My new goal is to enroll in a hairdressing and beauty college. This is because I have the ambition to start a Salon business that would serve as a reliable source of livelihood for myself. Currently, I am jobless and fully depend on my spouse for every need of the family. Due to the high cost of living, I feel the need to support my husband in rising the family by engaging on income generating activity.

GiveDirectly did well in helping the poor households in the community by sending direct cash transfers through mobile money. Additionally, enrolling each and every household that qualifies without discrimination. I feel that the enrollment processes were open and fairly. I do not see anything that was not done well.

My desire has been to renovate our shelter which was about to collapse by putting up strong pillars. I spent the recent transfer on purchasing the building materials such as 20 bags of cement for KES 13,000, building stones and sand. Similarly, I set aside KES 25,000 for the labor costs. Currently, I am happy that I reside in a semi-permanent house and no longer have to be worried about the condition of the house. In addition, I used KES 5000 to support the education of my 5 children who are in primary school and were constantly sent home due to huge fee arrears. The remaining amount assisted me in purchasing sufficient food for the family of 7 members since we are experiencing famine at the moment.

It must have been around 6 p.m when I got the SMS confirming that I have received the money from GiveDirectly, but hadn't checked at the time because we were at a neighbor's mourning the loss of a loved one. So, I checked my phone moments later after I had gotten back to my house and confirmed the good news that I immediately shared with my husband that I had received the money. I felt so good when I got the money because I just couldn't believe that I got this much money. I felt so happy.

The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that I was able to get and do the things that I couldn't do or get before. I was able to get a cow, construct concrete pillars around my house to reinforce its walls, which I wasn't able to do before I started receiving money from GiveDirectly. I was also able to buy a mattress, paid school fees for my children and bought them enough food for the time being. My mind too is at peace knowing that my cow will carry from when the food is finished, and through it I'll always remember GiveDirectly.

I spent most of my transfer which was KES 20000 on materials for improving my house by constructing concrete pillars all round it so as to reinforce and secure its walls for the long term. I did this because I believe house is the most important thing and a safe as well as secure house is all that everyone needs. I am so happy that I am no longer stressed neither am I under pressure with sleepless nights because of weak walls that could collapse anytime when it rains, as well as no longer worried about where I'll keep my guests. This gives me a peace of mind since these concrete pillars will take very long for them to weaken and need to be replaced or reinforced again, all thanks to GiveDirectly. I also spent KES 15000 on buying a cow because I know it is a very beneficial project both for short and long term. This cow will regularly produce milk for my family's breakfast as well as a source of little income since I can offer the surplus to our neighbors at a cost. It is, also, a way of keeping myself busy as I will always be taking care of it by taking it out to graze, I'll always see and remember the assistance I received from GiveDirectly through it. For the long term benefits, I know it will reproduce and increase in numbers which inturn I'll be able to sell one or two and address the financial challenges I will be facing in the future. Therefore, I am so happy and proud.