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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 > Cynthia's Profile
Cynthia's family
Cynthia
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
24
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53075 KES ($523 USD)
access_time almost 5 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 currently different than it would have been if I never received the transfer in that, I would not have managed to build a spacious house. I could still be probably living in a leaky grass thatched house where I was being rained on. I am glad that today, I live in a spacious iron roofed house where I do not worry about any weather condition. I also managed to buy bulls that my husband uses to prepare people's farms and in return get the money which has helped us to take care of the basic things. He used to depend on casual jobs which were unreliable. I am glad that most of the goals have been met not forgetting the dowry which he was able to pay that has brought joy in my heart as a woman.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, what GiveDirectly does well is improving the living standards of people in our village. Personally, I am happy because my husband was able to pay dowry and we also managed to build a house. I am no longer rained on unlike before where my house used to leak. I will be forever grateful to GiveDirectly. My neighbor's lives have also improved greatly. They have met various goals and today we have many people with iron sheet roofs which were not easy to find. The grass thatched ones were the order of the day. Thanks to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
Farming has been our passion as a family but ways of tilling our land was a problem because we had to part with money to hire workers who could help us to prepare it and because of this, I had to look for ways of reducing the cost. When I received my second transfer, I used a larger portion of the money on buying two bulls and a dairy cow. This was the best idea so far because my husband uses them to prepare our farm and also work on people's farm to earn a living. Our living standard has changed because my husband had been able to provide for us and I was also lucky to get jobs which help me to take care of other needs in the house. Today, I have peace of mind because I am not stressed so much on lacking the basic needs unlike before. The dairy cow is also expectant and I am soon getting milk which I will consume and sell some to get an extra coin for emergencies and other needs. I also bought a mattress hence I sleep in a comfortable place and used the remaining amount t on food.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($546 USD)
access_time over 5 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 my own business. I have stopped working for people as a a casual laborer like I have always done earning very little wages.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the garden at that moment and I heard my husband shout,"I am dreaming or not",when I asked what it was,he told me that GiveDirectly had sent us money. Immediately I left for home only to find people shouting too how their lives have been changed. They had also received the message. I was so happy. Honestly I could not my happiness.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent the money I received from GiveDirectly on buying building materials that I will use to build a new house. I have been staying in leaky grass thatched house. We have stayed with my husband for almost one year but he has never paid my dowry,so we spent some of the on buying a cow that he used to pay my dowry.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that we will be able to buy building materials like iron sheets and poles so that we can construct a bigger house. I will spend part of the transfer on starting a business of selling fish and the remainder will be spent on buying a generator so that we can pump water for irrigating our farm.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I go to my farm to water my kales. This makes me happy because I am able to sell the healthy crops once I harvest them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I face in my life is that I walk for almost 1Km in search of water for irrigating our farm where I have planted kales and tomatoes. This is tiresome and time consuming for me.