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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 > Reuben's Profile
Reuben's family
Reuben
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
48
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($531 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I lost my job so many years ago, and I was stranded with the children in the house. People used to gossip on how I will manage to educate my children because there was no stable income. At the moment, I have managed to clear all the fees balance for the whole semesters for my two sons. I could now think of other issues but not school fees.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has given everyone equal opportunity to access the resources for their family needs. People have done worthwhile projects, some have paid fees to their children, some have engaged in farming, others have improved their nutrition status, others have built new houses, while the rest engaged in profitable businesses. GiveDirectly has done very little to recover the resources looted by the helpers and trustees.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on the payment of college fees. I have two children in University and I was unable to raise the the amount required. Having this money was a great step in my life, because education is the only inheritance a parent could give to the children. I am now confident that my children will complete their studies. This effort was also a motivation tool to my children that trigger them to work hard in school.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($533 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I couldn't afford a peaceful sleep previously knowing that my children risked failing to sit for their final secondary examination because I had not cleared their school fee and being girls worsened the situation because girls are so delicate. I'm happy and I'm at peace GiveDirectly came to my rescue and I managed to clear the school fee which enabled my daughters to sit for their final examinations. Previously, I couldn't receive a call immediately because I was always afraid the calls could be from the people I owed, so I used to hesitate before picking any call. On the contrary, that is not the current situation because I know I owe no one hence I can comfortably pick my calls at any time. This is the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 3.am while I was asleep and in the process I heard the phone peep twice. At first, I thought it was a message from Safaricom and I ignored it. The second time I decided to check the message and to my disbelief, it was a message from GiveDirectly. I couldn't believe the money was real, so I had to purchase some airtime to confirm if it was true I had received money from GiveDirectly. Believe you me I couldn't sleep and I felt the night was too long. I stayed awake till I heard the cock crows, I then woke up, and I was the first person at the Mpesa agent where I withdrew 1000 KES so that I could have a taste of the money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I had two major concerns at the time I received the money from GiveDirectly and I had to use the money to sort them out. My three children owed the school a huge amount of school fees because I do not have a proper source of income, so I couldn't afford to pay for the school fee on time. When I received the money I cleared school fee for two f the children because they were sitting for their final examinations, and they couldn't be allowed to sit for the examinations without clearing the school fee. For the other child, I only paid half of the school fee balance because he is in form three while the other half I'm planning to clear using the second transfer. A portion of the money I used to start up poultry farming because I believe poultry is fast paying since poultry breeds after every three months and it also pays well. This will enable me to have a reliable source of income thus I'll be able to meet the family needs on time and with a lot of ease.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money is going to uplift me from poverty. I am going to use it to repair my house and the remaining to start poultry farming which will be my main source of income in the near future. I'm so happy to be a beneficiary of Give directly.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up. A new day comes with new things therefore I am always optimistic that something good is going to come along.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I've ever faced in life is the financial hiccups caused by lack of a proper source of income. I depend on casual labours so I am not able to meet most of my wants.