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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 > Pola's Profile
Pola's family
Pola
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
49
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($491 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I was able to clear all the school fee for my child who is currently sitting for his final secondary examinations. He owed the school a huge balance and I doubt if he would have been allowed to sit for the examinations owing the school such an amount. Had I not received the transfer then my child's future would have been at stake. I am sure I would not have raised the fee on time to enable him sit for his examinations.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Give Directly does well by giving people cash and let them decide on how to spend the money. This has enabled people to achieve most of the things they could not afford. On the other hand they do not do anything wrong, all they do is good and helpful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought cows for rearing with the second transfer as away of investment for the future. I am hopeful that in the future after it has given birth, I will not only have additional cows but it will help reduce the cost of milk since I will not budget for milk. I also expanded my house with part of the recent transfer. The previous house was too small for my large family but we still had to squeeze in it. We now have enough rooms for the family, atleast there are some privacy.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I can still remember just like the other day, it was around 11 AM when I was busy preparing my farm for the coming planting season. Suddenly my phone started ringing continuously. Since I was alone and illiterate I decided to go bak home so that one can check and make me understand what the message was all about. Luckily my elder son was at home, after checking, he realized that it was the message from Giveirectly that I had anxiously been waiting for. I felt so happy and blessed.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The fact that I managed to clear the school fees balances for my children who are in college,secondary and primary has brought the biggest difference in my daily life. Actually, the money came on time because they were resuming back with their studies and I had to ideas o where I would acquire the needed fees. I was so stressed up by then since I lost my job because of the pandemic. Therefore I am so glad now because they are all in school studying without any disturbances courtesy of Givedirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying one dairy cow worthy of KES 15000. I have been yearning to own it for years but I could not afford to but it since it was so expensive. I later cleared school fees for my children who are in college, secondary and primary schools. To add to that I purchased some new pieces of school uniforms to replace the old ones that they have been wearing. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have regreted having not gone to school during my days cause I have realized that my life could have been better. Having seen the fruits of education, I decided to educate my children and so far I have four who have cleared their secondary school levels and other in both primary and secondary. With the scare resources in my family, educating my children has been an uphill task. To me receiving this money means better life for my children and my family. I am planning to spend much of the money on their education since I believe once the are done they can secure jobs thus they will be in a better position to give back to us.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. This is the time I back home after a long struggle in the farm. I relax at this this hour as I bond with my family over our dinner.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have desired to give my children a better life by educate them. As a subsistence farmer, raising much enough to cater for family needs is a big challenge. The little resources in my family has been the biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life, I feel bad when I am not able to pay my children school fees on time at same time can't afford their basic needs to their satisfactory.