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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 > Lilian's Profile
Lilian's family
Lilian
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
30
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES
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?
In the coming year, I hope to finish paying off a piece of land that I am buying from a neighbor in installments. I am grateful for the enormous support I have received from my husband, Joel, who, in addition to paying a portion of the school fees, has always supported any idea of investing in assets. He works as a security guard in Nairobi, and the small monthly salary he receives has had a significant impact on the growth of my family. Even though we are currently paying for our four children's school and have yet to pay for the following year, I am still determined that our dream of adding a piece of land to our assets will come true. I have been doing vegetable farming, and I believe the income will supplement the savings I have been making with my husband.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did incredible job in our village, ensuring that every household had the opportunity to participate in the program. The lessons learned during the initial meetings, as well as the follow-up calls, ensured that our transfers were safe from mobile money fraudsters. I am glad I was able to save my entire transfer and spend it on the intended objectives. Even as we celebrate the generous support that we have received, I wish that GiveDirectly would consider enrolling the vulnerable group independently, even though the majority of them live with their parents because they are unable to live on their own. The majority of the village's disabled and elderly residents were excluded, despite the fact that we felt they required the most assistance.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I joined the GiveDirectly program when I was living in the main house with my co-wife but cooking in separate kitchens. Because I was enrolled alone while she was not, I was advised to split the transfer with her. I had to budget and use the remaining transfer to complete part of the transfer I had. I am glad most of the projects I worked on during the first transfer were successful. When I received the second transfer, I had to pay the $25 tuition fees for my son, who had just started grade 9. I also demolished a small hut he was sleeping in at home because the surroundings were swampy and the hut's floors were always wet. I spent $150 on the construction work after purchasing 12 iron sheets for $8 each, paying $20 in labor charges, and other materials such as nails and timber. He is now living in a more comfortable environment, one that is warmer and free of colds and flu. I spent $30 on a sheep that I intend to breed and sell in the future to help pay for my four children's school fees, and I also spent $45 on food shopping for my family of six. I appreciate the assistance and look forward to expanding the farming activities that I began with the first transfer.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 pm I was on my way back home from town. I heard a message notification from my phone. I reluctantly check it out, little did I know it was from GiveDirectly. I could not believe my eyes it was a message confirming that I have received KES 55,000. This is the highest amount of money I have ever received. I hurried up to the home to inform my family members. When they heard this everyone was so happy and we celebrated with joy. We planned on how to spend the money and sent to withdraw the following day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have paid school fees for my son who is in secondary school. This has been a challenge for us since we do not have a continuous source of income. My son used to be sent home to collect the school fees and this was affecting his performance. I depend on small-scale farming where I plant vegetables and maize. The produce from my farm is for consumption sometimes I sell the surplus to earn an income to pay school fees. Currently, he is studying well without being disturbed since the fees are paid in full. He is so happy and grateful for the support he promised to produce better performance. I have peace of mind to do my daily chores unlike before when I was so stressed up because it was so hard to get the money. I'm so excited because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards. We hope for better things to come over because of this blessing.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 12,000 on paying school fees for my son who is in secondary school. He is currently studying well without being disturbed. This was giving me restless nights since I have always wanted him to complete his studies without being sent home. I am so grateful because he is now happy. I spent KES 7,000 on purchasing a heifer. I always buy milk daily and this is so costly for me. When it reproduces in the next few months I will get enough milk for the family. I spent some money on food and the remaining amount of money I spend on purchasing building materials and planning on building a house. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a decent house for my large family, I am married into a polygamous family where I am the first wife and we live with the second wife in the same house. My husband works as a security guard in Nairobi and he earns little money which cannot sustain a family of 10 people, this has not allowed us to have a decent spacious house to accommodate all of us. When I receive the GiveDirectly money I will use the entire transfer to build a bigger decent house,this will allow us be comfortable especially when visitors are around.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Seeing our children thrive and all of them being healthy is all that brings happiness to us. We thank God for the protection he has granted to us always.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
With the high cost of living in the country, providing for a family of 10 is not easy. We fully depend on my husband who works a a security guard and he earns KES 18,000 and this is not sufficient to cater for school fees, food and clothing for the family. So currently we are facing food insecurity in our home, we buy all the foodstuffs and milk this is because we have a small unproductive land which does not give enough yields. Also we do not have a cow to milk this has caused us to buy milk on a daily basis, we spend KES 120 on a daily basis for milk. This has made life for us unbearable due to the expensive cost of living.