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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 > Elijah's Profile
Elijah's family
Elijah
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
26
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($515 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life would have been very different in that, I would have been forced to hustle to ensure ends meet in my household. With the casual job that I used to do it was not enough to sustain my needs meaning I would not have gotten enough to save for house construction but thanks to GD, I was able to get transfers and they have transformed my life.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GD is a good organization with good and clear intentions. Looking at the impact it has made in our community, I can attest that many lives have been touched and people have been changed. This is positive and I have not seen any wrong act from GD.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
On receiving the second transfer, I went straight away and paid my daughter's school fees. This was my first priority so as to enable her to attend her classes with zero distractions. Secondly, I bought a few building materials to help with the finishing of the house construction that I had started with the previous transfers I had received from GD. With the remaining amount, I bought a television and other household items.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($545 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Sleeping on a bed with a cozy mattress is a dream come true. I have slept on the floor for the longest time and I had forgotten how it felt like sleeping on the mattress. Sleeping on the floor had become my normal. My visitors now enjoy the comfort of sofa seats whenever they visit a replacement of the old jerricans that used to act as my sofas. Thanks to my cow I enjoy taking milk tea every day. I am living my dream.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very happy. I knew my life was going to change in a very tremendous way. I sleep well and take milk tea every morning.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to purchase a bed and a mattress. I used to sleep on the floor and this made my back to ache constantly. I also bought sofa sets to replace the jerricans that used to act as my chairs. I bought a cow that was pregnant and now it has given birth to a calf. I can get milk from the cow and no longer have to buy miljk from the shop. I also bought iron sheets to replace my roof that was leaking whenever it rained.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means liberation from stress and worries in my life. I depend on casual labor that is seasonal and tedious. This make it difficult to provide for my family's basic needs like food and clothes. I would like to spend the transfer on starting up a small business that will be of more sustainable income. Hopefully this will improve the living standards of my household.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening after work. As a casual labor, I spend more of the day's time weeding in sugarcane plantations. I usually get paid after completing the day's work and this is usually in the evening. At this time, I am able to buy some food and other basic needs like clothes for my family. This makes me feel happy as a provider for my household members.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I am facing in life is extreme poverty. The casual labor that I depend on is of low wages that is never enough to provide for my family. Sometimes we are forced to walk in rags and even go on empty stomach due to lack of money to buy food and clothes.