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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 > Philemon's Profile
Philemon's family
Philemon
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
43
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($467 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to buy more land to add to the one that I have. I want to do so because the one that I currently have is small and there is not enough space for making other developments. I have a plan to rear a big number of chickens, that is, 200 to 300 chickens. The space that I have is squeezed and the chickens will need a bigger one so that they can be cared for hygienically. I had bought 50 chickens with the transfer money. I would like to rear more because I have seen their benefit. A few of them that I bought have started laying eggs which I have been selling and getting money for buying their feeds and some household goods. I plan to sell some of the chickens when they will have become many and borrow a loan to add to the amount to achieve my goal.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly taught us well about the program in the meeting that they held with the community members. They have also been constantly calling us before and after we got the transfers to check on us and teach us more. This shows how much they care about us. They have also changed the lives of the people for the better, most of them have become busy unlike before. I do not see anything wrong with their way of work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the second transfer to complete making payment for the fifty chickens that I had booked. I had already paid a deposit of KES 10000 with the first transfer and I was still owing them KES 15000. I managed to clear the balance and I brought the chickens. I also spent KES 10000 on finishing up the construction of the poultry unit. I had constructed the poultry unit with the first transfer but I did not manage to fully complete the construction. I decided to start rearing the chickens so that they could help me in getting money for my studies through the sale of eggs. I also usually practice farming where I usually grow maize and vegetables. I plan to save the money that I make from farming to add to that of eggs so that I can achieve this. I was in college studying accounting but I had to stop schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic because I lacked money. Apart from the above, I also bought seats at KES 12000. I had managed to build a house before but I had not gotten money for buying the seats. So when I got the transfer from GiveDirectly I decided to buy them. I hence now have something to sit on together with my guests. The remaining amount of money helped me in buying the feeds for the chickens. I usually buy a bag of feeds at KES 4000 every week. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for the support.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was working on the farm as I do on most mornings when at 10 a.m, I received a message notification. I checked my phone and saw that I had received the KES 55,0000 I had been promised by GiveDirectly. I was so happy that GiveDirectly had kept its promise.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
It is wonderful how much progress I have made in my life since receiving this transfer. From the cash received, I have started poultry farming, which has been a goal of mine for a long time. I am now able to sell the broilers at KES 150 each and earn a decent amount of money. From this, I can provide food, shelter and clothing for my family. I couldn't be more grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a farmer and have always desired to start poultry farming. So I was glad to receive this transfer and spent KES 22,000 on acquiring broilers and building a chicken coop. Since I did not have any furniture in my house, I spent the rest of the amount on buying chairs, a bed and tables. I also bought a television and I am happy that I can keep up with the news.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been unemployed for the last five years and I have been struggling to make ends meet. I started a motorcycle spare shop in the year 2014 in the nearby town which didn't make it beyond 2017 due to the low number of buyers. I am currently employed as a casual laborer within the village working on other villagers' farms by digging, fencing, and or weeding earning an estimated wage of KES 300 a day. The job itself is unreliable and I seldom get one and my wish is to get capital to start and run a business. I intend to spend KES 40,000 of the transfer to start and run poultry farming as a business and thus materializing my dream. Therefore, receiving this money means an improved living standard.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My morning hours entail working (digging, planting, fencing, and or weeding) in my one-acre piece of land where I have grown maize. I spend the rest of the afternoon hours herding my 2 dairy cows while preparing their feed for the next day. Therefore, the happiest part of my day is in the evening because this is the only free time I have to rest as I figure out how the next day will look like.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a reliable source of income has been the biggest hardship I have faced in life. Since I lost my job 6 years ago, and the subsequent closure of business in 2017, life has been an uphill task. I used to work in a certain organization in a nearby town earning an estimated salary of KES 22,000. The organization was dissolved in the same year. Due to financial inadequacy, we separated from my wife in 2017 who went with my kid. This added salt to the injury leaving me to fend for my life solely. I, therefore, intend to start and run poultry a business using the transfer. This will be a renewed hope in my life.