Setting up a grocery store has long been a dream of mine. Selling kale, cabbages, potatoes, maize, etc. would be the main items on sale. The overall result would be more money, meaning a better education for my lastborn and a marked improvement of our lives as a family.

GiveDirectly excels at making recipients feel in control of their situations. By allowing myself and other recipients in my village to decide on how to utilize our transfers, they give you the ability to feel that you are actively changing your life through your means. We are eternally grateful for what they do and ask them to continue to bless countless others.

Two female goats and paying school fees were two of my immediate expenditures as soon as I received transfers from GiveDirectly. I further added a female cow to further my cause of populating a herd that I can use to generate more income. While still fulfilling my financial dreams, I purposed to buy myself a mattress and a bed. Both items that I had always wanted to get,but never had the disposable income to allow me to. With my husband having passed away 5 years ago, I was left as the sole parent of 6 children. My 4 eldest are married with kids, while 5th is still single and my last born is in Grade 6 at Kagombani Primary School. I don't work, so I currently look after my flock of 30 goats and 1 cow (without adding those I purchased). Were it not for GiveDirectly, I would never have been able to achieve all I had, cater for the advance on my child's tuition, and be left with some savings.

It was around 3pm and I was still in field looking after my livestock when I got the SMS confirming that I have received the money from GiveDirectly. I was so grateful when I got the money because it was going to help me address the challenges that I was facing and get the things that I desired for so long especially adding livestock to my compound.

The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that I now have a better and proper bed with a mattress, and I sleep comfortably unlike before. I also added a cow and a goat which makes so happy proud, all thanks to GiveDirectly.

I spent most of the transfer which was KES 12000 on buying a cow and a goat because I had always desired to add livestock to my compound and I chose buying them over spending the money on anything desirable but not long term. Therefore, these livestock are a long term investment that I will always count on to address the financial challenges I will be facing in the future as I would sell one or two should there be the need to.