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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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Mary's Profile
Mary's family
Mary
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Raising livestock
faceAge:
52
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($525 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?
My life is currently different than how it would have been had I never received the transfer since I have been able to build a decent house for my children. Before, they were sleeping in an old dilapidated house with leaking roof and weak walls. I was always afraid that it would collapse any time and cause some injuries on my children. Building this house for them has minimized my worries especially during this rainy season because I know that my children are always safe.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well by giving us unconditional cash transfers and I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my second transfer, I spent part of it to buy a dairy cow worth 27000. When it reproduces, my family will have milk for our consumption and for sake to earn an income. Also, I spent some amount to build a house for my sons. The one they had been living in was was old and its roof had started leaking. I spent the remaining amount to buy food for my family to last us for some time.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($528 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought a motorcycle. I operate a retail shop and stock transport had been a big challenge for me. I have a passion for the business thus I always struggled to keep it growing so that I could earn better income from. Even though my family needs is overwhelming that could require a lot from my business profits, I saw the high cost of stock transport as a major threat. I felt that I could have expanded the business if it was not for the transport cost. I took an initiative to save some little money with a plan to buy a motorcycle since I couldn't afford it at once. When I received the money from GiveDirectly I felt so happy because I knew this was the moment I had been waiting for, I took part of it to add to my savings and used it to buy a second-hand motorcycle from a friend. I am so happy that my current low cost of transport has greatly increased my profits. I currently enjoy effective and efficient transport thus have humble time to operate my business. My shop has grown I have many customers and the profits are much higher profits.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I remember it was very early in the morning when I heard an incoming message on my phone. When I checked, it was a message from GiveDirectly confirming that I had received a sum of 55000 KES. I felt so happy since I knew I would be able to buy a motorcycle to help me in my business. My family was so happy too because we had never received such an amount of money before.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I am a business person and among the challenges I had operating my business is the high cost of stock transport. I took a portion of my first transfer to add to my savings and used it to add stock to business and to buy a motorcycle. I use it as a mean of transport and I am happy It has greatly reduced my cost of transport. I spent the remaining amount to buy food for my family to add to what we had.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means initiating a poultry project that will enable me to earn some income upon selling eggs and chicken after they multiply. I will have to buy some wiremesh and barbed wire for fencing my compound in order to restrict the chicken from going to my neighbour's farms to destroy crops then buy materials for constructing the chicken coop before i buy mature chicks and their feeds to start up the project with. The remaining part of my transfer will enable me to pay next term's school fees with ease.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My typical day involves waking up as early as 6.30 in the morning to milk my two fressian cows, after which i prepare breakfast for my family then head to the shopping center to sell milk before coming back home to feed my herd. Its during this time that i am always happy ensuring my cattle are well fed since its the only source of income i depend on
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My first born daughter died 5 years ago leaving behind two children who have been under my care since then. The burden of taking care of these children together with my own two sons is the biggest hardship i have faced since i am a single mother with no one to support me financially. I depend on dairy farming where as per now only two of my cattle produce milk for sale. However, sometimes they produce less especially during drought something that pushes me to engage in casual jobs despite my age and deteriorating health. I hope that things will change when i start up poultry keeping as an alternative source of income