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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 > Winny's Profile
Winny's family
Winny
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Teaching
faceAge:
48
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($494 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?
My life is different than it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have bought a water tank. Our area is a semi desert and most of the time their is no water. The distance from home to the river is so long and one could take more than two hours to get to the river. I used to wake up very early in the morning to be able to get clean water. At some point there was long queue and we could spend almost the whole day waiting. This was so tiresome and time consuming. Carrying twenty litres of water everyday was so hectic. I could get home feeling so tired and I could not be able to do other chores. I had so many activities at home to conduct, getting my child ready for school, cultivating my farm, I also own a small business which I had to open on time. All this needed my attention. Currently I have a water tank and I no longer walk for that long distance like before. I prepare my child to school so early, do my chores and last open my business on time. I get good profits nowadays because I meet the demand of my customers. I also do not stress up on where to get the water. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled me to save time and do my daily routine without being disturbed.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well for us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly to buy a water tank at a cost of 20000 Ksh.This is because I used to walk for a long distance to collect clean water tank for domestic use. The distance from home to the river was very long I could spend more than two hours before I get there. There were many people on queue. One could have to wake up as early as 4am in the morning to be able get the clean water. Sometimes We could wait on the queue until late night 10pm. I also spend the rest of the money to renovate my shop to look decent, It was a mud walls and I changed to timber. Lastly I bought a solar and a battery for lighting in my house. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was at 1pm and I was weeding maize in the shamba when I saw a message on my phone. On checking it was a transfer message from Segovia Technology, and i was suspecting it was GiveDirectly since the amount received was just what they had promised. Someone I was with also received the same message and we then confirmed that it was the money we had been waiting for. We were very happy that we left shamba that very moment.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The shop that I have been having is looking more beautiful and well stocked. The food that we bought has also brought a lot of happiness that when eating we turn on the music on the subwoofer we bought from the transfer makes us enjoy the music even more.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of the money to improve the state of my shop by doing a cemented wall and added more stock. I aso bought a subwoofer to listen to music, blankets and clothes for our family.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a business woman and I got into business because my husband abandoned after I couldn't bear him any kids. I became an independent woman since then. With these transfers I want to expand my canteen business and start a poultry farming business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening since am a business woman and this is the time I get to count my profits of the day and relax by the fireplace.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I faced in my life was when I couldn't give birth to a child and my tribesmen really value children in their families so since I beared no child and my womb couldn't carry a baby my husband abandoned me and married another woman. I had to do casual jobs to sustain myself and eventually after saving for 3 years I managed to start a small business of selling household goods from my house.