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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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Anna's Profile
Anna's family
Anna
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
32
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($524 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 different from how it was in that, I am self-dependent. I managed to start a business with the transfer which has enabled me to take care of my needs easily. Today, I am a proud woman who does not depend on my husband to provide everything but instead help him handle our household budget.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What I love about GiveDirectly is that they uplifted people's living standards of many people in our village. I am one of them who greatly benefited because I managed to start a business. I am a tailor. I get my own money and no longer depend on my husband to provide everything.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my transfer to build a house for my child. My boys and girls used to sleep in the kitchen. This was uncomfortable for my boy who was in the adolescent stage. The money has really helped me to take care of their sleeping arrangements. My boy now sleeps in his room and my daughters have their freedom resting in the kitchen. Apart from that, I also bought clothes for them and a bag of maize that sustained us for quite some time since we bearly got anything from the last harvesting season.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($530 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
My daily household needs had always been overwhelming since I focus too much on my children school fees that require me to raise a lot of money. I always have to spend a lot of money on my household needs and the worst was the milk since I have a young family that requires it on a daily basis. The biggest difference in my daily life is the cow I bought using part of my transfer. I am so happy that I currently have an asset to take pride in. I see this cow as my financial security to any financial needs arising in my family. I am happy currently I no longer spend on milk hence can save the money to help in other needs and that with time my cow will reproduce hence increasing my asset and security to the financial need of my family.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was about dawn, I had woken up to preparing breakfast for my child in secondary day school as I always do. I was shocked to hear an incoming message notification on my phone since I had never received before. I took it to check and to my surprise, I saw it was a Mpesa message notifying me that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and thankful to GiveDirectly. I shared the news to my son who also felt happy.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I had planned for long to buy a dairy a cow but due to lack of enough resources, I was not able to buy. I rely on casual jobs to raise an income to take care of family needs. I used KES40000 to buy a dairy cow that has greatly changed my life. I no longer spend on milk and we have enough for my household consumption. I am certain that with time I will have calves from my cow that I will be selling to raise money for my children school fees and other financial needs. I use KES5000 to start poultry farming to help me in my household daily basic needs through egg sale and household consumption. I spent the remaining amount t of my first transfer on my household daily basic needs and items.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money comes as a relief to me. It has always been my desire to start a tailoring business in my village; I have a certificate in tailoring and dress making. I have also been longing to buy a dairy cow and to rear some poultry for commercial purposes. Therefore, receiving this money is a big boost for me because I will be able to accomplish my plans. Thank you GiveDirectly.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My usual day entails doing house chores in the morning, preparing lunch for my children in the afternoon and hearding my neighbor's cow thereafter. I am happiest in the morning because I feel energized to do all these duties.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Having enough finances to sustain our basic needs has always been my worry. My husband is a motorcycle rider and usually earns approximately 300 shillings daily. This amount is not enough to cater for my children's school fees and other basic needs in the house. As a result, I had to ask a neighbor to give me one of his cows so that I could have milk for my children.