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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 > Abigael's Profile
Abigael's family
Abigael
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
24
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($528 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 has really improved because I now have cattle to keep. I immediately bought a cow that is already producing milk, earning me a daily income. On top of income, I am able to find the milk supply for the household without having to buy it. This makes everything to go just fine.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has changed many lives in my village. the aid that has come to us has never happened before. We are so glad that they came to us.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on buying a dairy cow at kes 22000. I then bought a water tank for storing rainwater at kes 15000. I also bought some utensils, a large cooking pot, and a nice kettle. I then bought some farm implements, a bed, and bedding.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the reduced levels of stress having been able to meet the needs of my family. I plan to sustain this by investing in profitable ventures like dairy farming once I receive my second transfer. The poultry keeping project that I was running has equally improved and we are now food sufficient as a family.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. I hardly had a wink from the moment I read a message from GiveDirectly. I shared the information with my husband who was equally happy and expressed his satisfaction with the transfers. We then embarked on a plan on how we were going to spend the money to reap maximum benefits.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I used KES 14000 to buy a cow, used KES 10500 to buy a poultry net. I also used KES 3000 to buy cushions for my chairs and increase comfort in my house. The remaining amount was used to buy ply woods that were essential in improving our home too. I chose to buy a cow since I do not have one of my own and I have been keeping someone else's cows just so that I could have milk for my family. Having one of my own is one of my greatest achievements that came about because of these transfers. The poultry keeping project has since improved too and I am looking forward to making more income from it. Moreover, we now live comfortably in our improved home.
 
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wished that my family could own a cow of our own.This is not only to provide milk needed especially by our children but as a form of investment.Currently,I have one cow which belongs to a relative.As much as it provides for now,at the end of the day it doesnt not belong to us.Receiving this money will enable me actualize this.Once this is done,my family will be assured of daily income through milk sale whose market is readily available.I also intend to buy some chicken so that I can get a small income through sale of eggs and this will cater for little expenses in our home.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Early in the morning,I begin working in my farm.In it,I have planted maize and sweet potatoes and most of the times I will be weeding,harvesting or re-planting.It is at this time in the farm till late in the afternoon that am happiest.This is because it is through this that my family gets food.Am even happier because unlike other people,we have this small piece of land to cultivate and do not need to work on other people's farms for a wage.Am grateful for this thus it makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is living without a source of income.Even though I completed secondary school,I did not proceed to any tertiary institution where I could learn a skill to help me get employment.As a result,I have had to depend fully on my spouse who is a veterinarian.Because of this,we are always quarreling and I sometimes wish I had my own income.Being dependent on another person's pocket is quite challenging and as such,you cannot even have your own goals i.e. investment.This has been quite a struggle for me.