Pending school fee balances made my grandchildren skip their studies for almost two weeks. The administration had denied them class attendance unless their tuition arrears were settled. Therefore, I deducted 1,500 KES from the recent transfers to clear the unpaid amount; the children happily resumed school, and have since been learning without interruptions. I also bought three chickens worth 1,300 KES so that they can multiply and generate more income. I sell sardines for a living, so I used 1,200 KES to increase my stock. Due to constantly running out of meals in the household, I utilized the remaining amount to buy food.

Managing to sustain and grow my small business has been very beneficial especially since I no longer have to burden my sons with financial responsibility and the funds have also enabled me to cater for the tuition of my grandchildren which is very vital to me since I they have been my sole responsibility ever since their mother, my daughter passed away.

GiveDirectly has played a very huge role in my life especially financially because I get to continue my business and make profit which consequently helps my family since prior to starting the business I used to chop and transport firewood to different villages and this was tedious work and most times I had fatigue, but ever since I opened my business my health has been better since my back does not hurt anymore due to the work and long distances I had to walk.

Before the first transfers I had decide to start my small business where I sold maize and wheat flour, milk and even pasta in order to cater for some of the bills in home so when the I received the second transfers I decide to further grow my business by adding a bag of maize flour which contained twelve packets which went for KES 1,200. On the other hand I also sold vegetables since they were in high demand in the village and this included kales, potatoes, cabbage and even tomatoes therefore spending KES 900 which I planned on hawking around to sell. Then lastly I decided to pay school fees for two of my grandkids who had pending debts which had forced them to stay home for almost a week and a half, so I paid KES 400 for the eldest and KES 300 for the younger one so that they could go back to school.

I was so happy because my grandkids could back to school because I once already failed their sibling due to the fact that I had no money to pay his fees and since he was older compared to the rest he went ahead and quit school and it torments me up to date, because I failed to help secure his studies and that is why it was so important to make sure the younger ones never have to quit.

Paying my debts at the school was so important because I wanted my grandchildren to not miss out on their studies because ever since their mother died, my daughter they have been my responsibility and at my old age I can barely work meanwhile my husband leaves every morning to try and get any casual labour so that he could earn something, but unfortunately most times he comes home empty handed and I have to see my grandkids cry due to hunger especially the youngest. So I am so grateful for this program because I do not know how I would face the kids every evening.

When I got the money the first thing that came to mind was my grandchildren because at the time they were home due to failure in providing for the tuition fee so I paid KES 300 for the youngest and KES 400 for the oldest. Next thing I went ahead and bought maize flour worth KES 200 and these were two packets and I included rice which was KES 100, beans worth KES 60 and lastly laundry detergent worth KES 150.