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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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Newsfeed > Pamela's Profile
Pamela's family
Pamela
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
39
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on Pamela's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
The difference in my life in the last four months is that I have new household items such as seats which I did not have in my house. I used to sit on jerricans and whenever I had visitors, I had to beg for seats from my neighbours. This broke our relationship with them and at times they would hide from me. I used to feel lonely because my friends chose to stay away from me. Anytime they saw me, they thought I was just going to beg and this was very discouraging. I am glad GD transfers changed the condition cause I was able to buy new seats with part of the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I have a new goal of buying a cow. In my area, when you don't have a cow, you are considered poor. I would not want to be in that category anymore. Hence I want to buy a cow to change my name in the village.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have always depended on farming as my main source of income. Since I did not have enough farming land, I have never managed to achieve the kind of harvest I have dreamt of. I just tried the much I could with the piece of land I had. When I first received the transfers, I used it to lease in a piece of land which I used for farming. This expanded my farm area which helped me receive a better harvest than the previous ones. I also used part of the transfer to buy farming inputs such as hybrid seeds and fertilizer.which were very helpful in boosting my harvest.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that I will have plastered my house. I have smeared for long and I feel its time I should mop just like my neighbours. This will be an improvement in my life since I have desired but could not have due to low income from farming.
 
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago because l am eating very will and comfortable because I got enough produce from the farm that I hire using give directly's money.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal in the next four months is to buy more plastering materials and plaster my house since I am staying in a very dusty house where I am not comfortable to stay in. I have also been longing to staying in house that you use water while cleaning it but not broomstick a lone.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that l have manage to get enough produce that will sustain me for so long without spending money to buy maize from my neighbors, as compared to before when I was getting very little produce. I have also manage to buy plastering materials as I am planning to plaster my house and when I do so I am very sure of staying in a nice plastered house like some of my neighbors.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have plastered my house and stay in it comfortably without worrying of being affected with dust. I will have achieve my dream of staying in a plastered house.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different than it was four months ago since currently, I am rearing two pigs and three sheep which I purchased with the transfers from GiveDirectly. I have also bought sand which I shall use to renovate my house. Furthermore, I have rented a piece of land which I have prepared and waiting to plant in maize and beans. In the next harvesting season, I strongly believe that I shall obtain a good harvest to take me for a reasonable period.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, my new goal is to use part of my savings to buy a mature cow which will not take long before it begins to provide my household with milk. Since my transfers may not be sufficient for the purchase of a cow, I shall prioritize selling part of my farm produce to raise some money and add to the savings I shall have built by then. From one cow, I am optimistic that I shall be able to realize the growth in the number of my livestock.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is owning a television. As a result, I have been able to watch news comfortably without moving to my neighbor's house. I feel very happy because I am always informed of the current affairs of my nation. This is a great achievement in my life since I had never imagined that one day I would own a TV.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, the change that I expect to occur in my life is the renovation of my house. As a result, I expect a change of life in that I shall have renovated my house. It will, therefore, be good and nice to stay in thus I shall always feel happy to have visitors around me. Currently, I have been living in an old and small house thus I do not feel comfortable hosting my visitors.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My family used to live in a small and grass-thatched house for two years. It was very small and at night, we had to take some of our belongings outside so as to create sleeping space for my family. When I started receiving this transfer, I bought iron sheets, timber and nails which I used in constructing a better, bigger and iron roofed house. Right now, I feel safe because the little I have is safe and well kept unlike before when my properties were rained on at night since I did not have enough place to keep them. Secondly, before GD came to my life, I used to live on hand to mouth basis. The little I used to receive from casual work in the village could hardly feed my family well. In most cases, we used to go hungry and this caused me a lot of stress. I did not know peace because I was unable to provide for my family the basic needs of life. This transfer has brought a lot of happiness to my family since we have never gone without food ever since I started receiving it and my children are growing healthy as I have always desired. Honestly, I now know what peace is.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Now that I have my own cow, I want to buy building materials such as iron sheets, nails and timber which I will use in building cow shed for my only cow. Thjis is the reason I can walk with my head high up because every teeth that laughed at me are shying away frm me. I will ensure I keep it well and achieve my goal in the end.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving this transfer is that I now own a cow. I consider this as a very good investment for my family considering we leave in the rural areas. My family has been despised in most meetings in the community because we did not even have a cow which is owned by every family in the village. This caused a lot of misery in my home since my husband and family at a large cannot command any respect in the village. People looked down on us. I believe out of this one now that I bought with GD transfer, I will work hard to ensure I bring up a herd of cows so that those who despised me and my family for being poor, know that no condition is permanent. I want my family to be the best in the village.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Give Directly has given me hope when I felt all is over and my life could never get better than begging and living in poverty. In the next six months, I would really want to save for my family. This will help me provide for my family in future and plan well so that I do not go back to begging and the kind of poverty I was in before GD came to my life.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
Currently I do not have any new goal.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My house is in good condition and this makes me happy. My farm is doing well and I know I will get good harvest.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I would want to buy a cow and fully renovate my house. I will also have a business of my own.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving this transfer is that my house is now presentable and neat. I want plaster it has this has been my biggest dream
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship ship that I am facing in my life is that, I am not able to get a good and permanent job that will enable me earn sufficient income to support my family basic needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up healthy and in a position to do my daily activities and make some income.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planing to use my transfer in starting a small business that will enable me earn some income to provide basic need for my family.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The greatest achievement that I am proud of is that, last season I managed to buy furniture for my house from sale of beans that I had harvested from my farm. In that season, I had bumper harvest after adding farm input which I had not done in previous seasons.