My aspiration is to expand my business, fueled by the desire to generate more income in order to establish a business shop. I approach this dream with optimism, intending to save money from my current business endeavors and reinvest the profits into its growth and development. Additionally, I am part of a village savings sacco, which will enable me to qualify for a loan. I firmly believe that with strategic planning and unwavering dedication, I can transform my business into a flourishing venture that not only supports my financial goals but also secures a bright future for my children.

The opportunity to use our transfer funds according to our individual needs was incredibly empowering. It gave us the freedom to spent the money towards things that truly mattered to us. Moreover, the field officers who visited our home treated us with the utmost respect and consideration. Their presence and interactions left us elated and thankful for the significant improvements brought about by GiveDirectly's assistance. Throughout the entire experience, there was nothing that needed correction, as everything was flawlessly executed. We are immensely grateful for the support received, as it has profoundly transformed our lives in ways we could not have Imagined.

Receiving the monetary assistance was truly a blessing, and I was fully aware of the positive impact it would have on my life. I am married and have been blessed with five children, and our livelihood primarily relies on small business ventures where we sell clothes, charcoal, and honey. When my third transfer came through, my immediate priority was to invest in my business to attract better returns, something that was not possible before due to limited finances. With that in mind, I spent $350 towards buying more stock for my businesses. The remaining amount was wisely used to purchase foodstuffs. The joy and relief I feel knowing that my dream was accomplished in a short period cannot be overstated. I am forever grateful for the milestone that I achieved, courtesy of the financial support I received from GiveDirectly. This assistance has brought us hope and opened new opportunities for a brighter future for my family.

Currently, my business is an open-air market since I don't have the resources to rent or build a kiosk for the business. This comes with a lot of challenges, especially during extreme weather i.e rainy season or scorching hot weather. I partially work during these seasons, affecting my productivity. My hope for this year is to build a small kiosk to enable me to do my business without weather hindrances.

One thing I love about GD is the way it gives unconditional cash transfers to the community, unlike other organizations that give in-kind transfers. This has enabled us to spend according to our priorities. I have not noticed anything that the organization should improve.

I own a second-hand clothing business and I have always yearned to buy a whole bale of clothes rather than going to select a few from a seller since this is of a higher quality; more marketable and cheaper. However, my major hindrance was the lack of funds. Upon receiving the second transfer from Givedirectly, I used $300 to boost the business; I bought two bales. This will increase my income hence more savings to cater for my children's school education in future. I also purchased a cosy mattress worth $60 to replace the old rags I was sleeping on. I used the remaining amount on purchasing dry maize, rice, and beans which have been serving as food for my family of seven.

I received a message confirming the receipt of $200 from Segovia Technology, and since we were well-equipped with this information during the initial meetings, I knew it was from GiveDirectly. Many people were wondering if it was truly what we were promised because they couldn't believe it was hitting our accounts so quickly. I was in my roadside stall, where I was running a small honey business. My family was not around at the time, but within a few minutes, my husband arrived, and I had to inform him of the good news. I waited until the third day to withdraw my money because we were still in agreement on spending decisions.

The most noticeable difference in my daily life is the relief I have felt during these difficult economic times, when finding food would have been difficult. I have been consistent in my business in recent weeks, as opposed to before, when I could deplete the stock and fail to replenish because household obligations ate up the running capital. I have not sold any of my livestock since then, and I hope to purchase more soon to expand the current flock.

For the past three years, I have relied on small businesses that I run within the community. I was running a honey buying and selling business alongside charcoal production, which had been banned two years ago due to concerns about deforestation. Since then, I have been attempting to expand the search for genuine honey, which is highly valued by community members. I bought 10 liters of well-sieved honey with $65 from the first transfer, which I later broke into smaller tins affordable to the local community. I use the money I make to buy food for my family of seven, as well as other household items. I am grateful that GiveDirectly stepped in when my business was on the verge of failing, and it is now back to normal. I am hoping to see it grow in the future. I also spent $55 on a sack of dry maize, which we are still using as food. We had been replenishing the meal with additional purchases. We also spent $40 on clothing for family members and the remainder on other household foodstuffs that we were lacking.