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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 > Kadzo's Profile
Kadzo's family
Kadzo
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
63
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($517 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?
I now have a decent and iron roofed house that I built using the transfer. I would not have managed at my own cost considering my lowly financial status. I feel I have upgraded to another stage of life since it had been just a dream building a new home. I also have a pair of oxen which I believe is going to be helpful in making my farming productive. I also invested a larger portion of the transfer to build my sons business since it has been our only source of income. I purchased enough stock from which we are expecting a higher profit margin. This income has been and will be important in fulfilling my household basic needs effectively.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Our lives have been changed for sure because we now have decent houses to live in with our families livestock that we couldn't afford to have and our children in school having paid for their school fees, which in my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well, as a step towards eradicating poverty in our region. I so not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of the second transfer to purchase a pair of oxen, which I am currently using to do my farming. I was only hiring the services of oxen from my neighbours which was costly. I am glad that having my own will help me to plough my whole acreage for better harvests. My son has been operating a business in town which had been our only source of income. We mainly depend on this business for meeting our own basic needs. Thus I invested part of this money in his business and purchased more stock to increase profits. I took the remaining amount to buy foodstuffs to feed my family and also in paying for other household expenses.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($549 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I have always desired to diversify my operations and add enough stock to our business but due to financial constraints, I could not achieve this. However, I was able to fulfil all this through the funds and support from GiveDirectly. I am at peace now for our business is doing well and expecting good profits from it. To me, this is the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was filled with happiness the moment I received my transfers. This money gave me hope and joy in my life since I knew that my business would be able to operate smoothly again and I will start getting adequate income from it. This alone was giving me peace of mind as I always desired to earn more profit. I felt thankful to God for using GiveDirectly to improve my life financially and economically.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I am operating a shop with my son in town which is the only source of income to us and the stock was very low such that earning a good profit was not guaranteed. We do serve many clients and it was only stock that was letting us down. Due to this, I spent the largest percentage of my first transfer to purchase adequate stock and added other types of products to diversify my business. I am now at peace as it is now operating smoothly and I am expecting better profits through it. I did shopping for food and other basic necessities for the family on the small portion that remained.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live in a grass thatched house that is in very poor condition. The roof is leaking and the walls are almost falling down. In fact I am afraid it might collapse anytime now that the rainy season is approaching. Through this transfer I will construct an iron roofed house. This is because maintaining the current house is very expensive due to high cost of grass which I have to replace every three months. I will also start a 'chapati' business that will generate income to buy food and clothing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since I lost my husband I am suffering depression. This condition worsens at night when I am alone with nobody to talk to. However, in the afternoon when I am having lunch with my children I do not worry so much. This is because they laugh a lot and relieve me of stress. Therefore, I am mostly happy in the afternoon.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband succumbed to cancer on September. He suffered for two years, a situation that drained our financial resources. My son who is the only bread winner could not sustain the family anymore due to huge hospital bills. This condition forced us to sell all the livestock in order to generate more money but we did not make it. Since then we have not recovered and we are still facing financial hardships. This makes it difficult to meet family needs and in most cases we go without food.