In the next five months, I am focusing on marketing my YouTube channel and uploading content in it. I am a mass communication graduate but my focus has since shifted from that of seeking formal employment in the journalism sector to being self employed. This goal was ignited when I we as enrolled into GiveDirectly program as a beneficiary. For a long time, I had struggled looking to for a job in the city until I decided to come home and try and make ends meet from here. Having bought a camera with the second and part of the first transfer, my focus is now to create enough content and upload it to an already established channel. I am so grateful for the support that I received from GiveDirectly.

In my opinion GiveDirectly does very well in doing enrollment in a very transparent way. The relay of information during barazas makes their work very transparent and increases their efficiency. Their were for example many rumours that were spread across the village before GiveDirectly came in but the officers were able to demistify those rumours and made people quite comfortable with the program. Giving cash as a form of aid is another gamechanger. Different people have different needs and each person can make their own independent decisions on what they want to spend the money on.

I am a journalist by profession. I completed this course in the year 2020. Since then, it has been a struggle looking for a job. I was once taken as an intern by a local TV station. I hoped that this would materialize into a job but unfortunately it did not. I struggled a lot back in the city until I decided to come home. GiveDirectly program was rolled out and I was lucky to be a beneficiary. When I received the second transfer, I used the entire amount and even topped up with part of the second transfer to buy a powerful camera worth $650. Being a journalist, I had had an idea of being self employed but the fact that I did not have enough capital to do this, had deterred my dream. I however did not give up. I had already created a YouTube channel where I could create content and upload to earn money but the fact that I did not have a camera and other tools to help develop my content made it hard for me to progress. I am currently working on a project within my community where I try to unmask the mysteries behind the deaths of top musicians. This is a content that I am sure shall capture the attention of most people. My YouTube channel is already monetized and it is fir me to just be consistent in uploading content in it. I cannot thank GiveDirectly enough for reviving my dream of being self employed.

On confirmation that I had received a message from GiveDirectly, I was very happy and could not wait to start the projects I had planned. I was on my farm at that moment and had to rush home to inform my family that was very excited as well. We kept the plans going and after a week; I collected the money from the nearby shopping center.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the great transformation in my household. After completion of my studies, I expected a hard time, but the transfer that I received made it easier for me. I am grateful for the support and working hard to ensure that all the plans I have are successful.

I had a lot of plans right after enrollment and hoped to accomplish them after receiving both the first and the second transfer. I am a journalist by profession and have been working hard to grow in my career even though the demands have been high. On receiving the first transfer, I bought a lactating cow at KES 38000 that has consistently provided my family with enough milk both for household use and also a surplus for sale. Since I have been doing my content creation, I am looking forward to buying a digital camera that will help in shooting both during events and also when recording the content to air on my channels. I saved the remaining amount to combine with the second transfer and other savings that I am currently making to buy a new camera. This will be an opportunity for me to create a self-employment and even employ other people in the future. I am also planning to venture into poultry farming since this is another project that can run parallel with my projects. I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly that has to fasten my plans and hopefully, all my wishes will come true.