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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 > Judy's Profile
Judy's family
Judy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
27
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($523 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
There is a really big difference in my life now that I received the transfers. I have really improved a great deal something I would not have gotten any money to facilitate the changes. What I have now would not have been there if not for the transfers. Right from clothing for the whole family, the growing cows, poultry project, furniture just to mention but a tiny few are some of the great things GiveDirectly has done in my life.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has been the light of our society. It has really changed a lot of lives. It has uplifted those who are poor in the society to a better level, they are now able to provide for their families. Many have constructed their new houses, others starting their businesses, buying livestock and others buying furniture to improve the appearances of their houses. We really thank GiveDirectly for making all that possible in our village. Although GiveDirectly did a lot of impressive work in our village, we still feel that there are some members of our society who deserved to receive the same help we received. We have separated families in our village where wives got separated from their husbands and they are now taking care of a whole lot of children without the support of their husbands. Since they were found in their mother's homes, they were not considered as independent recipients. This disadvantaged them a lot and now they are watching other members of the society making changes in their lives while they struggle with casual labor every day in. I still fees feel that GiveDirectly can do better by helping them too so that they feel like they are part of the developing society.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received the second transfer I was very happy that the ideas I was having in mind will come to pass. I decided to establish a poultry project where I started by constructing a chicken coop which cost me 4000 KES. I purchased six hens all at the laying stage. I have been eager to start this project since with the other members of the village who have started, it is a really profitable project which will always generate income even when other sources are not. Selling of eggs and even chickens will be one way of settling bills. Since we constructed our new house, we have been hoping to change a lot of old things and bring in new ones. I opted to spend part of the transfers in purchasing utensil. We also needed better furniture and I decided to purchase five plastic chairs. I will be taking one of the chairs as a present to the church leaving four to be used in the household. After all those expenses, I was still able to save 31000 KES as I await my husband to come back from the job place so that we use in the project which we had discussed earlier. We had a plan to purchase two cows which we'll the rear to a point where we will sell towards purchasing a piece of land. I am hopeful that all will be well as we plan ahead and with all these, we expect a better future in our household. thank you GiveDirectly.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($543 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my life ever since I started receiving transfers from Give Directly is that I am now ambitious and happy with life.- I now own six cows that I acquired with the help of Give Directly. The cows produce enough milk some of which we sell and a few liters kept for family consumption. I am planning to sell some of the calves and buy a piece of land.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very excited the moment I received the money. I remember getting a notification message early in the morning. When I got up to check what the message was all about I realized it was from Give Directly notifying me they had sent me the amount they had promised us. I couldn't contain my joy after receiving the good news. I remember starting to plan immediately how I would use the money. I have never been this happy before and I thank Give Directly for making my day
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spend KES40000 of my transfers to buy two cows. I already had a few cows before adding the two. My intention was to have a certain number of cattle because according to my calculations if I kept the cows for a few months and feed them well, their value would go up. My target amount would then be attainable if added the two cows that I bought using the transfers I got from Give Directly. I am planning to buy a piece of land after selling the cows. I am a casual laborer and I don't think I would be able to buy land if I only relied on the wages I got from the casual jobs. I spent the remaining amount to meet our daily needs such as buying food. I usually prefer to buy food in bulk because it is cheaper. I always feel that farming is an expensive and tedious process.
 
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live in a grass thatched house and i have always wished to build an iron sheet roofed house hence with this money i will be able to realise my dream. I will also use part of the money to improve the breed of cattle that i have by selling the indiginous breed that produces low quality milk and buying the exotic breed which produces more milk. With this, i will be a constant milk supplier within the neighbourhood which will earn me an extra source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiness always comes in the morning after waking up healthy and strong enough to carry on with my routine jobs that will enable me to meet needs of my family. Waking up healthy gives me strength work harder during the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Back at home, my siblings and i are orphans and i am the sole breadwinner of the family. This has been a great challenge since my two sisters are currently studying in secondary school yet i struggle alot to pay their school fees. I engage in casual jobs such as going to the river to fetch water to sell in the nearby shopping center as well as going to the forest to fetch firewood which i also sell daily to earn a living. I earn upto ksh 200 per day which is barely enough to meet the needs of my own family as well as the needs of my siblings back at home.