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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 > Zawadi's Profile
Zawadi's family
Zawadi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
31
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($517 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I now have a pair of oxen that I am using to plough my farm. I used to hire from neighbours during the planting season but now I have my own. I will no longer be hiring from neighbours instead I will hire to them at a fee. I am now assured of ploughing my whole acreage for better harvests. I also have good bedding to sleep on comfortably. I replaced the old and worn out bedding with a new mattress and a bed.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well in giving us the transfer to ensure that we plan for ourselves and use it wisely to take us out of the poverty that we were in. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well since there are no complains from us concerning their operations.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I Spent part of my second transfer on purchasing nine goats which I am keeping in my homestead. These are my own assets that I can readily depend on in case of a financial problem. I also purchased a new bed and a mattress to replace the old bedding I was using since they were old and worn out. I spent the remaining amount to cater for my household needs such as buying foodstuffs, clothing and also paying for other household expenses.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($543 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 owning the livestock that includes the pair of oxen and the goats. I previously had none and owning them one day was just a dream to me. I am thankful to GiveDirectly because purchasing the livestock has now been made possible through the financial support from them. Due to this, I will no longer be incurring hiring costs during the planting season. This will help me to save the money I would use in hiring the oxen and use it to meet other family needs like paying school fees for my children. The goats will also reproduce and increase in number and have many more which I will later sell them and use the money to buy a cow. Owning a cow will help me save the money I would otherwise use in buying milk.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the message notification early in the morning and on checking its contents, I could not believe that it was the message that I had been waiting for, that GiveDirectly had finally sent the transfer to my phone. I was so happy and overjoyed because the money would enable me to accomplish many things that were really difficult to me like paying school fees for my children among others.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I have desired to improve my farming practice by ensuring that I increase the acreage of the farm I own for better yields. This could be made possible by acquiring a pair of oxen since it is very much expensive to hire from others or even hiring the services of tractors from our county ministry of agriculture. Thus on receiving the transfer, I spent part of it on buying the pair of oxen. With the pair, I am assured of ploughing a bigger portion of my land and reap abundant yields. Getting enough food to feed my family means that I will not be buying food for a long time. In addition to this, I bought three goats to keep in my compound. These goats will reproduce and increase in number and I will be able to sell the offsprings in exchange for cows. Having livestock is a big achievement in my life for they are assets to me and a source of finance. Lastly, I paid my children's school fees in order for them to continue with their studies without any interruptions of being sent home for school fees.
 
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Over the years, I have solemnly depended on my husband who is doing casual jobs in Mombasa town. The little income he earns cannot meet all the basic necessities of the family. Using part of my transfers to open up a vegetable stall within the village will be a dream come true. It has always been my desire to get an alternative source of income that can ease the burden that my husband has endured over the years. Besides, I'll put some money into agriculture; timely planting is the only trick to get good harvest in our region, therefore, I'll purchase two oxen and a Plough to help in land tillage. This way, I'll be in a position to produce more maize that can comfortably feed my family and channel the rest to the outside market.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. My day normally starts at 5 o'clock in the morning. After preparing my kids for school ,I embark on my usual morning chores; feeding livestock and cleaning my compound. Thereafter, I head to the farm specifically to look for food for my kids. We depend on "wild" vegetables since the harsh climatical conditions does not favor constant production of the normal veges that are found in our markets. This usually takes up most of my morning hours. Returning home in the evening with food comes with some sense of fulfilment. It warms my heart when am able provide a decent meal to my children.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of sustainable source of income has been a challenge to me and my family. It has resulted to low schooling level for my elder son. I was unable to pay for his secondary school education since my husband who is the main breadwinner could not raise the required money for his form one admission. Back then, agriculture was my alternative source of income, but due to the unavailability of means of tillage, and subsequent untimely planting, it has led to poor maize production year in, year out . In most cases we buy maize flour from shops and this has been a constrain to our already diminishing income.