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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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Completed
Newsfeed > Mercy's Profile
Mercy's family
Mercy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
37
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($346 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am currently working on completing the fence around my mango trees to protect them from roaming livestock in the neighborhood. This is necessary to keep the trees safe as they grow. I also plan to plant an additional 50 mango trees, which will bring my total up to 60. In about 3 to 4 years, these mangoes will mature and start producing fruit, which could help our family's finances. I'm saving up for this project and, if God allows, I plan to invest in it with the support of my husband. We will use the money from the investment to pay for our children's school fees and cater to our other needs. Additionally, use the income from our mango investment to support ourselves in our old age.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Our needs vary greatly, and what I require may differ from what another person needs. However, the unconditional transfer I received from GiveDirectly allowed me to plan effectively on my own, enabling me to address my specific needs with confidence. During the enrollment process, the officers displayed patience, respect, and provided me with ample time to navigate through the procedures. It was refreshing to experience an environment free from political involvement, ensuring a fair and unbiased process. The entire enrollment process was smooth and easy to understand, and the reception couldn't have been better. I hope GiveDirectly continue with the same approach.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving my last transfer, I prioritized my children's school fees, two of whom had significant arrears of $360 and $250. I managed to reduce these by paying $100 each, ensuring their education is crucial to me, especially since I had to drop out of school at the elementary level due to financial constraints. This made it tough to find formal employment, further motivating me to ensure my children have better opportunities in the future. In addition, I invested in three goats for $100 to help provide milk for my family. Since buying milk has been too costly, we often rely on just strong tea and porridge. The goats are for milk and as they reproduce, they can be sold and address needs like school fees. Besides doing casual jobs with my husband to sustain our family of seven, I'm also a small-scale farmer, but I haven’t had a successful harvest in five years due to climate challenges resulting in food insecurity. To address this, I bought two bags of maize for $50. To ensure future sustainability, I planted ten mango trees at $100 each. Mangoes thrive here and don't need much water, and with brokers regularly visiting to buy, they represent a potential stable income after three years. To protect these new plantings, I spent $6000 on 20 fence posts, adding to previously purchased wire mesh, to secure the farm. With the remaining $30, I bought new clothes for my children, whose old clothes were worn out. Thank you GiveDirectly for your support.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($287 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My aim is to initiate both a posho mill and expand my poultry project. To realize this goal, I plan on utilizing my upcoming third transfer. I find immense gratitude for the notable transformation that has taken place in my life. Financial constraints had previously hindered such aspirations, and it's truly heartening to witness the positive changes that are now within reach. The support received has been instrumental in turning these ambitions into tangible and achievable milestones.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
We were highly pleased with the exceptional quality of GiveDirectly services. Not only did we receive our funds directly to our mobile phones, but the unconditional nature of the support made it incredibly convenient for us to tailor its use to our individual needs. One notable aspect that deserves appreciation is the equal and unbiased treatment extended to everyone, fostering a sense of fairness throughout the process. The impact of this support has been truly transformative, uplifting our lives in ways we never thought possible. We express our heartfelt gratitude for the assistance that has made such a significant and positive difference.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband and I depend on farming, supplemented by my part-time work at the game reserve, and we are fortunate to have seven children. To safeguard our land from intrusion by wild animals, I made the decision to fence it. With our second transfer, we purchased wire mesh totaling $180 and chain link fencing worth $48. Additionally, I invested $56 in buying chicks and $30 for chick mash. I also allocated funds for maize, spending $37, and sent $25 to support my son's upkeep at school. Furthermore, I set aside $20 in savings and purchased shoes worth $5. I accomplished these goals, which were previously hindered by financial constraints. I am immensely grateful to GiveDirectly for making this significant milestone possible.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($135 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Receiving the first transfer from GiveDirectly was an incredibly exciting and heartwarming moment for me. I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude, and with my family, we thanked God for the positive change that was coming into our lives. At the time, I was away from home, and when I returned that evening, my children were the most excited about the news because I had promised them some treats. I could not collect the money on the same day, but later that week, I made a visit to the nearby shopping center to collect it. This support has brought hope and happiness into our lives, and we are truly thankful for the great strided we are taking in implementing the goats we had.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
After receiving the first transfer, my family's daily life has significantly improved, especially in terms of having enough food to sustain us. It is a great source of relief for me that I was able to settle the long-standing school arrears of $55 for one of my three children who is in secondary school. Witnessing my children now having ample time to study is heartwarming, and I look forward to seeing them progress to the next grade without any interruptions. Previously, they would stay at home for weeks as we struggled to gather enough money to send them back to school. I am grateful for the support extended by GiveDirectly and hope to explore other income-generating projects in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The first transfer from GiveDirectly made a significant impact on my life and that of my family. With three children currently in secondary school, the burden of their tuition charges has been a constant challenge, given the absence of a reliable source of income. The support was timely, as I had accumulated tuition arrears of $55 for one of my children, and I feared his education would be interrupted. I promptly paid off that debt, and I am now preparing for the upcoming term for the other two. The casual labor I had been relying on after my farming activities failed due to changing climatic conditions could not cover both school fees and other household needs. Therefore, I used $50 to purchase essential foodstuffs for my family of nine. I spent $73 to buy a mattress for my three children and new clothes for some family members who needed replacements for their old and worn-out attire. Additionally, I spent $6 on two plastic basins, and I sent the remaining $10 to my daughter in school to cover her upkeep expenses, as she had been away from home for an extended period. While I have not established long-term projects yet, I am grateful for the support and remain hopeful that subsequent transfers will eventually leave a lasting positive impact on our lives.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Food insecurity is a big concern. We plan to buy food worth $50. It can support us for about a month, we harvested some maize. Hence we may not need to buy all food consumables. We also intend to buy other household necessities like clothes for our children, bedding, and chairs. It will cost approximately $100. We also have 3 children in school. Both are in secondary school. I will use about $400 for their school fees. This means they can settle well and study without stress in school. Investment is also important, goats do well here. They expand faster and fetch good prices when well-fed. We plan to use $300 to buy 6 goats. It's a future investment and security. Additionally, I need to grow some mangoes and pawpaws. They will supplement my income. I need to also secure the farm. Fencing and growing it will cost about $200. In 3 years, they will mature. Hence I will be selling them to support my family. Mangoes are sold twice a year. One mature mango tree can fetch $150 annually. I plan to plant 12 mangoes. That will assist me a lot in the future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We have land, it's 1 acre. It's our main source of income. We have planted mangoes, pawpaws and on rotation, we do maize, beans, or butternut farming. It brings us joy, knowing our land supports us well.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Due to the effects of climate change, we've had uncontrolled long drought seasons. That has affected our land productivity because of no rain. This means we're not able to feed our family well. It has also compelled us to depend on casual jobs. We either get paid per day or given food. One day of work is worth $2. The amount is little and cannot sustain a family of 9. It has made our lives hard. The cost of living has also been skyrocketing, even further complicating things.