GDLive Newsfeed
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 > Helen's Profile
Helen's family
Helen
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Tailoring
faceAge:
35
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Helen's next check-in.
 
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I was able to hire my neighbour who owns an oxen-driven plough to plough my farm in preparations for the next planting season. This was all made possible by these transfers because if I had not received them, I would continue to plough the farm on my own. I had begun ploughing a small section of the farm months ago on my own and it was very hectic, so I decided to sacrifice and paid for assistance. At least I do not have to strain too much on the farm now, all thanks to the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
As we are in the farming season, I plan to use the next transfers to buy farm inputs such as fertilizer and hybrid seeds to increase my chances of having a bumper harvest. I will also use some of it to hire labourers who will assist in weeding the farm as it is too large for me to weed on my own and my husband who would assist works away from the village.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Being that I do not have a stable source of income, I mostly depend on my husband for most of my financial needs. This usually makes it tough for me to make some critical financial decisions because he only sends the money when he can since he lives away from home. With these transfers that I receive, I can always go ahead and make my plans as I wait for him to send the money which makes almost all my plans run smoothly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am planning to invest most of my next transfers on farming with the hope of having a better harvest this season. I will buy drought-resistant seeds just in case the weather turns out to be as bad as it was last season and also fertilizer to boost productivity. With all these, I hope that I will have a bumper harvest next season so that I will not have to worry about buying cereals for a long period. Lately, cereals have become so expensive, especially maize which is our staple food and buying it will make my life very tough, especially when I will no longer be receiving the transfers.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
In the last four months, I have always provided all the three meals a day for my family courtesy of GD transfers. I have struggled to raise money to feed my family since I had to pay school fees, pay for medication and other family needs with the little I used to get from casual work. Whenever someone was sick or had to pay school fees for my children, we would have to forgo some meals to cater for other family needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to expand my foodstuff business which I started recently started with part of the transfers. I would want to improve it to a hotel business so that I can get a good income regularly to help meet my family needs in time from the profits.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I do not struggle as much as I used to before the transfers. My family only depended on my small income from casual work which was not consistent enough to help meet my family needs. I would struggle to make ends meet and in most cases, I would be overwhelmed by needs. Since I started receiving these transfers, I have been able to budget well and it has helped me reduce most of my daily needs. This has been very helpful because I do not feel stressed as before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would want to buy a cow. I will use it as a remembrance for what GD did to my life and as an investment for my family. I know it will reproduce and hence the number will increase. I can be able to sell some to raise money to handle other needs in the family.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different in life for the next four months is that I have been able to boost my small business and now the profits have doubled. These profits and the transfer I receive from GiveDirectly, I am able to provide basic needs for my family on a daily basis with ease unlike before when we could have one meal in a day or even none. I am so grateful for the support which has revied the joy of my family again.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have no new goat but rather to continue boosting my business to a point where it will be stable and sustainable hence I will be certain of getting income comfortably and provide for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I had been struggling with my business to the point that I almost gave up since the profits were very little to expand it and at the same time cater for my basic needs. The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have been able to boost my business and now from the profits and the transfer I receive from GiveDirectly, I use it to provide basic need for my family on a daily basis with ease unlike before when we could have one meal in a day or even none. We are so grateful for the support because now we have enough food and my family eats well without any much struggles.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect in the next six months that I will be able to save part of the profits of the business and buy a goat. With this goat, I believe I will earn an extra income through its sale in the near future.
 
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is that I now have a steady business thanks to the transfers issued from Give directly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will open a better and bigger shop. I will employee a few people to run the shop.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I was constantly stressed whenever my business went down, this meant not enough money for the family but currently, my stock has been boosted the sales is awesome.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I planning to open a shop.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I am facing is lack of enough money to provide my family with at least three meals a day since i averagely earn shillings 100 a day from my tailoring work and is not enough for our meals.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening when am done with my tailoring work and I have gotten some profit from it. This makes me sure that i will use it to buy a meal for family.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Am planing to spend my transfer on opening a tailoring shop because now am doing my tailoring work in my house which is very small and customers can't also reach me easily.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement was being able to save money from working as casual labourer on people's farm and get capital to start my own tailoring work in my house