I am a skilled tailor though I never had a business shop before where I could do the tailoring business. Immediately I accomplished my urgent needs with part of the recent transfer, I developed a new goal of starting up a business dealing with providing tailoring services within my community. Since in the past I had no source of income, I am hopeful that by undertaking a new goal, my income will increase, and I am no longer going to be a housewife. From it, I shall be able to raise additional income for the family. Thanks to GiveDirectly for the timely support.

Based on how I observed GiveDirectly's way of operation, I can bare testimony that it does well in giving unconditional cash transfers to the less fortunate as a way of bailing them out of the vicious cycle of poverty. This has positively changed my way of life because courtesy of the support, I have managed to start up a tailoring business which will greatly help me to be a supportive mother to all my family members. Moreover, it does prompt follow-up as a way of determining the contribution of its transfers in terms of improving our lifestyle. In contrast, there is nothing that GiveDirectly does not do well.

With my recent transfer, I was able to buy a singer sewing machine for the tailoring business. This cost me KES17,000. I also spent KES 3,000 on paying the business rent. In addition, I spent KES 20,000 on buying tailoring materials thus my business has adequate stock for the business. In order not to neglect my family, I also spent KES 10,0000 on buying food and clothes for my children. The previous apparels were old and unpresentable. I am so glad that nowadays, they are well groomed.

It was around 4.40pm in the evening and I was just at home going about my daily household activities when I received the SMS confirming that I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I was so happy when I got the money and immediately informed my husband about it because I knew that the hopes and pledges I had been having all along would be fulfilled especially starting up my own tailoring business. It was very difficult for me to fulfill this pledge because I didn't have a job and was basically a housewife whose main task to stay at home at look after our children. Therefore, getting this money was a very huge relief and boost to me, I am so happy.

The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that I never used to have a job or any reliable source of income before as I used to be just a housewife with only responsibilities around the house. I am now so happy and grateful because I was able to get the sewing machine and start up my own tailoring business which is my regular source of income and helps me to meet my family's and personal daily immediate needs.

I spent most of the transfer which was KES 40000 on starting up my own tailoring business first of all by buying the sewing machine. This tailoring business was my biggest hope and pledge, and desired for so long to start it because I studied tailoring and have the knowledge as well as the skills but did not have the capital required to start it. It was not possible for me to start it up because I didn't have a job as I was basically a housewife whose main responsibilities were around the house and looking after children. Therefore, I am so happy that I was able to get the machine and start up my business which is my regular source of income and helps me to meet my family's and personal daily immediate needs. It gives me the much needed independence, all thanks to GiveDirectly.