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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 > Richard's Profile
Richard's family
Richard
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Motorcycle or bicycle taxi
faceAge:
53
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($441 USD)
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?
My new goal now is to focus on purchasing pipes for irrigation on my farm. I bought a water tank and I wish to start horticulture farming. Planting crops like tomatoes, potatoes, and beans. I have harvested the water and I wish to do irrigation on my farm. This will enable me to conduct horticulture farming throughout the year without being affected by the drought.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well well by giving money to the poor in the community to build a better house and even invest in dairy-keeping projects among other good projects in the village. This enabled the to improve their living standard. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 13,000 on purchasing a heifer. I have always wished to invest in dairy-keeping projects. I am so happy because this has started. I will get enough milk for the family shortly when it reproduces. The rest of the money I top up with some amount my son gave me and I was able to purchase a water tank worth KES 73,000. This is a 10,000 liters tank. I wish to start horticulture farming and I found it worth having a water tank. currently, I have harvested rainwater. My goal now is to get some money to purchase the pipes and fixed on my farm for irrigation. The drought will not affect my farming since I will have enough water through the season. I wish to get a good harvest and basically, this will earn me an income through the sale of the product in the market. My family will get enough food as well and enable me to cut the daily cost of buying some of the foodstuffs I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled me to invest in farming which has always been my wish.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9 am when I was getting ready for work, my neighbour came to my house informing me that he had gotten his transfer that morning, I then decided to confirm if I had a message on my phone, I was overjoyed when I saw a Mpesa notification showing that I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly, words cannot express the kind of joy that we had, my wife too was grateful for the support that we got, I was positive that all our plans would be executed just the way we had agreed with my wife, the support came as blessings in our lives and we're thankful for it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer gave me hope of improving my living standards, I have eight children, who depend on me to fend for them, therefore when I received my transfer I thought of a sustainable source of income that would enable me to earn an income, the maize milling machine came as a very noble idea, but it needed a capital of KES 155,000, therefore I decided to go for the cows so that I would be able to sell them in future at a profitable price, thereafter go for the machine, I am grateful to have received the support that brought so much joy and happiness to our lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a motorcycle taxi rider offering taxi services in the village. When GiveDirectly promised us the unconditional transfer, I was so happy and excited at the same time, I had great plans on how I would spend my money, initially I wanted to buy a machine used in milling maize but I changed my mind because the money was not enough, I then opted to buy 3 dairy cow worth KES 42,00 which I am hopeful that with time I would be able to sell them at a profitable price, I will then use the money in purchasing the machine. I used the remaining part of the transfer in buying clothes and foodstuffs. I am so happy and grateful for the support that has lifted my living standards.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
All along have been thinking about starting a poshomill business, the main reason is that the all village don't have one and our wives and children go up to seven kilometers to access poshomill. By doing so I have helped my wife and children making their work easier and also helping the community. Also I will be making money to support my family from the business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is the evening hour's, the reason behind it is that at evening I have completed my daily work in the farm and am sure that I have done something great for myself and the family, hence I'll be enjoying the evening meal's with the family and take a rest waiting for the next day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Sleeping without proper meal's, I was raised in a family of 10 kids and my parents was not employed, they used to depend on casual jobs and some days we used to sleep without getting meal's when they don't get casual jobs. I went through a lot and I used to go to school without food.