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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Stella's Profile
Stella's family
Stella
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Tailoring
faceAge:
35
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($528 USD)
access_time 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 greatly changed since I received my transfers. It is always my happiness to see my family happy and healthy thus I always struggle to put a meal on the table and bring in more assets that we can lean on as a family during hard times. When I received my transfer from GiveDirectly, I spend part of it on my family wellness. I bought a cow that I look at it as an added asset and I believe soon it will calve thus give us milk for both household consumption and sales. I am happy that this has given me a peaceful mind in that It has reduced my thinking of what to lean on in case of a financial crisis. In addition, I spent some money on my son's school fees. I am at peace now since he will have a humble time for his studies and be allowed to sit for the exam. I am happy that GiveDirectly has improved our family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
We have been able to provide for our families effectively, purchasing livestock as assets and most importantly, building better iron-roofed houses thus enjoying good shelter. In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in uplifting and I urge them to continue doing so.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my transfer on farming. I used it to buy a barbed wire, poles and wire mesh to use in fencing my compound. I settled on this so that my livestock and chicken will not be moving to the farm to destroy our crops. Also, I spent part of my transfer to pay school fees for my children. I am now a happy parent because they were allowed to sit for their end year examinations. This an achievement for me since I believe my children will only have a brighter future through education. In addition, I spent the remaining amount to buy food and clothes for my family to add to the few we had.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($536 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily is that I managed to build a poultry house using the transfers I got from Give Directly. I think I can now do the poultry business in large scale because I built a big house. I am happy because I will not incur the losses which I use to incur previously. My eggs cannot be eaten by dogs and cats like before.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was so excited when I received the transfers. At first, I thought they were empty promises. I had doubts that someone can really help without expecting anything in return. I knew that my plans would be accomplished. I sat down and started budgeting how I would spend the money without wasting a penny.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 15000 of my transfers to pay school fees for my child who is in college. Apart from that, I used the remaining KES 20000 to purchase iron sheets and timber for constructing a business premise that I plan to rent out to any potential entrepreneur. I also spent KES 15000 to build a poultry house. I had some chicken but didn't have a proper structure to house them. I then used the remaining amount to buy my clothes and a few for my children. I feel like I have done a lot in a very short time. I am very grateful to this organization for enabling me to achieve all this.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Since I am a tailor, I am planning to expand my tailoring business by buying more materials.More materials will help me train more students who at the end of it pay me for imparting them with the skills.I will also open a barber shop next to my tailoring shop.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My first morning duty is milking my cows.I then have breakfast and head to the shopping centre where I open my tailoring shop.This is where I spend most part of the day.This is the happiest part of my day since I put my skills into practice and at the same time interact with people.At the end of the day I do not go home empty handed.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When I was sixteen years old I got pregnant which forced me to drop out of secondary school.After giving birth I felt ashamed going back to school since I already had a child.Two years later I joined a polytechnic to do tailoring which has since been my source of income.My dream was to complete secondary school and train as a teacher which I did not achieve.If I was a teacher I could be getting a higher income compared to now.This low income has made me struggle educating my two children.One is in university while the other is in primary school.It hasn't been easy being a mother at such an early age.I have really struggled considering that I am a single mother.