Before I became part of Give Directly's program, I did not have any source of income and would sometimes engage in criminal activities to earn money. I was always praying that I would one day leave behind my life of crime and live a normal life with a regular source of income which was answered when I received the transfer. The money enabled me to open a boutique which has since been my main source of income. Since I started the business, I have been very busy that I have no more time to hang out with the bad crew we engaged in criminal activities with or even have time to think of robbing again because I am now making my own money. I am very grateful to Give Directly for helping me change my life and turning away from crime which I would still be engaging in if I had not received the money to start the business.

My younger sister is currently in her final year of high school and will soon be out looking for a job because our mother is unable to pay her college fees due to low income. I am still not in a position to pay her college fees as well, so I am planning to leave her my business to run once she completes high school so that I can look for another job in driving. Leaving the business for my sister will make her busy leaving her no time to engage in inappropriate activities that may lead to early pregnancy as it happens with most young girls in this slum. I also want her to be financially independent and responsible so that she be able to provide for herself.

I used most of the money I recently received to boost my boutique business which I started using the first transfer I received by adding more stock. I then used the rest of the money to clear my sister's school fee balance for the year so that she would not be sent away from school for delayed fee payments, especially now that she is in her final year and would be sitting for the National examination at the end of the year.

Before I was a part-time dobby despite the meagre income, I could pay my school fees with this and it was so challenging. It reached a point in time that I felt I would drop out of college because missing to attend classes most often, affected my grades that made me a weak student hence it demotivated me a lot. Currently, my life different than it would have been if I never receive this transfer in that I have started two small retail business and the income I am getting I pay my college fees with ease. Thanks to GiveDirectly for enabling me to achieve my goal of pursuing my education.

My new goal is to have my own rent house and relieve my parent's the burden of taking care of me. Having a larger family makes my parents do struggle to meet our needs.

I always admired the dream of being my own boss and having my success through venturing into a lucrative business. Lack of capital barred me to reach this dream. I spent the most recent transfer to start two small retail businesses and the profit from each I use to enhance the sustainability of the two as they compliment each other. The surplus profits I am able to pay my college fees with ease.

My goal is to study a course in Automotive Mechanic so that I can own my own workshop someday.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now live a more comfortable life as I was able to purchase some household items that I did not have before, such as seats and a mattress. My business has also improved and is so far doing well.

I spent my most recent transfer to expand my shoe business, to pay my school fees and to purchase some household items. I have been selling second hand shoes where I live in Mathare, Mlango Kubwa village, since last year, 2018. I usually buy these shoes from the popular Gikomba market near the Central Business District in Nairobi, and I resell them back in Mathare. I spent part of my transfers to expand this business because I did not have sufficient stock. I added stock to my business and I am happy that my business is doing well since. I also purchased some seats and a mattress in my house. I now live a more comfortable life.

I was still asleep early in the morning on the day that I first received my transfers. I was woken up at around 5:00 AM by a call from a friend of mine from my youth group, who was calling to alert me to check my phone as the transfers had come in. I immediately hang up the call to check my phone. I was very happy when I saw the message. I did not even go back to sleep. I sat up for a while just to think of how I would spend the transfers. I did not tell anyone about it, and I prepared myself to go to work.