GDLive Newsfeed
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 > Elano's Profile
Elano's family
Elano
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
24
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I remember that fateful day when two field officers from GiveDirectly walked into our village of Kapamban. At first we gave a glance from a distance little did we know that a blessing was flowing into the land through them.They walked directly towards us. They were in the company of someone we could recognized from our community. There were murmurs around the village since we did not understand their purpose of visiting us . In a short while they took us through as to why they have visited us. Then we knew something good was on the way. My heart leaped up for joy since I understood what it meant to receive KES 110,000 a midst a pandemic and at the same time being jobless. It is said when opportunity unveiled itself, grab it,and that exactly what I did. It has always been my dream to build a house for my family of 6 children. Not just a house but a place call home.My current home is very old and weak. In addition to this,the walls have got multiple cracks which makes the house unsafe for the family and also very cold at times during the night. In many occasions my family wouldn't have enough-good sleep due to the bad condition of our house. This was also as a result of fear of being attacked by some wild animals like snakes. I am planning to use around KES 70,000 to renovate the house. Furthermore, I had been dreaming of having cattles of my own which I can confess I have managed to buy a number using about KES 20,000.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Honestly speaking GiveDirectly has been doing a recommendable job that no organization has ever come out to do. Simply giving unconditional cash transfers to low income earners in the country has been a great achievement into the organization. GiveDirectly has saved many lives and families since they started their operations in Kenya. I would say that GiveDirectly models and approaches are quite unique, easy to understand and also very transparent. What I would recommend most from GiveDirectly is their non-affiliated with the government bodies, religious group or any tribe or ethnic group. These has enabled equality and equity in transfers distribution into the whole country.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been wanting to build a new structure for my lovely family of six children. I had been planning to build myself and my family a house but this goal became an unrealizable due to the outbreak of the COVID-19. Thanks to GiveDirectly I received all my transfers of KES 110,000. I have kick off the building process which has cost me roughly KES 70,000. I also managed to buy some cattles worth KES 23,000. The remaining KES 17,000 I have used it in settling small basic need like food, water and electricity.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($489 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at my home having breakfast when I heard my phone, at about 8 a.m. I stopped and checked, and was met with the pleasant surprise that I had received KES 55,000. I was extremely happy because I had been eagerly waiting for this moment.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
This cash transfer has enabled me to expand my poultry farming, something I could not afford to do before for lack of money. I have built a chicken roost and acquired more chicken. I can sell these at KES 500 each, to earn money to provide the basic needs for my wife and I.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been wishing to expand my poultry farming business, but I did not have the funds to do so. So I was excited to spend KES 18,000 on building a chicken roost. I also spent KES 27,000 on buying a dairy cow, so that we wouldn't have to buy milk every morning. I also bought a sheep worth KES 4,000 that I can sell whenever I need money.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Financial independence is what receiving this money means to me. I have always aspired to rear livestock since our main source of livelihood in this area is livestock keeping. I intend to buy three goats for KES 15000 and one lactating cow for KES 35000. Goats multiply at a faster rate, hence they will be my store of wealth, to be sold whenever any need arises. Selling milk on the other hand, is an assurance of a daily income hence a reduced worry level on where to get money to buy food. I completed my driving course 2 years ago, but I have not been able to obtain my driving license since I am required to pay a fee of KES 3030 to obtain it. I am grateful that this money has come in handy to enable me to pay the debt. I will then use KES 20000 of my transfer to build a kitchen, since the one-roomed house I currently live in is always full of smoke whenever I cook.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I completed my secondary school education in the year 2014. Since then, I toil hard engaging in casual jobs of tilling and fencing people's farms. The greatest payment I have ever managed to earn since then is KES 150 daily, which is only enough to buy my daily food. This year, I decided to venture into bee keeping on my farm. My first harvest two months ago earned me KES 2700 after selling 4 liters of honey. I had never earned such an amount before. I bought a goat using the money and seeing it mature daily motivates me to buy more as my store of wealth.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have always wished to pursue a plant operator course, since this is a training with guaranteed employment, now that many people have not ventured into per pursuing it. The first requirement in studying for the course is a driving license. I already went for driving training but I am required to pay a fee of KES 3030 to obtain my license yet I am unable to raise this amount since the wages I earn from the casual jobs I engage in, (fencing and tilling people's farms) is only sufficient for buying my daily meals. I would have wished to continue pursuing my goals but this is the biggest challenge that has made me lag behind.