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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 > Serfina's Profile
Serfina's family
Serfina
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
64
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($525 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?
I managed to pay school fee arrears for my grandson who was sent home and his parents were not able to raise the money. The child is now back to school and learning comfortably without worrying of being sent home. I also have a nice comfortable furniture that I have been longing to have but I could not afford.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion give directly did very well by giving us money directly into our phones and not using third party to send us the money. The idea of giving people nonrefundable money was so good because there are some people who could have managed to refund the money because if their financial status.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent most of the second transfer to pay for my grandson school fee since he was sent home for school fee arrears. He had stayed home for so long and his parents could not afford to pay for his fee. Since this child was discipline and hardworking I could not wish him to continue staying at home while others are in school learning. So I had to pay his fee and he went back to school, I am glad he us now learning like other students. I also spent the transfer to buy furniture being that I did not have any thing comfortable to sit on. I was sit on some old seats that I was using sometimes back and now they were very old and uncomfortable. I also spent the transfer to buy steel door and fix it in my house since I had wooden door and it was not that safe. The remaining balance I spent to buy one bag of maize since I did not get enough harvest last season.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($536 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference is that currently, I am living in a more spacious house with no leaks anymore whenever it rains. This has given me much comfort as compared to my previous house that was in a pathetic condition. I generate a daily revenue enough for me and my grandson from the fish business that I started meaning we no longer have to go without food as it was previously on those bad days. We are now a happy family and can afford a smile with no worries about tomorrow.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The very morning that the transfers were sent I was facing a financial crisis. I could not provide breakfast for my family because the previous's day hustle did not fetch enough money. The little I had was spent on supper. As I was staring at my phone thinking of who to call to ask for money I received a message indicating that I had received a sum KES 55000 from GD. I broke into tears of joy for I knew all my problems were finally going to be solved. All I can say is Long live GD for transforming my life.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I did spend my very first transfer to build a new house. Initially, I lived in a small house that had cracked walls and was almost falling down, the roof was rusted and could leak whenever it rained. That is the reason as to why I did spend my initial transfer to build a better and spacious house. The remaining amount after the construction of the house I started a fish business to help meet my daily household needs.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will be able to repair my house, improve my small business and see if my grandchild can take a driving course since he has been very helpful to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is usually in the evening while serving my small fish customers in our local market. You will note that as a businesslady I must put on a smilling and happy face to draw customers.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship am faced with is having to go to the market daily in order to get food because my body is weak I cannot work in the farm nor draw water from the nearest well. Sometimes I do not even have money to buy water leave alobe food.