Before GiveDirectly came, I used to share a single roomed of 2500 KES per month with my friend and with the meagre income we had at times we would abscond to pay rent for three months. Due to late payment, we used to have quarrel and disagreements which was very shameful. Currently, my life is different in that I have been able to boost my business and with the double profits, I have moved out and I am staying on my own ability to pay my own rent without a delay. My life is peaceful since I am able to meet my needs with ease.

Have always dreamed of succeeding through venturing in having my own company that operates multiple businesses and I didn't know how this vision would be achieved because of my meagre income. My new goal is to save from the two business and with the savings I shall invest in the taxi business. I am pushing on until my invasion comes to place because of GiveDirectly has instil in me the idea that everything is possible if one believes and works on it.

Previously, my main source of income was selling second -hand clothes and I could only realize the profits on peak days mostly on holidays like Christmas and Easter. Life was hard for me because I lived a life of hand to mouth hence meeting my basic needs required me to go an extra mile. I added the finances which I was given by my parents. I recently received some money from GiveDirectly and bought a motorcycle. With the double profits from both my business, I am certain of a change in my living standards since I will be able to sustain my basic need and save part of it comfortably for my child's education.

My life is now different in that I am yet to move out and get my own place. I have been living with a friend of mine whom we share costs in the house. We are both single mothers of one child each. I have always wanted to have my own space with my child but previously I could not afford a place for my child and I. With my current business and the coming transfers, I will be able to sustain a decent place for my child and I.

My new goals are to open up a cereal business in Huruma Estate in Nairobi county. I also hope to proceed on to college and study a course in Community Development, as I have volunteered in the community before. I am currently a high school leaver.

I spent my second transfers to expand my second hand clothes business. I started this business last year 2018, in December, after I received my first transfers. Previously, I was a community volunteer at a local Non-governmental Organization, SHOFCO(Shinning Hope for Communities), at their Mathare branch here in 4B village. I used to earn a small stipend every month. When I received my first transfers, I started out with hawking second hand clothes here in Mathare. I then expanded this business using my second transfers by acquiring a stall in Huruma Estate where I sell the clothes from. I also added new clothes for grown ups in my shop. I experienced a few challenges of recording low sales in the month of January; like is always expected in that month, but I have to say that so far my business is progressing well and picking up well.

My initial plan was to start a cereal business with these transfers, but the first one was not enough as this type of business requires a huge capital. When I receive the second transfer, I will use it to realize that plan as I know this business will do well in this area because not many people have invested in it making it quite lucrative. I don't plan to abandon the clothes business, my plan is to employ my neighbour who is currently jobless to help with the sales as I take care of the cereals store.

It has always been a huge challenge providing for our daily needs due to lack of stable income. I don't remember any month that we have ever paid our rent on time, but this time, things are different. The profits I make from my business have enabled me to pay rent on time,and going hungry has also become a thing of the past.

I used part of the money I recently received to start a second-hand clothes business because before the money came, I was jobless and only worked as a volunteer in the nearby organization where all I was given was a transport allowance. This was a good opportunity for me to have a stable source of income which had been my greatest challenge in life. I used some of it to pay our house rent which had delayed for two months, bought foodstuff and saved the rest of it to expand my business at any necessary moment.

My roommate who is also a beneficiary of this project saw her message first and her excitement was uncontrollable. When I enquired, she told me that she had received the money that we were promised . I checked to see if I had received mine as well and just the sight of an M-pesa alone made me scream before reading the whole text. We were that excited because we knew our lives in poverty was over as we had drawn up plans on how to use the money to change our lives.