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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 > Alexander's Profile
Alexander's family
Alexander
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Raising livestock
faceAge:
63
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($524 USD)
access_time over 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 has change than it would have been if I never received the transfer since I have a dairy cow with the courtesy of GiveDirectly . It has always been my desire to expand my herd for a long period of time but my income couldn't afford to buy any of them because I have a large family to take care of including orphans who are under my care. I intend to sell the offsprings once they mature in the near future hence that will assist me to provide them with daily needs and pay their school fees because every single day I envy to provide for my family and the orphan the best that this world can allow me to offer them. Secondly, I have beatified my house through painting it hence I am honored to be living in a clean environment . Thanks to you GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion ,being a beneficiary of cash transfer I can say its the best way to go. I say this because donations are able to reach the intend person without corruption and discrimination. Secondly, conducting door to door visits encouraged genuine targeted group who are the poor to benefit from the project which GiveDirectly did so well in both. I do not see what GiveDirectly did wrong at its work.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to buy a dairy cow . I feel this is a good investment since once they have reproduced and increased in numbers , I shall have ease to cater for emergencies. I have beatified my house through painting it and now its being admired by the rest of my neighbors. The remaining amount I bought a speaker which I donated in church since it had none.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($531 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
It is always my desire to give my family a good place to call home. I had previously built a small kitchen that looked spacious and decent enough when I had a small family with little needs to take care of in a day. As days went by my kitchen got older and older leading to its wall cracking and the roof leaking on top of it getting smaller. This had been a condition we had to live with since my little resources couldn't allow again to build a better one. I majorly depend on casual jobs and subsistence farming to support my growing family's daily needs. Our daily needs have been overwhelming that I had been forced to give my full attention leaving out my hope of building a decent kitchen. When I received my transfer, I felt happy that my hope had come again. I took part in it to construct a spacious decent kitchen. I am currently at peace as my family has a decent place to take pride in. Our food and household items are never rained on again like before and this is my happiness. Being able to fulfill this makes my heart be at peace and has given me a chance to focus on other development.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 3 am when I received a message alert on my phone. Since I was awake, I decided to check and know who the sender was and its contents. Upon realizing that GiveDirectly had sent me some transfers, I became so happy. I knew that I would be able to build a decent kitchen for my wife.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
When I received my first transfer, I spent some amount to build a decent kitchen for my family. I bought some building materials that include timber, sand, cement, iron sheets and paid a mason for this work. I settled on this since the one we had was old and its roof was always leaking during the rainy season. This always made our items soaked with water when it rained. Also, I built a chicken coop as a way of starting a poultry keeping project. I am planning to buy some chicken using my second transfers. I prefer this since it is cheap to maintain and can earn me an income enough to support my daily household needs. I also bought a wire mesh to use in fencing our compound so that my chicken will not be moving out of the compound to the farms.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have a plan on spending the first transfer on building a kitchen and starting poultry farming.The kitchen will cost me 15,000 Kenya shillings while the rest will go to poultry farming.For the second transfer I will pay school fees for the children I take care of who are orphans.One is in secondary school while the other is supposed to join a technical college.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a farmer and therefore spend most of the time around my farm.My first duty in the morning is feeding the cows.In the afternoons I either go for church meetings or visiting friends.This is the happiest part of my day.This is because I get to interact and socialize with people.We motivate and learn a lot from each other.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My wife is asthmatic and therefore requires close attention and medication each and everyday.This has been a big hardship and worry for me.I am a retired teacher and therefore do not have enough money to take her for specialized treatment.I have orphans whom I take care of like my own children.They need school fees and other basic needs.This has been a burden for me.