My life is different from how it was in that, I managed to start a business with the transfer. I am not only a farmer but also a business person. Most of my needs were met on time. Were it not for GiveDirectly, I could have maybe resorted to loans.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly did a good job of uplifting our living standards. I am a good example of the people whose living standards have improved because of the goals that I was able to achieve through the transfer. I also love the way their officers were friendly throughout their visits. There was nothing that they did not do well.

I spent part of my transfer on starting up a business. We settled on opening a shop in the village. I wanted to have a business that would support me for a long time. I can never regret making this decision because I get a daily income that is better off than depending on farming. Being a full-time farmer comes with a lot of challenges especially when the weather is bad. The new change has also made me to be a busy person. Apart from that, I also bought two goats which I can sell in case of emergencies and used the remaining amount on blankets and a mattress. I used to have a small mattress which I have now set aside for visitors.

GiveDirectly's transfer brought Christmas festive very early since I used the transfer to buy food. Providing food in my house was a major area of challenge that we have been facing for a long time now. I am a peasant farmer and at times, I do casual work to provide food for my family. The wage is too small that can't even fit our daily income. The biggest difference in my daily life is the ability to have three meals in a day which was a luxury before. This Christmas season we have stayed as a happy family because we were able to eat well and gift my children new clothes as well.

I was waken up with a message alert early in the morning at around 5 oclock . I decided to check it out because it was odd to receive such a message at that time . Upon looking through it , I felt very happy because GiveDirectly had sent my first transfer . I immediately rang my husband who was away for work and informed him about the good new whereas he joined the celebration because as a family we knew most of our problem shall be solve with the money .

I spent 30,000 KES of my first transfer to buy a dairy cow which is almost giving birth since I bought it when it was already paged. My intention of expanding my herd was to sell an addition of calves after reproduction in future as a long term goal . On the other hand , get milk from them for my consumption and also sell some at the near by market in order to save the profits for my children's school fees . I bought bedding such as a blanket and mattress hence I no longer use old clothes to serve as a mattress which is a relieve . I also bought food and clothes for my children .