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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 > Kanze's Profile
Kanze's family
Kanze
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
70
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($517 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 is now so different because I managed to clear school fees for my sons. This has been my greatest worry and problem because I did not get a chance to go to school and My wish was to see my children getting a good education. It is now my pleasure that they are all in school and they are studying without any disturbances. I am so assured that their future shall be bright and their coming generation. Had it not Givedirectly coming to my village, I would not have cleared their fees anytime soon. I am so thankful to GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectky has done us so well in numerous ways. One we received the money direct to our mobile phones and the money was unconditional. We were given the opportunity to choose how we could spend the money appropriately. We all had freedom on accomplishing what we had desired to have for years. I was so happy with this idea because with the previous organizations I never experienced such. The enrolment was also fair enough. All in all, I do not see any sector GiveDiectly failed us.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent a larger portion of my second transfer on boosting a kiosk business which was almost collapsing. This is what I have been depending own since my spouse passed on some years back. He left behind three children who were both in primary school. It was so difficult for me to clear their school fees on time. Sometimes I could utilize the little profit that I was earning and it reached a point I was using the capital and this made the business to almost collapse. This was really affecting my children because they could be sent home for fees and I had nowhere to get the money. it really affected their academic performance. The remaining amount of money, I cleared school fees for my children. I am now a happy parent because they are studying without any disturbances.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($545 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The fact that I cleared school fees arrears for my son has made my life to be so different. This is because being a widow and jobless, it is not easy to raise the fees every term. I heard to struggle together with my elder daughter to make sure my son gets a good education. It reached a point he had lost hope and he wanted to drop out of school, but God is faithful. It is that very time when GiveDirectly came to my village. I was so excited because I knew God had answered my prayers and my son will continue learning. That's how it went, and after receiving the transfer I immediately cleared the huge fee balance. My son is now studying without any difficulties and this is giving me hope as a parent that his future is bright.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6 am when I was preparing myself for the daily house chores. Then I heard my phone ringing. I asked my daughter to check what the notification was all about. Upon checking, she realized it was an mpesa message from GIvedirectly, they had sent my first transfer as they had promised. I was so happy.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on paying school fees for my son who is in college. I then gave my daughter a portion of the money to boost her business since she is our breadwinner. We all depended on that retail shop business and it reached a time, we utilized all the capital. This lead to the closing down of the shop. During that period life was so tough. The coming of GiveDirectly has made the business to revive. The remaining amount of money, I bought sufficient foodstuff for my family and some other household items.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means I will be able to pay for my son's education for this coming term so I can at least relieve my other son of the burden of having to do it all by himself because I have not been able to due to my low income. He currently has a balance of 7000 shillings and I will have to add 21000 shillings for next term. With the rest, I will boost my son's shop business and buy livestock worth 45000 shillings.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I love working on my farm in the morning. The hope of getting a good harvest brightens me up.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is supporting my son's education financially. Every term, he is required to pay 21000 shillings but my small income of 2000 shillings a month from charcoal making cannot afford it. To add, I have yet other son who has had to sponsor himself through college by doing odd jobs since I could not manage to pay for him.