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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 > Mwagande's Profile
Mwagande's family
Mwagande
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
36
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($445 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?
Apparently, I do not have any new goal. My sole objective is to scale up my charcoal vending business and seeing to it that I have purchased oxen for the purposes of enabling me to cultivate my land efficiently. Thank you GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What this organization did well was paying us a visit and mentoring us about the GiveDirectly cash transfer program. Besides, I love the fact that it has been the biggest program that has ever had a positive impact in our community and it's environs. Moreover, they also lived up to our expectations . Their is nothing that did not go well
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been into charcoal vending business for a long time. However, my challenge has been on matters transport for facilitating the stock to the nearest market which has been costing me an arm and a leg. Considering that I have been hiring a motorcycle at the tune of KES 1000 per trip to deliver the bags of charcoal for sale, I breathed a sigh of relieve when the second transfer came knocking in that I decided to purchase a second hand motorcycle at KES 25000. This has been a game changer in that a lot of savings have been made thus enabling me to meet most of my family's need unlike before. We are a family of seven and my wife being my business partner, things could not help but continue getting better as days go by. Additionally, I bought five goats using the proceeds from the second transfer and my hope is to reach a total of 20 goats. My ultimate goal is trade them out for an oxen that will come in handy during ploughing season. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for having come through for us financially hence enabling us achieve lots of personal development.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 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 very early in the morning and I woke up to the good news that I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I was very happy because it was going to help me a great deal. I knew that I was definitely going to get the things that I had desired for so long, especially a bed and mattresses for myself and my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is, I can say, the fact that I now have the things I didn't have before. Mostly, the motorcycle that gave me the freedom and independence as well as control over my own affairs especially my business because hiring a motorcycle was dependency factor that never gave me a peace of mind. Therefore, that is the biggest difference in my daily life which all resulted from the financial assistance I received from GiveDirectly. I am so grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer which was KES 25000 on making a down payment for a motorcycle that I will be using for my business, which is charcoal buying and selling. I buy charcoal from around my home area and ferry them to the city to sell them. I bought the motorcycle because I previously used to hire a motorcycle to ferry the charcoal to the city which was very costly and meant that I had to share the little I could raise from the sell of the charcoal with the owner of the motorcycle I hired which meant that I would potentially end up with very little money for my family's immediate needs. Therefore, when I got the money from GiveDirectly, I went for my own motorcycle without a second thought so that I could cut down on the cost of hiring a motorcycle for my business. I am so happy and grateful that I now don't have to share what I make from my business with anyone, which makes me able to comfortably plan for my family's immediate needs. I also spent KES 15000 on buying a bed and two mattresses for myself and my children, because we all used to be sleeping on the floor, which was both very uncomfortable and unhealthy. I am so happy and proud that we now sleep comfortably on mattresses, all thanks to GiveDirectly.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means spacious house for my family. This is because I am now sharing a one bedroom house with my five children which does not offer privacy. I am planning to spend KES 30,000 to build a bigger house. I will also utilize the remaining transfers to pay school fees for my daughter who is in grade two as well as buy five goats which do well in our area. I will use the second transfers to pay deposit for a motorcycle. Besides the balance will go to boosting my charcoal business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Last month I received food donation from national government through our assistant chief. I received 40 kg and 20 kgs of beans. The food lasted my family for three weeks. This borough me joy and happiness because I saved KES 300 which I spend daily for purchase of food and water for my household of seven members.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge that I am currently facing is water insecurity due to the prolonged drought. It has been three years since we received enough rain in our area. All water sources have dried up and I have to walk for over nine hours to and from to access water at Silaloni water pan which is in Kwale county. Due to the long distance covered I have to forgo other economic activities that contribute to household income. Sometimes, we sleep without bathing so that we utilize the little water available for cooking.