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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 > Hellen's Profile
Hellen's family
Hellen
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
44
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($510 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have bought a Water tank. I used to walk for a long distance to collect clean water for drinking and also for domestic use .This was tiresome and time consuming. I depend on small scale farming to earn income to support my family in meeting the basic household items. I did not had an extra money to saved so that I can buy a water tank. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled me to own a water tank. I no longer walk for that long distance. I have devoted my time on my farm.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly to buy a Water tank. I used to walk for a long distance to get clean water for drinking and also for domestic used. I also used some amount to fence my farm .The rest of the money I used it to buy clothes and food for my family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 12pm while relaxing outside my house under a shed. While trying to scroll my phone because I was idle and suddenly my eyes stopped fell on the GiveDirectly Mpesa confirmation. I was very excited, relayed the good news to my family who were overwhelmed with joy too. Immediately, I prepared and went to the nearest MoMo agent for the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is acquisition of a large water tank that can store alot of water at once. I had desired to buy one for the past two years but couldn't afford.This has reduced the time spent for fetching water and spent more time on my farm. Through the transfers, I have also managed to fence my compound which helps cattle from straying to other people's farms like before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20,000 on a 3000 liters on a water tank because clean water sources are quite far. I also spent KES 25000 on fencing my compound. I also spent KES 5000 on latest clothing fashion because earlier we could only afford second hand clothes. I also spent KES 8000 on two sacks of maize in order to sustain us for a longer period. I also KES 5000 spent on household utensils.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean a road map to financial success. To make my dream come true, I am intending to increase my business of buying and selling milk which I have been doing for awhile now. I normally buy 20 litres of milk at Ksh 30 per litre and sell at Ksh 35 per litre making a profit of Ksh 100 per day. Increasing the quantity of milk to sell through the transfer from Give Directly, mean a higher profit which makes a stepping stone to financial freedom.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. This is because I use my morning hours in doing my business of buying and selling milk. I use my afternoon hours in doing my normal household chores which ranges from fetching firewood, water to buying food for my family in the evening. Having time to relax while preparing supper with my family brings a sigh of relieve in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Inadequacy of finance to educate my children has been the biggest hardship I have faced in life. Even though I have a small business of buying and selling milk, I get a meagre profit of Ksh 100 a day which is hardly enough to cater for both School expenses and for domestic needs. Owing to the fact that I have one son who is in University level, meeting his college expenses gives me sleepless night. I am therefore intending to use the transfer from Give Directly to increase my business to a higher level and meet domestic and education expenses without much hustle.