Sometime last year I invested in purchasing solar power so that I could install and use it for my house. But since I did not have the entire amount to pay for it, the service provider to the solar energy and I came to an agreement that I would pay the money in installments until I was done. I was required to pay KES 60 per day for about one year which was manageable. Also getting enrolled to GiveDirectly was definitely a plus because this meant I could clear my debt a bit faster than expected. Therefore when I received this funds I went ahead and paid KES 1,000 for the debt of the solar power. After that I sent my father KES 500 for up keep since he was quite old and I took care of him. Then I took KES 1,300 and bought a bag of maize flour which contained a dozen packets because there is so much scarcity when it comes to issues concerning food back here in the village. Lastly I took KES 200 and offered it to my church as tithe because even coming to contact with GiveDirectly to me seemed like a blessing in disguise due to all the problems I had before and now I am doing way better.

Being unemployed, I am forced to depend on my husband for financial support. But now that I am receiving these funds from give directly, I no longer consider myself unemployed. I have been working collaboratively with my husband to ensure the family's needs are met. So, using my first transfer, I paid my children's school fee arrears of ksh400, bought some food for my family that cost ksh600 and I tithed the remaining ksh200. The tithing amount has been consistent in all my transfers. On my second transfer, ksh1000, ksh1200 and ksh600 I spent on school fees, food purchases, and loan repayment respectively. Lastly, with my third transfer, ksh500 was spent on school fees, ksh800 on food and ksh1500 in building a store since I have plans of starting a grocery business.

This Give directly has enabled me to pay for school fees which had been difficult this year with the drought season. I had also taken a loan in a Chama and was not able to pay but now I can contribute money every month till it ends. I am thankful for this program.

The first thing I did when I received this money was to go to church and give thanksgiving. I gave out KES.200 to my local church. I then used KES.1000 due to a laughing joke. The rest of the money was spent, that is KES.1800 on the education of the children in my homestead. They were lucky as I was going to send them back due to a lack of financial stability. This has all been possible through the help of Give directly.

The day that this cash transfer was sent I was seated at home doing chores like every other day. I did not hear my phone ping with a message so I continued as usual. My husband came into the room all smiles and said that he was happy after receiving the money. I took my phone and checked to see if I too had gotten the money and I did. Words could not express the joy in my heart.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that now I have the hope that I can pay the debt I had taken in my Chama. I know even without using this transfer personally that my life will never be the same and that my God will always provide for me.

I spent my transfer to pay the debt I had accrued in my Chama. I had taken a loan previously and had had some trouble paying it back. I used KES.1000 to start clearing the debt. The rest of the no et which was KES.200 I took it to church as a tithe to thank God for this opportunity. I would not be here without him and I put him in everything I do.