Receiving money from GiveDirectly was an incredible moment for me because I knew it would help me achieve my goals. My husband runs a small eatery, and I do hairdressing to support our family of three children. After receiving the transfer, I decided to invest in a dairy cow, spending $450. It was a great deal because it would save us money on milk, as we use one and a half liters daily, which used to cost $1. Financial constraints had previously prevented me from buying a cow due to our unreliable income. The remaining funds were used to purchase food. I am delighted with the support, which has brought immense joy and happiness into our lives.

GiveDirectly excels in ensuring that the program is well understood by the local community, taking the time to explain its details with patience. Furthermore, the unconditional nature of the cash made it easy for us to use it according to our needs. I did not encounter any areas in which improvements were necessary during my interaction with the program,.

In the coming year, my goal is to open my own salon and create job opportunities for others. To realize this dream, I intend to save at least $60 per month from my hairdressing work. I am confident that with time and dedication, I will achieve this goal.

I have been running a hair salon in a nearby shopping center, while my husband owns a restaurant in a nearby town. Even though the burden of obligations would always overwhelm us, we are always motivated to leave the house every morning and return home with at least some daily earnings. We intended to invest in assets, but the small amount we were getting from the businesses was barely enough to cover household bills and clothing for my family of six. On receiving the first transfer, we bought two heifers at $230 to add to the lactating cow that we already had. Unfortunately, the lactating cow and one of the heifers died of varying severity, leaving us with only one. It was a heartbreaking moment for my family, and we considered it a loss because we had high hopes of breeding them. My husband also agreed to invest $200 in my salon business, allowing me to purchase a shaving machine and restock some hair pieces for sale. I am pleased that the business is doing well and attracting more customers than in previous months. In addition, I spent the remaining $100 on groceries and clothing for my entire family of six.

The most significant difference in my daily life is the purchase of more stock and equipment, which has improved business operations and significantly improved customer satisfaction in my salon shop. This has not only changed the customers' feelings, but it has also encouraged them to pay for the services we are providing, resulting in a higher profit margin.

I received a Mpesa message, and after reading it, I knew it was from GiveDirectly because I could easily understand the content. The indicated amount matched the promised amount, so I knew I had received the first transfer. I wasn't expecting any other money in my account at the time, and as such I went ahead and collected, confident that it was what I was expecting to use on my enlisted plans.