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
attach_money
 
Transfers
check
Completed
Newsfeed > Hellen's Profile
Hellen's family
Hellen
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
44
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($477 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
For a while I had wanted to have my own tailoring machine because prior I used to work at a friends place and use her machine when it came to tailoring which was not convenient most times. I also had plans to renovate my house and I also wanted to open a store and sell different things at the store like maize flour, sugar or vegetables
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am very happy with the financial help I got from this project because it enabled me to afford somethings that had been on my mind for a while including the tailoring machine which I use and work from home with. I have gained financial stability and can now afford to sustain myself.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I took care of tuition fee for two of my children which was almost KES 5,000 and I also went ahead and bought three bags of maize flour that contained twelve packets which cost me KES 3,150 in total. Apart from that I went ahead and added the stock in my shop since I had managed to open one with the first installment which ccost KES 5,000 and lastly I bought two goats for KES 4,000.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($498 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had left my phone in the house going to fetch water at the nearby water point. When I arrived home, my husband notified me that I had received the transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt very happy for receiving the transfer and thank God for the opportunity to improve our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to boost my tailoring business by purchasing a new sewing machine. Currently, it flourishing well and is able to earn more income from dressmaking. Previously, I was struggling serving my customers due to the fault sewing machine which brought a lot of frustration to me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 15000 to purchase a sewing machine for my tailoring business. The machine that I was using was faulty hence I had a lot of difficulties in attending to my customers. I also used KES 2000 to boost the kiosk business I operate jointly with the tailoring job. In addition, I used 20,000 to purchase 2 lorries of building stones which I am planning to use in repairing my house by making it more permanent. Furthermore, I supported the education of my 2 children who are in primary school. I save the remaining amount to assist in purchasing building Sandy for the construction of my house.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means I will repair my house and cement the flour which will cost me twenty thousand shillings !. I will open my tailoring business which will cost me about thirty thousand shillings , pay for my children's education and reserve ten thousand shillings for emergency cases.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is during the afternoon hours, this is the time I have finished cooking my lunch, my children are back from school and we enjoy the meals together.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I got an accident last year which injured my limb. I stayed indoors for more than three months. I didn't get good treatment. This gave me a problem in walking for a long distantance.This is the biggest problem I have faced in life.