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 > Hellen's Profile
Hellen's family
Hellen
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
50
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
48200 KES ($469 USD)
access_time 7 years ago
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What did you spend your third transfer on?
When I received my third transfer, I built a semi-permanent house of 35 iron sheets worth 30000 KES. I decided to construct the house since I was not contented with my former house which was too tiny to offer us a healthy living-it was overcrowded and poorly ventilated. I paid school fees for my 2 children in a secondary school with the rest of the money and I can say that the transfer reached me at the right time. If it were not the money, my children would have not made it to do their end year examinations.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am currently living in a better house and my children are getting the right education. I believe that if it were not transfers from Give Directly, I wouldn't have achieved this since poverty had been a stumbling block for my success.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion, what makes me proud about Give Directly is the fact that they send us money in lumpsum-this would curb massive loss of money in that if one lumpsum gets lost, the recipient is able to curb the subsequent losses.However, I would just urge Give Directly to expand their geographical coverage; areas of operations to reach more desperate poor.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($491 USD)
access_time over 7 years ago
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What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to buy building materials which i will use to build a bigger and better house as the current house is too small and can't accommodate all my family members comfortably.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the ability to buy building materials which i want to use to build a better house which can accommodate my family members comfortably.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
10000 KES ($99 USD)
access_time over 7 years ago
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What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent 5,000 from my first transfer to pay school fees for my children, bought a mattress worth 3,350 KES , bought 10 tins of maize at 900 KES and the remaining 750 KES , i spent on buying food for my family.
What are you planning to spend your upcoming transfer on?
Am planning to use part of the second transfer to build a bigger house and remaining part to use in paying school fees for my children
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 8 years ago
 
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
We are planning to spend our transfer on renovating our house and paying school fees for our children. We have two children in high school and they have huge outstanding fee balances.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is the fact that I do casual work, and all the money I get goes towards supporting my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is lack of a steady stream of income, which sometimes forces us to go hungry when there's no work.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am relaxing in the house because the kids are around to help with the chores.