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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 > Tarkok's Profile
Tarkok's family
Tarkok
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Raising livestock
faceAge:
71
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($336 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?
I am planning to open a kiosk where I will sell fresh vegetables and a selection of household items, such as sugar. Although there are a few kiosks in the area, I am confident that I will attract customers. To gather the necessary capital for this investment, I plan to sell some of my livestock and the produce from my crop farm. This kiosk will enable me to support myself in addressing my daily needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am delighted with the transfer I received, which allowed me to plan independently because it was unconditional. Additionally, GiveDirectly officers treated me with great patience and respect during enrollment. They took the time to educate me thoroughly before I consented to the program, ensuring that I fully understood everything. I was also allowed to decide if I wanted to enroll. I hope they continue with this respectful and informative approach.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my final transfer, I paid school fees for my grandchild, who lives with me worth $250. Together with her parents, we support each other financially. As a small-scale farmer, my primary sources of income are from selling goats and engaging in crop farming. To sustain my farming activities, I invested $100 in plowing and planting maize, and I regularly irrigate the crops to mitigate the impact of frequent droughts. Additionally, I spent $11 on new clothes for my granddaughter and myself since our old clothes were worn out. With the remaining $89, I bought a sack of maize and other food items to ensure we had enough food in the house. Thank you GiveDirectly.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($285 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the years ahead, my focus is on investing in farming—specifically cultivating maize and beans using irrigation techniques on my one-acre plot near the river. To facilitate this endeavor, I plan to purchase my generator. This investment will eliminate the need to hire one, ensuring a more cost-effective and sustainable approach to farming. I aim to firstly, sell the produce generated from these crops. Doing so will provide the means to pay for my grand children's school fees and support our daily needs. Second, it's an initiative to reduce my reliance on my small herd of goats for sustenance. By diversifying my income through farming, I hope to create a more stable and reliable source of livelihood. This strategic shift will not only alleviate the pressure on my existing resources but also pave the way for a more secure future for myself and my three grandchildren.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The most impactful support from GiveDirectly has undoubtedly been the provision of unconditional cash transfers, a lifeline that has fundamentally changed my life. It's opened doors to opportunities I couldn't have pursued otherwise and has reached out to countless others in need.The transformative power of this approach has been profound, not just for me but for many individuals out there. Its ripple effect has touched lives, creating a positive wave of change that resonates far beyond just financial assistance. My wish is for this approach to continue, extending its reach to touch even more lives. Its simplicity and directness have proven to be the most effective in addressing immediate needs and fostering empowerment within communities.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving $450 from GiveDirectly was a profound blessing, offering immense relief and a chance to address pressing needs. Immediately, I allocated $70 to purchase iron sheets for the construction of a kitchen. Cooking outdoors had been a persistent struggle, aggravated by dust and privacy concerns, especially during rainy weather. Investing $16 in plastic chairs was transformative. No longer enduring the discomfort of traditional stools significantly improved my daily comfort, particularly considering my older age. Adding a $15 table further enhanced our living space. Securing food regularly was a persistent challenge. Relying on my small herd of goats to provide for my three grandchildren was simply unsustainable. Hence, $82 went into ensuring we had enough to eat. Our clothing situation had deteriorated significantly. Allocating $129 toward purchasing clothes and shoes for both my grandchildren and myself was essential for our dignity and well-being. Prudently managing the remaining $138, I chose to prioritize my grandchildren's education. With one in high school and two in elementary school.GiveDirectly's support has been transformative. It not only improved our immediate living conditions but also empowered us to invest in essential areas like shelter, food, clothing, and education. Thank you GiveDirectly.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($131 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I distinctly remember my phone buzzing with a message around 3 pm. Being illiterate, I asked my grandchild to read its contents, and to my surprise, it conveyed the joyful news of receiving funds from GiveDirectly. Realizing my grandchild could now return to school, as she had been sent home due to unpaid tuition, brought immense relief and happiness. Subsequently, my helper and I devised a plan for cashing out the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Clearing my grandchild's school fees promptly has made the most significant impact on my life. Now, she attends school regularly, ensuring she doesn't miss lessons due to delayed fee payments. I feel relieved and grateful for the remarkable transformation in my life
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The challenge of covering my granddaughter's secondary school fees has been a persistent struggle for our family. This is mainly due to the demanding nature of the tuition, given her enrollment in secondary school. Upon discovering the forthcoming unconditional support from GiveDirectly, I sensed an immediate positive transformation in our lives. Struggling to make ends meet with unreliable farming, raising the necessary funds became a significant hurdle. Consequently, I used the transfer to cover my granddaughter's $100 school fees, ensuring her education remains uninterrupted. Additionally, I allocated $50 for essential food and another $50 for clothing for my grandchildren, alleviating their previous struggle with tattered clothes. Now, with a conducive study environment and ample food supply, our family of six, which includes my husband and four grandchildren, expresses immense gratitude for the support that has brought newfound happiness into our lives.
 
Enrolled
access_time 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Receiving this money means an uplift to our lives and a continued improved quality of life. It is never easy here and people do all manner of activities to survive. Ours has been a hope against hope and sometimes we have resigned to fate. It is like a curse being old here since one is not able to fend for themselves and so live a life of misery and inadequacy. Food insecurity is what gives us headache and stress, it sucks and sicken us to the core to go to bed hungry at times. This transfer is the fortune of a lifetime to us, We are so elated since we are now certain that the problem of food insecurity will be a thing of the past even if for some time. We intend to use $ 200 to purchase foodstuffs that can sustain us at least for 6 months. We plan to use the rest of the transfers to purchase goats so that we can sell some of them in the future upon their multiplication to support our needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Today, there are a lot of problems in the land unlike in the past. We have lived long enough and we have seen it all. There has been unprecedented food insecurity occasioned by long droughts and the cases of terminal disease are on the rise and it has claimed the lives of most of our age mates. Amidst these challenges, God has been gracious to us, we are in good and sound health despite our advanced age, this is the hallmark of a blessed life. We are surrounded by the warmth and embrace of children and grandchildren and that's all we need!
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We are old, feeble, and unable to actively participate in income-generating activities unlike in the past. As a result we have become food insecure since our productivity has gone down. We used to practice maize farming but we no longer do so on the scale we used to do because it is labor-intensive. We have been forced to do with the inadequacy of foodstuffs and it makes our lives difficult, we buy food and sometimes it is unaffordable. Our immediate need is food, nothing else but it has proved hard sometimes to afford.