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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be updated on Marcelina's next check-in.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was a few minutes past 10 am as I was sitting outside relaxing after taking breakfast when I received a Mpesa message on my phone. I became so happy on seeing this but decided to keep it a secret due to security purposes until later when I decided to inform my helper so that he would help me go and withdraw them. Receiving this money made me so happy and allowed me to acquire a dairy cow.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am a proud owner of a dairy cow and this is the biggest difference in my daily life as I had not been able to afford it all these years due to financial constraints. Because of this, I will no longer buy milk throughout the year as I used to before as I will be alternating its lactating period with the one that I already had as this will ensure a constant supply of milk throughout. In addition, I will be able to meet our basic needs on time when it calves as I will be selling some of the milk and use the money to achieve this. I am so grateful that the organization allowed me to better my life by giving us unconditional cash.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought a dairy cow and a heifer worth KES 46000 after receiving my first transfer. I settled on this as an investment that I can rely on in case of an emergency. I will be alternating its lactating period with the one I already had so that I can have enough milk for consumption and sale throughout the year and I will in turn be using this money to meet our basic needs. Using the remaining KES 8700, I bought two sacks of maize and other foodstuffs to last my family for some time.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been buying milk for my daily consumption, As and old person I want to buy a dairy cow Worth 40,000sh, I will have milk for myself and sell the rest so that it can sustain me. I had one cow before but it was slaughtered when my husband passed away and have been buying milk all through. The rest of the amount I will use it to buy goats and chickens.
What is the happiest part of your day?
my happiest part of my day is in the morning, when I wake up healthy, feeling stronger and ready to go to the farm and make sure that i have something to eat at the end of the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
For the last 8 years, amount of rainfall has been low and no production from the farm, as a widower who depends mostly on farm produce to eat and have something small to use. I can say my biggest hardship is not getting daily meals of the day.
