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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 > Stellah's Profile
Stellah's family
Stellah
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
30
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($457 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Alongside my livestock farming, I have a small clothing business I had been running and am dependent on its proceeds for the past year. At the moment, I wish to bring in new stock and expand the market scope by trying to reach out to many customers in various markets. I am banking on dairy farming whose products earn me an appreciable amount, enough to meet the daily bread for my family and save towards the expansion of the clothes business. In a month's time, I will have raised enough amount to add the stock that I hope will attract more customers and thus a better profit margin after the sale.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did amazing work, that has completely changed the livelihood of many households in the village. By educating us in the initial meetings before enrollment, they imparted to us a lot of knowledge that enhanced the informed decisions we made on spending. This organization is the first of the many that have been working in the nearby villages to give their support in monetary form. We would sometimes sell the material goods we had been getting from other aids to meet our households' immediate needs, but the idea of giving us money facilitated diversified spending that solved individuals' financial challenges. I am satisfied with the approach from the start of the program to the end when we receive the second transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After 7 years of buying milk for my family of four, I am relieved after buying a lactating dairy cow at KES 40000 from the second transfer. This was the second cow after buying one with the first transfer that produced some liters just enough for my household use. To increase the production, I brought in a better breed that has created an extra source of income every time I sell the surplus liters of milk. In addition to dairy farming, I also constructed a chicken coop and reestablished poultry farming that I had lost hope in after losing all my birds to a mysterious disease a year ago. Starting small with the few chickens that have been sheltering in my kitchen has given me hope of growing it bigger and more profitable in the future when they start laying eggs.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($473 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was almost 6 am and I had just woken up. I was heading to the kitchen to light the fire so that I could prepare breakfast for my family when suddenly I heard my phone ringing notifying me that I had received a new message. I checked it and wow! I could not believe it when I read that I had received KES 55000 that GiveDirectly had promised us. I was so happy and I immediately went and informed my husband who was still sleeping. He was so happy too and we thanked God for it. We now knew that we were going to be able to achieve the plans that we had already made.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that the transfer has brought into our lives is that we have had some peace of mind having paid off the land debt. We no longer owe anyone anything. I am also glad because with having built the chicken house, the chickens are now safe from predators. They no longer move around like before since they are fed from their house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spent KES 40000 of our recent transfer on paying off debt. We had bought a piece of land before from our neighbor but we didn't manage to pay the full amount at the time since we didn't have enough money. We decided to buy the piece of land because the one we had was small and we wanted somewhere where could grow animal feeds for our cows. We then spent another KES 9000 on constructing a chicken house. I didn't have one before and hence the few chickens that I used to rear, used to sleep in the kitchen. They used to cause a lot of mess and they used to disturb me whenever I was cooking in the kitchen. It was always my wish to build a chicken house so that I could rear more chickens but I didn't have the money. The chickens have been of great help to me. I usually sell the eggs and the money that I get from the sales usually helps me in buying the essential household items and to buy feeds for them. Other than that, I also usually practice farming where I usually grow crops such as vegetables, maize, and spring onions and sell them during the market day to get some income. With the remaining transfer amount, we spent it on buying fifteen more chickens and we bought feeds for them. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for the support.
 
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
It has always been my desire to own a lactating cow but unfortunately, due to financial incapabilities, I have not yet accomplished this mission. My family of 4 depends on farming to cater for the basic needs such as food, clothing and school fees for the 2 children in Pre-primary 2 and grade 7. When I receive these transfers, I intend to use KES 40000 to purchase a lactating cow that will serve as an investment to my family. I will be excited that my children's future will be secure since I will be able to earn an extra income to support my husband.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Due to unfavourable climatic conditions, I diversified crops on my farm. In August 2021, I sowed 500 grams of bulb onions on 0.5 acres of land that I was fortunate to harvest in January and February 2022. I was delighted to earn KES 3800 in total that I used to pay for my daughter's school fees and purchased 20kilograms of maize for the household.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My family of 4 solely depend on farming to cater for the basic needs such as food, clothing and payment of school fees. Previously, farms were productive as we could harvest up to 540kilograms of maize from the 1-acre land. However, life took a turn in 2018 to date when my area was hit with harsh climatic conditions that led to prolonged drought, diseases and hunger. It pains me now that I only harvest 40kilograms from the same 1acre of land which lasts the household barely 2 months.