I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support because I had no source of income and the menial jobs I was doing could not sustain me, for they are not reliable. My life is now different because I saved the money from my first transfer and managed to start my own business. Currently, I am earning a good profit by supplying milk in town. Through it, I can comfortably fulfil my basic needs and set some amount aside for future expenditure.

Currently, I do not have any new additional goal. Ever since I began receiving the money, I resolved to save it to enable me to start a business, which I have managed to open. My goal now is to commit myself to this business to see it expanding in the near future and expand have more income to sustain the daily family needs and make other family investments.

I had saved my transfer for the purpose of starting a business of supplying milk. My greatest challenge was getting the capital but now I am happy because, through the GiveDirectly money, I managed to buy the necessary equipment as well as paying the full rent for the premises that I run this business. I am no longer involved in any menial jobs as I am self-employed. It has always been my dream to be self-employed and feel the satisfaction of the same. I feel so proud that I have been able to do this through the help of GiveDirectly.

My life is currently different in that, I am now self-employed and all the money that I make from my business is mine. I do not have to share it with anyone, like I shared before with my employer. I also managed to move out of my parents house and to get my own place. I now have my own space as I fully depend on myself now.

My goal is to open up a cosmetic shop alongside my salon. I also have a deep passion for beauty. I hope to expand my salon and to own an even larger salon together with an area that concentrates on beauty services only.

I spent my transfers to expand my salon business. I have been employed in a salon here in Mathare for the past two and a half years. I love and enjoy to plait hair and I have always desired to have my own salon, but I have lacked capital in the past. I never imagined that I would get capital anytime soon to open up my own salon. I opened up my own salon when I received my first transfers. I secured a spot at a location that is close to my clients, still here in Mathare, and I bought a few items. I then expanded this business with my second transfers. I bought iron sheets to cover some parts of the roofing, as well as plastic chairs, a hair drying machine, a mirror and some oils. My business is picking up well and I intend to grow and expand my business even further with my coming transfers.

When I receive my next transfer I will use part of it to purchase the necessary salon equipment for the smooth running of the business. I will also bring in beauty products and cosmetics for an extra source of income.

Receiving money from GD gave me the confidence to quit working at my friend's salon where my daily earnings would be deducted to pay the boss. I am now building my own customer base as I construct my own salon where I will also be selling cosmetics.Even without the salon,I ma still making a lot more money than I did before because whatever little I earn is all mine.

I used part of the money I received to purchase building materials that were used in the construction of my new salon. I was previously employed at a nearby salon but I decided to quit as soon as I received the money because I am planning to open my own as soon as possible. I spent some of the money on clothes, shoes and personal grooming and still have some in my Pesa account that I use to purchase some materials required in the construction.

When I saw the text messages, I knew I had received money from GD but still did not believe that it was real. I decided to go to the nearest M-pesa shop to withdraw a small amount after which my balance would show me what exactly was in my account. When the balance read an amount I didn't have before,I was now sure this money was real.