Yes, currently I have a goal of starting a firewood business. I have a little capital which I believe will enable me to start and I am planning to use the first three week's profit to boost the capital. As of now, I already identified a market for firewood and I am planning to start soonest possible. I am feeling strong and energized since I am starting a business with an identified market, this gives me the morale of the business.

GiveDirectly is a unique organization that is devoted to uplifting the livelihood of people. Through the transfers which I received, I did things that seemed impossible because I had no money. Using the first transfer; I paid all the school fee arrears for my four children plus the current fees which were required. That gave me peace of mind because seeing my children out of school due to school fees was eating me up. As of now, I walk shoulders high because GiveDirectly enabled me to settle all the arrears.

Before receiving the second transfer, I had planned to invest in livestock. Therefore, I bought three goats for KES 12000.00. I did this after seeing how the climate was. It was a dry season and cows could not cope with drought, unlike goats which are somehow drought resistant. Thereafter, I constructed a kichen for KES 12000.00 because I used to cook outside of my house and it was troublesome during rainy days. Therefore, I thought it was wise to build the kitchen. Currently, even if it rains day and night, I have no problem because I have a nice and well covered cooking area. I also bought a table for KES 1650.00 and five plastic chairs for KES 3500.00 because I had no chairs at all. It was shameful to welcome visitors and offer them some pieces of logs to seat on. I am now happy and comfortable welcoming friends to my home because I have some chairs to offer them. Since my children had no bed, I bought them one and a mattress for KES 15500.00. I am now happy seeing them sleeping comfortably, unlike before GiveDirectly aided me. For entertainment and news purposes, I bought a television in a hire-purchase. I paid a deposit of KES 5000.00 and I am paying a daily installment of KES 95.00 for three years. Lastly, I bought 12 buckets of 20 liters each for storing water for KES 1800.00. I did this because fresh water in our area is not reliable. By so doing, it is an assurance of having enough water if all the 12 buckets are full.

I was at home preparing breakfast for my children the morning that I received the transfers. Then, my children had a huge fees balance and I was stressed because I knew they would be send home as soon as they get to school. I was so happy that I was now going to clear school fees balance so that my children can concentrate on their studies without much disturbance.

My biggest worry was seeing my children not able to progress to their next level of their education because of fees balances which I was not in a position to clear. It was sad watching their dreams slip away and I'm glad that I was able to clear the balance when I received the transfers. The biggest difference in my daily life is seeing them stay in school without being send home for school fees everyday.

My family solely depend on my husband who is the bread winner. I wouldn't say we have lived the best of our lives because being a mason, he earns averagely KES 4000 per month since construction jobs are seasonal. it's became difficult to find a job during this drought period due to scarcity of water and due to financial constraints, we accumulated huge school fees balance and our children were not allowed to move to the next class without clearing it. I spend KES 9000 of my first transfer to clear the fees balance and our child were allowed to move to the next class. I spend the balance to buy household items such as utensils and food and I'm glad that we now have enough to take us through the month.