I had no source of income before getting enrolled in this program and I fully depended on my husband for all my financial needs. With the aid of the transfers, I was able to start a business on ice cream making and selling. I also bake cakes on order for an extra source income. The business has given me financial independence as I no longer have to depend on my husband and feel proud that I can assist with the household requirements.

My aim is to improve my business by adding more stock that can allow me to serve more customers. As I sell ice cream, I am hoping to be able to save more of my transfers and some of the profits I make so that I can buy bigger coolers that can store more ice cream for better delivery to my customers.

As the most recent transfer I received was in December when most people were on holidays, there was a need for me to have more stock of the ice cream that I sell because there were more customers. I, therefore, used the whole amount I received to add more stock to enable me to meet the high demand.

My life is different from how it was in that I managed to start a business. I had done a pastry course but I was not employed yet. I am now tired of looking for employment. I was lucky to be one of GiveDirectly's beneficiaries because I finally had the means to start one. I don't regret having made this decision so far, because the bakery is now my main source of income.

My new goal is to be a cake vendor, I want to do it on a larger scale. I will be supplying the cakes in shops and supermarkets. I already know the basics and I know what challenges to expect once I expand it. I have also started marketing my products in the nearby supermarkets and shops. I have hopes that I will soon own the biggest bakery and be the best supplier of cakes.

I spent part of my transfer on repairing my oven which got spoilt one month ago. I had started a baking shop with the transfer that I normally get from GiveDirectly. It has been my source of income until the oven stopped functioning. I was stuck and I didn't know how I would repair it. I had even started selling sweets as I think of how to repair the machine. Seeing it back on track make's me happy.

Ever since I started receiving these transfers, my life has been much easier as I have extra money to supplement my little income, therefore I am able to take care of my needs with much more ease than before. I was pleased that I could easily pay my hospital bill which would otherwise be a bit tough considering that neither my husband nor I have medical insurance.

My biggest goal at the moment is to expand my current business which mostly involves the sale of candy and cakes and sweets. I want to venture into ice cream making and the first step is to take a short course as soon as I am done with my maternity leave. I had made enquiries on the requirements and I am confident that the transfers will make the plan achievable.

I added the money I recently received to some of my own savings which I then used to pay my hospital bill for the period I spent there during the delivery of my newborn baby. I knew I would need the money because Iwhen I received it, I was almost due, so I had to save it for the purposes of paying for the hospital bill.

I would like to expand my baking business and get bigger clients base. As soon as this happens I will have more and more income. In the near future also if all goes I will be training more women to join the baking business. I am quite passionate about women empowerment.

The biggest difference in my life is that I am self-employed. When I received the transfers, I spent most of it to start a baking business. So far I have been able to make lots of sales and a lot of proceeds from the transfer. I am able to settle most of the bills easily together with meeting the needs of my family really well. I have also training other people to do the baking business. This really makes me happy as some lives will be transformed.

I spent the most recent transfers on hiring a stall for baking business. I have paid rent of KES 2500. I spent KES 2500 to furnish that place in readiness for the baking business.

I received the transfers late in the night so I did not see it immediately I only woke up to the good news. I was super excited that morning since it felt like a dream come true. I was happy that I went on my knees to thank God for the miracle.