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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 > Kahunda's Profile
Kahunda's family
Kahunda
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
45
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53010 KES ($373 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the not-so-distant future, after finally attaining some financial stability, I wholeheartedly want to pursue my long-cherished goal of investing in poultry farming. Determined to alleviate the financial burdens plaguing my family, I will channel my efforts into this venture, aiming to transform it into a flourishing means of livelihood. Having experienced disappointments in crop farming for three consecutive years, I saw poultry farming as a promising alternative that will uplift my living standards once well managed.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The generosity of GiveDirectly has left a profound impact on my life, and I cannot express enough how grateful I am for their kindness. The donation I received has allowed me to make substantial improvements in my day-to-day life, something I could have only dreamed of before. Before hearing about GiveDirectly, I had never encountered such a compassionate and direct form of support, and now I am truly pleased that I did. With their assistance, I feel like I have been given a chance to break free from the grips of poverty, and it fills me with hope for a brighter future. The work they do is nothing short of remarkable, and I will forever cherish the positive change they have brought into my life and the lives of others in need.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the cash transfers from GiveDirectly was a turning point in my life. With my house in ruins, I had been relying on the kindness of a relative for shelter, and it was a constant struggle. But when the second transfer came through, I knew exactly what I had to do. I used the money to build my own house, a small but sturdy place that I could call my own. The feeling of having a roof over my head again was indescribable. I finally had a place to feel safe and secure, and I was filled with happiness and comfort. Education has always been a priority for me, so I made sure to invest in my children's future as well. I paid $200 in school fees for all four of them - two in secondary school and the other two in primary school. Seeing my children go to school with bright smiles on their faces filled me with immense pride and joy. Knowing that they now have the opportunity for a better life gave me hope for the future. With the remaining amount, I bought some much-needed food for our family, and we all enjoyed a meal together, thankful for the new beginning that the cash transfers had brought us.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($442 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 4:00 p.m. when I received a message from Givedirectly confirming receipt of the first transaction. I was with my son, John, who also serves as my assistant, and when I heard the alert and opened the message, I had to call him to confirm. I was overjoyed to learn that I had received the first transfer, and he was overjoyed as well because we had been expecting assistance. I informed my husband, who had been feeling ill, and he was relieved that some financial hardships we had been experiencing would be alleviated. The following day, I collected the transfer with my son.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is paying school fees for my daughter, who is in her final year of secondary school. We have high expectations for our firstborn daughter, and we hope she will have enough time to prepare for her final exams. I am relieved that she will not be sent home for the entire term, as she was previously, and that she will spend all of her time in school studying with other students.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband was diagnosed with tuberculosis and has been hospitalized for over a year. His condition deteriorates at times, and he is unable to perform any task that would strain his lungs. Managing all of the household responsibilities has been difficult for me, but I am grateful for his motivation, which keeps me going. I spent $200 of the first transfer on clearing school fees for my daughter, who is in her final year of secondary school. She currently has plenty of time to study and prepare for her final exam without interruption. I also purchased 18 iron sheets for $9 each in preparation for building a new house to replace our old one. We live in an old house with cracks in the walls and holes in the roof that let in both cold and water during the rainy season. This has a significant impact on my spouse because his condition is aggravated by the cold. In addition, I purchased two goats for $60 that I am raising with the intention of breeding and selling the offspring in the future to fund other new projects. My son, John, just finished his grade eight exams and will be starting secondary school soon after. I bought him a new pair of school uniform worth $30 and a new pair of shoes for $6. The remainder was later spent on food for my family of six.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My intention is to build a two roomed house that would accommodate my family for now. As per my estimation this might cost $250 including material cost and labor. I plan to use the cheapest materials that I can find which is adobe bricks and only buy iron sheets for roofing. My current house just looks like a temporary structure. It has walls made of iron and polythene material.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I had a lot of happy days way back when my husband was still having his job. Back then we were able to help each other curry the burden either by splitting responsibilities or putting funds together the planning from that. But right now I'm just on my own with everything changed. It's not possible to tell when my husband will be recalled.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest challenge is food security. I do not have reliable sources of income except for the casual jobs I do get around the village to dig, weed, or join in some construction work to be able to earn some money. Most of those jobs pays $2 to $5 per day which is quite too little to feed my family and pay school fees for my four children currently attending primary school paying a total of $60 per academic term.. My husband on the other hand used to work as a security guard in a nearby secondary school, but he was discontinued temporarily when he fell sick and got diagnosed with an airborne disease that isn't even contiguous when one is on drugs.