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:
54
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($517 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
There is really a big difference now that I received transfers from GiveDirectly compared to if I had not received. Many things have changed which I feel they would not have been in existence without the transfers. I would still be suffering from a lot of insufficiencies among them is milk which I was always buying unlike now when I have my own cow. I had a small house but I have managed to construct a large and decent one at the moment.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly really did us a great job in our village which left us praising God for the great answer He gave us over our prayers. We are still thankful and feeling that it was really a great idea and decision for GiveDirectly to have worked in our village. On the other hand, we sometimes feel that it would have been good if it would have established public projects which includes water projects. This is because everybody would have benefited from the project and no one would be watching other members of the village enjoying the money when they did not receive the transfers.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
Fetching water in our household had been really tedious work before receiving the transfers from Givedirectly. We had been working over long distances to find the only source of water which was serving the whole community. The situation would worsen during drought seasons since we would find very long queues in the spring but it has been a relieve since we received the transfers which we decided to spend part of it on buying a large water tank which will act as a reservoir collecting water during rainy seasons. We also used part of the transfer on paying school fees for my son who is currently in college, we bought clothing for all the members of the household and used the remaining amount on buying foodstuff.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($536 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
It is difficult to choose which of the differences is the biggest. I am just grateful for them all. From the cow, to the house we built, food and clothes. I will perhaps say it is the cow that is the biggest difference for us. We had borrowed from someone and it is not as owning your own. We say a Big Thank You! for the funds. May God bless GD and the source of these funds.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
We were elated to receive cash from GiveDirectly. We all woke up to pray and thank God for sending us such help. This is the first time in my entire life to receive such an amount of cash at once. We were happy to say the least!
What did you spend your first transfer on?
We had swept all our cows in the compound till we had none; selling them so as to pay school fee for our children. So when we received the first GiveDirectly transfer, we decided to buy a cow because we have been buying milk for long. The cow will give us milk in four months hence buying it will be no more. We also bought iron sheets, nails and timber to build a temporary small house for our son. He has been living with his elder brother and his cousins. He will soon have his own small house. We also bought food, clothes and thanked God for sending us cash through GiveDirectly. We are now well-clothed and well-fed. I also paid tithe at church and bought a Bible and hymn song book with the funds.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We have been struggling with School fees and now that we will get the transfer from GiveDirectly, the burden will be lessen. This mean we be able to pay School fees without much struggle.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Seeing a new day is a great opportunity in my life. This means the happiest part of my day is in the morning.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship we have faced in life is lack of enough land to cultivate. Due to the fact that the land which is under cultivation is only one acre, it is hardly enough to cater for the entire family and again this area less productive in that it is clay soil. Therefore we wish to buy another land in a more productive area.