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Completed
Newsfeed > Kache's Profile
Kache's family
Kache
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
49
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
0th Payment
Transfer Amount
0 ($0 USD)
access_time 3 months ago
attach_money
 
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I firmly believe that GiveDirectly made a tremendous impact on my entire village, and the results are visible all around. The decision to assist in the form of cash was the best choice for me, as it allowed me to acquire essential items such as a new house and bedding. These are assets that would have taken me years to obtain on my own, considering the challenges I was facing. I often wish they could return because of the positive impact they had on us. I see no reason to change their operational approach, as everything has been seamless so far.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
It has been years since I have relied on my neighbors' pit latrines because I do not have my own. It has always been stressful, especially at night or when they are not around. I have to wait until they return to relieve myself. This situation has caused me a lot of stress, and my children and I feel it is time for me to build my own. This is now my goal for the coming years. For now, I am waiting for my two children to finish school so that I can save from my charcoal business and start buying the materials needed. I believe that having my own pit latrine will restore my dignity, as I will no longer feel embarrassed or like a burden to my neighbors, which has been an ongoing issue.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my second transfer, I used around $260 to buy iron sheets and other materials to complete my two-room house, which I had started building with the first transfer I received earlier. The main reason for building a new house was that the current one is almost collapsing, and this has been my greatest fear. Additionally, the old house was made of grass, and it would leak terribly during the rainy seasons. It was distressing when it rained because we had no shelter and would get soaked until the rain stopped. I also bought a bed and mattress for $140 to replace the traditional one made of ropes, which I had been using my entire life. I used to experience a lot of pain every night, and I would wish for the day to come, as I dreaded the nights due to this discomfort. Furthermore, I paid school fees for my two children in secondary school, totalling $80. I was tired of always seeing them sent home because of the lack of school fees. It was disheartening, as I knew this affected their performance and was demotivating for them. With the remaining $52, I bought food. As a widow who depends on charcoal and casual jobs, providing daily meals for my two children has been very difficult. As has often been the case, I felt it was wise to buy enough food to ensure we don't run out.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($425 USD)
access_time 6 months ago
attach_money
 
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been struggling to find proper shelter for many years without any hope of upgrading to a better house. I have been living in a dilapidated house with a roof made of palm leaves, which is only a temporary solution. Whenever it rained, my house became uninhabitable, and finding alternative shelter was not an option. I am a widow who sells charcoal in the village and does other manual jobs to make ends meet. Additionally, I have two children currently in high school who rely on my meager earnings for their upkeep and school fees. With all these responsibilities, saving for a new house seemed impossible as providing food was also a challenge. There were times when my children were sent home from school for lack of fees and had to stay at home for almost a month while I struggled to raise the required amount. Receiving the transfers brought immense relief to me and my children. I used $180 to clear the fee arrears and my children are now comfortably back in school. Furthermore, I am in the process of building a new house with an iron roof. I purchased 22 pieces of iron sheets, building poles, nails, and timber to facilitate the construction. I am looking forward to finally sheltering in my new iron-roofed house after spending years in a shanty, dilapidated small house. Lastly, I bought food supplies and made sure that my family had enough food to eat despite the financial hurdles.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am incredibly thankful to GiveDirectly for the relief they brought to my household by providing financial support. As a single parent, I have been struggling to raise my children without any external help, all in the hope of seeing them succeed in their academic journey. Despite my best efforts, I often found myself unable to pay their school fees, causing them to miss classes for extended periods. To make ends meet, I have been doing menial jobs and even resorted to making and selling charcoal for a living. I also took small loans from our village savings group, but often struggled to repay them. All my efforts were aimed at ensuring that my children could stay in school and receive the education they deserve. Receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly was truly a blessing. It came at a time when I was at home, unsure of when I would be able to gather enough money to pay the fees, which would have taken a long time. With the support, I was able to clear the fee arrears, and it brings me peace to see my children now comfortably attending school, no longer missing classes. On top of addressing our immediate needs, the support has also allowed me to build a decent house for my family. The one we've been living in was in bad shape, made of palm leaves, and dilapidated.This is something that would have taken years to accomplish without the support I received, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I left my phone in the house to charge because it was running out of battery. Later, my helper came to check on the phone and confirmed that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy and relief upon realizing that GiveDirectly had fulfilled their promise to us. It was a huge weight off my shoulders. I couldn't wait to withdraw the money to pay fees for my children, who had been sent home from school because I was unable to pay for them on time. It was a pivotal moment for our family, and I felt immense gratitude towards GiveDirectly for their support.
 
Enrolled
access_time 8 months ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a widow with no reliable source of income and a heavy burden of responsibilities especially since I still have to look after my two secondary school-age children makes my situation extremely difficult. I have a small business that makes an average of $15 a month, on top of the occasional jobs that only come up during the rainy seasons. I make too little money overall each month to provide for my family's necessities.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My ability to meet my children's basic needs with my meager monthly income of $15 from my business and my two children's part-time jobs make me a happy and proud mother. These things have brought me joy over the past six months.
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Given that I anticipate receiving $1000 from Give Directly, I intend to begin by constructing a new home at a cost of about $300, utilizing $300 to cover my two children's secondary school tuition, purchase four goats for $ 120 and retain them as investments, and utilize the remaining funds to purchase furniture and other necessities for the family.