Yes, my new goal is to start livestock rearing specifically goats. This is a long-term investment for my children that will assist them in their education when they grow up. In addition, my next goal is to expand my house by constructing an additional room for my 2 children. Currently, the house that we are owning is small and forced to share the same room with my two daughters who are aged 14 years something that is against our traditions.

In my opinion, Givedirectly did well in coming up with the cash transfer program. Getting the chance to be enrolled in the program is something that I am grateful for. Currently, I am owning a shop and my business is running well, I am enjoying financial freedom since I can meet some of the basic needs of the family reducing the burden of relying on my spouse for every financial need.

I am a toiler specializing in dressmaking. I was working at home and had desired to construct a small shop at our nearest market center so as to have access to more customers. In addition, the sewing machine that I owned had mechanical issues. I spent the recent transfer completing the construction of the structure that I started with the first transfer at the market. Furthermore, I bought a brand new sewing machine for KES 12,000 and some additional linen for KES 6000. Currently, I am grateful that the business has improved and I am getting more customers hence earning a higher income of KES 400 per day which can comfortably cater for some of the basic needs like food. I also used KES 8000 to clear the school fees for the firstborn daughter who is in a boarding school, she had a huge fee balance since the business was yet to stabilize. For the remaining amount, I bought enough food for the family because of the ongoing famine in our area.

It was in the morning, around 7 am, making breakfast. My phone was just next to me and I noticed a message notification from Mpesa. I scrolled down the phone, eager to read the message. My eyes popped out of their socket in shock at the amount received. I could not believe what I read and so I looked for my husband in order to affirm my confirmation. I was so happy that I can attest that was the best news had received in quite some time.

The biggest difference is I can run my business freely without feeling awkward about customers coming to my home. It has been an opportunity for my business to grow because my shop is at a competitive location with access to many customers passing by. I was worried because my husband has been struggling with his finances at his recent place of work. The payment of my son’s school fees is an advantage for him to have undisrupted classes and time for my husband to work on his financial challenges.

I have been planning to open a tailoring business because I trained in tailoring and have been practicing in my house on a part-time basis. When I received the cash transfer, I used KES 25,000 to build a simple booth where I can start my business and not limit my clients because of the awkwardness of making my home a business entity. My firstborn was joining a boarding school. I spent KES 20,000 to enroll him in a new school. The remaining KES 10,000 was used to buy food that would last my family of four members for at least two months.