Currently, I operate my businesses in a mud-walled house. Although it is not safe since I had no alternative and I wanted to invest, I opted to take the risk. As of now since the business is doing well, I have a goal of building a block walled structure that will serve as the shop. To achieve this I have a saving plan from the profit I make to see the goal materializing.

According to me, Give Directly has been doing especially in helping most needy individuals financially. It empowered each one of us in achieving our long time goals. Also, I was granted permission to pick what to purchase according to my heart's desires. I do not see anything that needs to be changed.

Overreliance on my businesses was leading to them collapsing. I had no alternative rather than to do so since the drought had prolonged in our area and getting some food was a challenge. When I got the second transfer, I opted to boost my businesses because I was on the verge of closing them down. Therefore, I used $250 to buy enough stock to equip my shop where I sell fast-moving goods such as foodstuff and personal effects. Since I also run an M-pesa business, I used $200 to buy a float so that my clients could be able to either deposit or withdraw a huge sum of money from my M-pesa shop. I am delighted to see how the second transfer has revived my businesses and my clients are happy since they get what they need unlike before. These businesses are helping me to provide for my family of eight. For the remaining amount which was around $80, I bought some food for my family.

I was out visiting a close relative when my phone received a message from GiveDirectly. I quickly checked my phone and, to my utter delight, confirmed that I had received my first transfer of $550. I was ecstatic and immediately called the hotline number to thank the organization for the financial support it had accorded us as a family. I was on cloud nine as I bade my relative goodbye, knowing the impact the money was going to have on my life.

The biggest contrast between now and before is that my business is now stable as compared to when it almost collapsed because of a lack of capital. All credit goes to GiveDirectly for enabling me to achieve this feat. I can now guarantee my family's income as the business is my only investment that caters to my family's upkeep.

I jointly operate a retail shop and an MPesa mobile money business in my village. The business has been struggling to stay afloat for a while now due to dwindling stocks and an inadequate float to maintain the Mpesa. With the transfers received, I restocked my retail shop by $340 and added $20 capital to the Mpesa business. I have witnessed steady growth in terms of sales and profits, as my customers can now easily access what they want from my shop.