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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 > Margret's Profile
Margret's family
Margret
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
34
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($441 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have a new goal that I did not have before which is to start selling fresh vegetables and fruits in my village. I feel that this business will be of huge support to my family since it is very profitable. The charcoal business that I have been operating for years was a seasonal one hence low income. I believe that once I will acquire enough capital and start the new business I will not have to strain on providing for my family's needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did a great job by offering us unconditional cash transfers. Back in the day, we used to face both economic and financial difficulties due to the poverty that had stricken our household. It is now a relief to us because the money has empowered us enough to have assets. Therefore, GiveDirectly has not done anything that is not good.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying a solar panel at KES 2500. Initially, I was using candles which were costly and sometimes I used to stay in the dark since I could not afford to buy them. This has been affecting my children's academic performance because they could not study at night whenever they have school assignments. It is now a relief to them and I strongly believe that their performance shall improve. Also, I bought five plastic chairs for a total of KES 2500. I am now happy and thankful because for all that time, I have been borrowing from friends anytime I have visitors and I could always feel embarrassed. Thereafter, I paid fees of KES 3000 for my four children who are in primary schools. I am glad that they will finally be able to sit for their exams. Later on, I bought two goats at KES 6000 and I am optimistic that I will have many of them within a short period. They will be of support especially in paying fees for my children. With the remaining amount of money, I bought food for my four family members which lasted us almost a month.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($476 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 8am when I received a message on my phone. I did not react immediately to know what the message was all about since I was very busy digging a piece of trench for a price. At around 11am when I was through with the work I took out my phone to see what kind of a message I had received. My heart melted with joy after seeing the first transfer from GiveDirectly was successful knowing that the hardship I had been passing through was going to be solved.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The major difference that is vivid is how comfortable we are when sleeping. Initially, we used to wake up tired due to the places we were sleeping on but since the time I received the transfer things have changed. Sleeping on a mattress was not anywhere near my dream since I did not see it coming due to the financial hardship we were passing through as a family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the money, I bought my children and I two beds and two mattresses for KES 26800.00. I placed this as a priority because for so long we have been sleeping on the floor placing some sacks and boxes as bedding. I also bought a door for KES 5000.00 because my house had been without a door for a while. I was just placing an old piece of iron sheet as a door. Thereafter, I bought some bed sheets for KES 700.00, school uniforms for my children for KES 4400.00 and a pair of curtains for KES 500.00. After settling that, I paid some debts at a shop where I used to take some foodstuffs amounting to KES 2100.00. Since I had two boys who had not yet undergone the circumcision rite of passage, I took them for the exercise which cost KES 1600.00. Since the transfer came during a drought season, I decided to keep the remaining amount for family use.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widow with 5 children living a destitute life. My husband was murdered in 2014 because of land conflict and I was forced to return to live with my parents. I have been struggling doing small business of cooking lunch to the teachers of my nearby primary school so that I can earn a living with my 5 children. I started a clothes business recently which I see it has a good profit and I am planning to expand it by investing much capital so that I can earn a huge profit than what I am earning. I started the cloth business with 10,000 KES and I am getting a profit of 2000 KES per month. Receiving this money means I will increase the capital to my clothes business so that I can earn a huge profit than this.I will also renovate my house and buy beddings so that my children can sleep comfortably.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I got 4000 KES last month from government orphanage fund , this enabled me to purchase food for my family. It brought joy and happiness because my children enjoyed good meals for a month.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a widow with 5 children in school and they need food. I don't have a special way of earning , I am just trying all sorts of life both as a business woman and also hired to cook lunch for some teachers; I am struggling to meet the needs of my children. Getting daily meals for my children is a bigger challenge. Paying my children's school fees also is a challenge and also my children have no good clothes because I cannot afford to buy them new clothes.