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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 > Sidi's Profile
Sidi's family
Sidi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
36
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($501 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is now different because I now sleep in a decent house. The previous house was in a poor state and leaking during the rainy seasons. Also, we are now taking three meals everyday like the rest an now my children are all healthy. Previously they were malnutrition because they could only take a single meal or go without. Lastly, I now have a dairy cow and I am currently getting milk for my consumption and sell the remaining liters to my friends. Thus is now my source of income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, did everything so well in my region by giving us financial help. The organization uplifted our living standards in various ways. One, the majority of us now have nice houses, livestock and started some businesses. I do not see any part GD failed us.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying some building materials such as iron sheets, building poles, and nails at KES 8000. This was purposely for the construction of a small kitchen because my house was not spacious and I used to cook in the same house. I then paid school fees for children who are in primary school a total of 6000. I then bought two beds worthy of 5000. The remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family and some other household items.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($535 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Owning a dairy cow has made my life to be totally different. I am nowadays happy and ambitious in life. I had to buy it because it has various benefits. One, I will be getting milk for free for my family consumption and for commercial purposes. In the next few months, the cow will start producing milk because it is almost calving. This is really giving me more hope because, once it will start producing milk, everything will just run smoothly. My family will be healthier considering some of my children are still young. Apart from that, I will be supplying the remaining few liters to the nearby local market and get an income. In addition to that, I will be getting manure from the cow dung, and I will be applying it to my farm which will help my crops to grow healthy as well.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6 am when I saw the message notification. When I checked its content, it was from Give Directly indicating that they had debited my first transfer into my account as they had promised. I was filled with joy since I knew that I would be able to achieve a lot using the transfers. The transfers were enough to start a business that would forever change my life.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying iron sheets, building poles, a metal door, and a few bags of cement to construct a new house. My previous house was very small and it could not accommodate us all. Apart from that, I also bought a dairy cow at KES 16000. I then cleared school fees for my children. I don't expect my husband to assist me because he is very old and we are ten wives I being the youngest. I finally spent the remaining amount of money to buy enough foodstuffs that would last us for a while.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means waking up more than a million shillings richer in the next two months. We are 10 wives married to the same man and we were all lucky enough to be enrolled in the GiveDirectly cash transfer program. Because it is such a huge amount that none of us has ever handled before, we are yet to sit down and have a detailed plan of sustainable ways to spend this money to uplift our lives and that of our children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day because the whole family sits together to share a meal unlike morning and afternoon when everyone is busy doing their personal errands.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our biggest challenge is food insecurity. We are a big family of a husband and 10 wives each with not less than 5 children. None of us has a stable income on which we can depend on so we mostly rely on farming to feed ourselves. Unfortunately, for the past one year, we have been experiencing very low rainfall hindering our crops from maturing. We have to go deep into our pockets to buy food from shops that can satisfy more than 70 people.