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.
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Newsfeed > Hellen's Profile
Hellen's family
Hellen
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
49
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Hellen's next check-in.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($277 USD)
access_time 9 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The outlook for this year appears promising, as we have commenced with rainfall, instilling hope for favorable conditions for farming. With this positive start, I am determined to channel my best efforts into cultivating my two acres of land. My plan is to cultivate maize and beans, both for commercial and domestic purposes. To guarantee high productivity, I am committed to executing all farm activities in a timely manner and ensuring that I have all the necessary inputs. The income generated from this farming venture will play a crucial role in supporting the education of our five children, who are at different educational levels. This strategic approach not only aligns with my farming goals but also serves as a means to secure a brighter future for our family by investing in the education of our children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I deeply appreciate the generous and unconditional transfers provided by GD. These transfers have been instrumental in helping us address our specific needs. I am genuinely delighted that I was able to upgrade the old hut where my daughters used to sleep to an iron-sheet house. This transformation not only provides them with a more spacious and comfortable sleeping arrangement but also proves to be a more cost-effective and less labor-intensive option for maintenance. The support from GD has brought positive changes to our living conditions, and I am grateful for that.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfer played a pivotal role in realizing a heartfelt goal of improving my daughters' living conditions, a dream that felt out of reach due to financial constraints. The challenges of frequent maintenance and replacements for the small, dimly shaded hut where my three daughters slept were daunting. The laborious process of thatching grass and smearing mud, coupled with the financial strain of purchasing grass from distant locations, added to our difficulties. The casual farm work, our main income source, has become increasingly challenging due to the persistent drought, making it hard to provide for the basic needs of my family of seven. The timely support from GD allowed me to turn this dream into reality. Allocating $32 for building materials and labour, we constructed a one-room house with iron sheets. This transformative step brought immense happiness, providing my daughters with a more presentable and spacious home and fostering their contentment and peace. In light of the challenges posed by last year's drought, which affected maize production on our two acres of land, I used $110 to secure a steady food supply for my family, ensuring they did not go hungry. Additionally, I sent the remaining $20 to my daughter, who had closed school, to cover her transport cost back home. The support from GD not only met our immediate needs but also brought a sense of hope and gratitude to our family during these challenging times.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
18010 KES ($121 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I vividly recall the moment I received my transfer from GiveDirectly, at approximately 4:00 P.M. The feeling of pure joy it brought me was indescribable. At that time, I was alone at home while my husband was working on the farm. When I informed him of the news, he too felt elated and appreciative. We were both aware that this support would allow us to fulfill the few plans we had made for our future. The wave of happiness and hope that this assistance brought into our lives was immeasurable, and we are genuinely grateful for the positive change it promised.nd we are genuinely grateful for the positive change it promised.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The most significant change in my daily life since receiving the first transfer from GiveDirectly is the ability to pay for the school fees of my five children. Previously, they would often stay at home for extended periods when we struggled to gather enough funds to send them back to school. With this support, I now have the means to keep them in school consistently, and I look forward to seeing them improve their grades as they no longer miss lessons. This transformation has brought immense relief and hope for a brighter future for my children, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity it provides us to secure their education.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the first transfer from GiveDirectly was a relief for my family, especially since I have five children at various levels of education, including my grandchild, and ensuring their school fees are paid on time has always been a significant obligation. Despite facing climate-induced challenges that affected our financial sources, I had been working tirelessly, engaging in subsistence and livestock farming and casual labor whenever opportunities arose. The support came as a great relief as it allowed me to clear accumulated tuition arrears of $115 for my five children, who have since been enjoying uninterrupted learning. I also bought a rechargeable solar lamp, making an initial deposit of $5 and planning to make subsequent daily payments over the next year. This was essential as it replaced an old torch we had been using for light, which was gradually dimming and hindering my children from completing their school assignments. I used $30 for clothing for both my spouse and children, and I used the remaining amount to buy food for my family of seven. I am grateful that the grace period since receiving the transfer has allowed us to make some savings, with plans to buy more food as we look forward to the subsequent transfers.
 
Enrolled
access_time 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
We have lived a life of misery and destitution. Life is full of challenges that even affording the most basic of needs is an uphill task. We have known a life of abject poverty and it seems to get worse thanks to the ever-escalating cost of living. The living conditions we have is bad, the house is mud-walled and in a dilapidated condition. The anti-hills have destroyed the walls and water seeps inside during the rainy season. We have always wanted to build a decent house that can accommodate all of us but lacked the means. These transfers from GiveDirectly could not have come at a better time than this, it is a life changer, and it is going to give us a new lease on life as we intend to build a better house; iron walled and roofed that will cost $450. We plan to use the rest of the money to purchase food and clothes.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My daughter has a disabled son, Fabian, whom I have been staying with . His leg was amputated at an early stage after an injection gone wrong. Sometime in May, we received a well-wisher who assisted us in purchasing a prosthetic leg for him and he can now move with less difficulty, he has even enrolled in school. I was so elated that finally my grandchild would lead a fairly normal life like other kids. He is happy now and plays with other children unlike before.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food security is afflicting us a great deal. Putting food on table is a toll order as we depend on casual jobs that are intermittent. We live from hand to mouth, and sometimes we lack what to eat even today we have not taken lunch. I have an allergy that has been a thorn in flesh in my life since I cannot engage in doing casual jobs in farms, I am very allergic to farm chemicals and therefore it has limited me from doing casual jobs which are common so most of the time we depend on my husband as the only sole breadwinner. The dependency ratio is high, I sympathize with him and feel bad that I am not able to help him fend for our children.