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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 > Kelong's Profile
Kelong's family
Kelong
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Motorcycle or bicycle taxi
faceAge:
26
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($466 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?
I currently own a barbershop which I started with my first transfer. My new goal is to save towards buying land so that I can indulge in subsistence farming hence cutting costs of buying food, especially during dry seasons.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The unconditional cash transfer we received uplifted our poor living standards. Everyone who received in my village spent in the right manner since most people had been struggling to meet basic needs.Indo not have any complain.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my second transfer, I spent Kshs.6,000 building a chicken coop and also bought chicken worth Kshs.4,000.I chose to start poultry farming so that I can sell eggs hence more income. I also paid a down payment of Kshs.15,000 for a motorcycle which I took at hire purchase hence paying monthly since I have someone running the business. With Kshs.16,000 I used to purchase iron sheets to complete a house I had started with my first transfer and also did the entire finishing. With Kshs.9,000 I tilled my land and maize seedlings which in a few months ahead we will harvest and can sustain my family for the remaining part of the year. With the remaining amount, I used to buy food for my household members.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had started my day normally, waking up early in the morning to attend to my usual motorcycle business where I had been ferrying people and goods to the marketplace all day. Having worked the previous night till late, I had to leave my phone charging that morning hoping to pick it later little did I know that I will be busy all day. I could not realize that the transfer was in but the rate at which people were calling me over in need of my motorbike services to town was alarming. I was lucky then to have an alternative phone and could not get back home. On arrival later that evening, I was greeted by the great news on my phone. At that point, I got the reason behind the high traffic towards the shopping center all day. Everyone in the village had received the transfer and was moving to withdraw and at least start shopping what they had planned for. I was so happy to find mine safe in my account and had to wait till the next morning to withdraw. We made our plans clear with my wife, and together we moved out in the morning to try accomplishing all that we needed first for our construction work.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
After receiving the transfer, I have witnessed a great transformation in my household marked by impressive changes at every point of our expense. The biggest difference though is the newly constructed house, spacious enough and stronger than the previous one since its walls are wooden, unlike the previous one that was made of mud. I am grateful to be done with the construction, and for the next 10 years, I will be working on other projects that would have been competing with the plans to construct. It is even easier to currently plan for our son's schooling program as that is the only point pushing us to start saving to ease his school fees payment when he joins.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the first KES 40000 of my first transfer, I constructed a new house after obtaining enough timber, iron sheets, and also paying the labor force. I had been living in a mud-walled house and receiving the transfer was a great opportunity for me to upgrade to a semi-permanent one. Currently, I have a family of three with my firstborn son joining the pre-school class. Getting things in order at the moment is a great step since paying school fees might be harder if at all I will be caught up with time before erecting any lasting structure. I also managed to spend KES 3200 on obtaining one sack of maize as we had been buying in small quantities all along from the nearby market at a bit higher prices compared to the bulk we just obtained. With the remaining amount, I managed to obtain new clothing for every household member and also constructed a new chicken coop with the plan to soon introduce indigenous breeds to enhance the collection of eggs and regeneration of young ones that will, in turn, be sold as an additional source of income in the future.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
From the time I was in college,I have always wanted to establish a modern barber shop and a bigger house within this village.There are only two barber shops within the village and it becomes congested most of the time.I want to build another house because my kid is growing and it won't be comfortable for me and my kids sharing this one room.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is the afternoon when I have provided a decent lunch (rice/beans or ugali and vegetables) for my family.Its rare in this area for people to take heavy lunch.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Finance is a big challenge for me. For instance last week I had to borrow money from my friends and family members to offset the hospital bill for my wife who delivered our firstborn child .