that when I receive the second transfer it will enable me to do the finishing and move into the new house with my family. I am so much grateful because I have accomplished what I had always wanted to do before.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I remember it was very early in the morning when I got a call from my son asking me if I had received a message from GiveDirectly. I immediately check my phone and there was a message confirming that I had received a sum of 55000KES from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to build a better house which been my long-time dream.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I built a better house for my family using the first transfer. I had also saved some of the money from the merry go round group that we have started in our village and all this combine has enabled me built a permanent house and the rest of the money I used it to buy food for the family.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means adding two fressian dairy cattle to my herd, something i consider as a great investment since dairy farming is the main source of income in my family. The remaining part of my transfer will help me complete paying fee arrears for my children
What is the happiest part of your day?
My typical day entails waking up as early as 5.30 am to milk my cattle which produces upto 8 litres milk per day, after which i take them to the forest where they usually grace till evening when they come back home themselves. I then come back home to prepare my children for school before heading to the farm to weed maize and beans as well as transplanting vegetables from the nursery till evening when i go back home to take a shower and rest as i prepare evening meal for my family,a moment i consider as the happiest part of my day
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Poor harvests due to crop pests and diseases has been the biggest hardship i have faced. We no longer depend on farming as a source of income in our family since the little harvests we get annually is only meant for family consumption. It has therefore been a real struggle educating my children since what we depend on is milk production from the two dairy cattle we have yet the milk produced is sometimes low depending on the weather conditions and the feeds and supplements that we donnot afford to buy. I have two children studying in college and one is joining University on September, Give Directly money just came in time.