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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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Completed
Newsfeed > Grace's Profile
Grace's family
Grace
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
56
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($312 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Looking ahead, I want to put more concentration on my tomato farming. Right now, I work on half an acre of land, but I aim to expand that to one acre by leasing the extra half. I also want to strategize to gain a strong footing in a competitive irrigation system, which is crucial for successful farming in our area. With this coordinated effort, I expect to have a bountiful harvest from it, which will bring in a good income that will enable me to pay for my children's school tuition. I have a child in college and four others in secondary school. With a bigger and better farm, I'm confident that I can achieve this goal and give my family a brighter future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What stands out to me about GiveDirectly is their choice to prioritize female to be their recipients within households instead of men. This approach is smart because women usually have a deeper understanding of their families' needs, resulting in the funds being used more efficiently.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I decided to allocate a substantial sum of the transfer towards enhancing my livestock farming initiative. I invested $250 in acquiring a dairy cow. The acquisition of this cow holds the potential to yield a dual benefit: it will serve as a domestic milk source and contribute to our income through commercial milk sales. I am optimistic that I will be able to fulfill my family's financial demands through the revenue from this investment. In addition, I directed $140 towards the procurement of two Dorper sheep. These animals are renowned for their rapid maturation and ability to produce high-quality carcasses, which are in demand in the Kenyan market. I wanted to take advantage of these qualities by investing in this area so that we might perhaps improve our financial chances through their sales. Moreover, I used $60 to cover my daughter's college tuition fees. This action aims to address a recurring challenge where she is often sent home or unable to take exams due to fee deficits. I am happy now knowing that she can concentrate on her studies.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($335 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, paying school fees for my three children is proving to be a challenge. In order to ensure that I can comfortably pay for their education, I plan to enhance my farming activities. This includes expanding my current plantation area from three acres to at least four and gaining better access to the competitive irrigation system that is vital for farming. With a successful harvest, I am confident that I can fully pay for their school fees and even have some proceeds left over to cover other household expenses.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has been able to make a significant positive impact on the lives of the beneficiaries they have supported. The organization has been able to bring about a remarkable transformation in the lives of many individuals who were previously struggling with poverty, including the elderly. Through their support, these individuals are now able to take care of themselves, and the positive changes have left many of the beneficiaries feeling grateful and hopeful for the future. The success of the program has been attributed to their effective implementation strategies, which have been able to meet our needs and transform our lives for the better.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Right after transplanting tomato seedlings onto my one-acre land, I received the second transfer. It is always expensive to manage the plants and requires hiring labor for staking the plants to enhance air circulation, applying sufficient fungicides when necessary, and eventually harvesting. In order to ensure that all the necessary requirements were met, I utilized $250 of my second transfer, and I am glad that I was able to reap a good harvest which I am currently selling. I also used $80 to pay for my daughter's tuition fees in secondary school. Previously, she would frequently be sent home due to lack of school fees, which was difficult to obtain as our farming activities had been failing due to drought, and she had no expectation of receiving assistance from anyone at that time. Furthermore, I used the remaining $120 to purchase two sacks of maize, which my family of six is still utilizing as food.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($160 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was never too long after the initial meeting, which was full of information that would help us safeguard our transfer before we received the first transfer. Around 1:00 PM, I received a message notification confirming the receipt of the first transfer after reviewing the content. I was at home at the time with my spouse and two children, with whom we rejoiced after informing them of the good news. We continued to plan until the second day when I went to the nearby shopping center to collect the entire amount.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The construction of a pit latrine with an extra space that we use as a bathroom is the most noticeable difference in my daily life. After a heavy downpour that split the village in two, an encroaching lake destroyed our old home. We had to relocate, and I am relieved that we have now settled, built new houses, and are hoping to build other structures so that we will not have to relocate again in the event of a disaster.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We relocated to a new location away from the lake to avoid floods as well as crocodile, hippos, and snake attacks. A lot was missing in the new home that we wished for but could not afford due to financial constraints. We prioritized the construction of a pit latrine with an extra space serving as a bathroom upon receiving the first transfer. When we were pressed, we ended up turning to the bush, which exposed not only my family to waterborne diseases but also the entire community, which came into direct contact with moving water full of dirt during rainy seasons. As a result, we spent $120 digging a 10-foot-deep pit, buying two bags of cement, and paying labor costs to construct a decent latrine. I also purchased a $60 sack of maize, which we are currently using with my current family of four, and spent the remaining amount on other household goods that we were missing. I am grateful for the evident transformation in such a short period of time and hope to do more with the subsequent transfer.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My greatest achievement in life is to see my five children living a better life in future. I personally dropped out of school at an early age due to lack of school fees. The struggles I have gone through has made me enroll three of them in boarding secondary schools. We keep livestock ( goats and cows) inorder to meet all their basic needs including good education but because of unpredictable weather patterns and lack of enough pasture, it fetches low prices. We have $300 school fees in arrears and they are sent home once in a month. This affects there performance as they spend most of their time at home. I will be happy when I receive the transfers because it will help pay the school fees they will comfortably study and improve on their performance. The rest of the money I will invest in poultry keeping for income sustainability.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Food security for my family is what brings me happiness. Despite living in a semi-arid area, I harvested fifteen bags of maize two months ago. With the help of a loan that I borrowed from a local bank, I leased 1 acre piece of land and planted maize. I was able to sell ten bags which earned me $ 500 and stored the other five bags for home consumption.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I rely on livestock keeping to earn a living but it comes with its own share of challenges like diseases. Sometimes it is expensive to purchase medicine and vaccines. Three months ago, I lost fifty goats to a viral disease which was a big loss. We have never recovered financially from it at thesame time we fear investing more in livestock. This could be controlled if we had better veterinary services in our area which I feel is a lapse from the government.