Through the funds I have received I managed to hasten some of the goals and ambitions I had like getting a bicycle. I may have got the opportunity to get one eventually but this funds have made the process of acquiring one easier and faster so I am very grateful for that. Also I have been able to make sure there is always food on the table which makes me happy.

I have wanted to purchase a bicycle fr the longest time and this is because apart from helping me get to work I planned on using it as my means of transport when it came to getting water and transporting it back home from other villages since our village had issues with providing clean drinking water. Plus getting the water myself would help reduce the cost of having to pay someone to bring the water for us. I identified the price of the bicycle which was KES 6,000 so I took KES 2,000 of what I received and put it away in order to save for the bicycle which I planned to buy eventually. I was left KES 1,000 and decided to buy four packets of maize flour which cost KES 480, then used KES 20 to buy airtime. I am still left with KES 500 which I plan on using it on food in case I run out.

I was home that day I remember and the message came in at around nine in the morning. I felt so much relief at the same time overwhelmed which so much happiness because as I stated earlier my mother was sick and I barely had money to to care for her and still afford something to eat. On most occasions when actually go hungry but receiving that money meant the situation was going to change for a while.

I lost my job almost around two years ago when COVID-19 hit the world globally and I lost my job as a carpenter then and till date the company I worked in has completely shut down. This situation left me helpless and depressed since I could not provide for my family and yet I have so many people who rely on me. Then came GiveDirectly to my rescue because now I can manage to cater for some of my needs and that of my family unlike before.

In my own opinion and perspective this funds could not have picked a better time to come than when they did, because during that moment my mother had fallen immensely ill and my extended family and I could not afford to take her to hospital. We would go to bed and worry every single day about her health and kept wondering if she would make it with each passing day but our hands were tied due to lack of finances. Soon after GiveDirectly came through for us and I instantly took my mother to hospital where she was diagnosed with low blood pressure and dehydration. After receiving medical attention and the prescription they assigned her I coughed up KES 700 of what I had received which was all worth it if you ask me. As for what was left which was around KES 470 I opted to purchase five bags of maize flour since we barely had any food in the house.