I was overjoyed when I received my most recent transfers of $450 because I had already made plans with my grown children. As a single mother of four, our financial needs had become a significant burden. My eldest children, aged 26 and 21, were unable to complete their education due to financial constraints. Consequently, they dropped out immediately after high school, and all of us resorted to casual labor to meet our family's needs such as food and school fees for the younger children. After discussing it with my children, we collectively decided to invest in a motorbike as a means of improving our financial situation. We purchased a second-hand motorbike for $460, contributing an additional $100 from our own savings. Since my eldest son had been learning to ride a motorbike, it made sense for him to take charge. As a result, we started a transportation business, and thanks to it, we are now able to have a meal every day and settle other needs unlike before.

I deeply cherish and value the fact that Give Directly provides us with direct monetary assistance, bypassing intermediaries such as chiefs and other government entities. Involvement from these parties could have potentially complicated the process and hindered our ability to receive equal shares as we have seen before. It is truly a privilege to be entrusted with a substantial amount of money and to be given an opportunity to explore our individual financial potential, irrespective of our social status, educational background, or gender. This demonstrates a remarkable level of trust and allows us to chart our own path towards financial empowerment.

By the end of this year, I have several aspirations that I hope to achieve. Firstly, I aim to venture into agriculture by cultivating maize for both home consumption and income generation. This endeavor will complement our newly established transportation business, assuming everything progresses smoothly. Secondly, I aspire to purchase a piece of land where I can build a home for my family. Currently, we reside on a family-owned property, which has become a source of stress due to ongoing disputes with my brothers. Acquiring our own land will provide stability and peace of mind for my family.

I spent the most recent transfer in different ways to improve my family's livelihood. First, I bought a secondhand motorcycle worth $400, hired a rider, and used it as a taxi, earning a daily income of at least $3. I paid $30 for my son's school fees in Kabarnet and invested the rest in opening a restaurant. The restaurant has been successful, and I have been earning a daily income of at least $5, selling tea, cakes, lunch, and supper. From the savings I have made from the business, I hope to pay school fees for my son, who is currently in grade 9 at Kabarnet Boys. Additionally, I used some of the proceeds to purchase an NHIF medical cover for my family of five. Thanks to the GiveDirectly transfer, my family's standard of living has improved, and we can access basic needs such as education and healthcare.

GiveDirectly has done an amazing job, not only to me but to the community as well. The transfers I received have helped me start businesses that are already earning me a good income. The ripple effect of these transfers has been felt in the community as other families have also been able to start their own businesses. This has improved the overall economic status of the community, which is a testament to the positive impact that GiveDirectly has had. Their commitment to helping people lift themselves out of poverty is truly admirable and has made a significant difference in the lives of many.

In the coming year, I aim to expand my subsistence farming activities, which currently involve an acre and a half of maize plantation and livestock farming that includes goats and chicken. Specifically, I plan to increase the number of my 19 chickens, as there is a high demand for eggs in my hotel. I currently sell a tray of eggs for $4, which adds to my savings from the restaurant business and farming activities. Additionally, I am constructing a plot in the nearby shopping center and have already built two rooms using cal-sheet iron sheets. I hope to construct an extra room for my two elder sons.

Upon receiving my transfer, I knew that this was a golden opportunity for me to improve my living status. Life has not been easy on my end since I am a single mother of four children. Raising them single-handedly has been one of the hardest things. Therefore upon receiving my initial transfer, I opened a local eatery where I used $60. Secondly, I paid for the Nhif cover Which I had defaulted on due to lack of money. Additionally, build a chicken house worth $28. All this was not possible to accomplish before due to the lack of funds. I am so grateful for the support that lifted my living standard amazingly.

The biggest difference is that I was able to accomplish a lot in a short period. I am glad that my dreams were easily achieved with the unconditional transfer I received. Additionally, I was able to open an eatery. We are grateful for the support that lifted our living standards amazingly and brought so much happiness and fulfilment to our lives.

I was at my workplace busy with my customers when suddenly, I was startled by a message ringtone, I stopped to check what the message entailed since I was anxious and expectant at the moment. That was when I realised that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was excited and overwhelmed with happiness because I knew that I would be able to accomplish a lot with the funds. I headed home and informed my children who were all excited and grateful.