Yes, before I started receiving money from GiveDirectly, I had no money to pay for my daughter who is in form two, boarding school fees. Yes, I have three other daughters who are still in primary and two sons; the eldest son cleared form four last year and now works in casual work, at the village market, Bamba while the other one is still young. My form two daughter’s school fees burden was great, she could be sent home daily as her fellow students stay in school and continue with their studies. This pained me so much but I had nothing to do to change the situation. The moment I started receiving the transfers, I decided to have a goal of paying full-year school fees and my daughter not being sent home again, and exactly this is what I did. My family’s life has changed for the best. I also had a new goal of buying adequate and nutritious food for my family, unlike before when we could only survive on two meals; breakfast and supper. My main business is cooking and selling fried fish after I buy them at wholesale price from my husband who sells fresh fish. I also do cook and sell vegetables, ugali, and black tea. My business used to do well before the transfers came, but it was a small business worth only KES. 2000 but I boosted it with the KES. 30000 from the last transfer and the results are imminent. Thank you so much GiveDirectly, you have put a smile on my face.

GiveDirectly has done well in everything, especially the transfers, and I do not have any complain at all. I had no happiness, my children used to be sent home from school every time and I had nothing to do about it. I am so happy to say that my children will go to school for a whole year without any stress since I settled their yearly school fees arrears. Secondly, my business has boomed and food has increased unlike before when I used to get little profit hence no money to buy food. Thank you so much GiveDirectlt, indeed you came at the right time.

I spent my most recent transfer of KES. 25000 in paying school fees for my form two daughter, finished building and roofing my house chimney with KES. 15000 by buying iron sheet and paying the casual labours. I paid for my four primary children; classes seven, five, PP1 and PP2 school fees worth KES. 1600. And saved KES. 8000.This transfer gave me peace of mind unlike before when non of this was possible.

It was around 5 pm while in my cafeteria business at the shopping center when I received a message on my phone. Though I do not know how to read, I sensed it was not an ordinary message because the phone rang twice. When I returned home at around 7 pm, I explained the scenario to my helper and gave him the phone to check. What a message! I jumped and ululated in happiness after the confirmation that I had received KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. This happiness was because I had seen the light of my children going to school at the end of the tunnel.

If it were not for GiveDirectly my children could be out of school due to a lack of school fees. I am grateful that, through the organization, I was able to settle the school fees for the year and my children are happily studying. I was also able to clear the college debt to enable my child to get his papers which were withheld. As of now, we also have an access to daily food not as before when we used to skip some meals due to poverty. Initially, I was relying on a business of selling wheat flour porridge to cater to my family's needs. It was a struggle. I am registering my appreciation to GiveDirectly for the help it accorded me.

Upon withdrawing the money, I had already planned on the usage. I took KES 25000.00 and paid school fees for my form 2 girl at Kakoneni Girls who was ever sent home for fees. I again took KES 16000.00 and paid an arrear of college fees for my child who had completed his course but the results were withheld because of the fee debt. I cleared that and he picked his results and certificates. Thereafter, I paid KES 800.00 school fees for my two primary school children. For the remaining amount, I opted to keep it for the family's upkeep.