Due to my advanced age, I spend my days at home alone. This gave me the idea for something I want to do once I have some money. I want to open a store where I will sell food items and other personal items. By doing this, I will be working in a helpful light duty that will allow me to have an income-generating activity, allowing me to accomplish some other things that I am currently unable to do due to a lack of money.

I only heard good things about GiveDirectly ever since I first heard about it from the nearby areas where the organization was active. People were praising the organization's operations. Finally, I was able to confirm my suspicions when I spoke with the GiveDirectly employees in our community during the census phase. The personnel acted in an ethical and professional manner, and the organization is well-organized.

I started finishing the roofing on my house with the second transfer after starting it with the first. For $228, I purchased 24 pieces of iron sheets. Cost of labor was $100. My house is now complete, and I'm content to have a place to call home. I spent $70 on a sturdy door because I wanted one. After that, I spent $60 for my five primary school-aged grandchildren's tuition. I also spent $50 to purchase two 200-liter storage tanks due to the lack of water. I bought some food for the family with the balance.

I was at my farm at around 8 in the morning when I realised that I had received my first cash transfer. Tears of joy rolled down my cheeks because it felt like a dream to me. I had to recheck the message only to confirm it was true. I had to rush back home shared the news with my family and make arrangements on where I could withdraw the cash. I had been eagerly waiting for this cash so that I can start my projects as early as possible.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to construct the business stalls. This has been my desire since I already had the plot but I did not have sufficient cash to finance that. I felt there was a need to build one because I will not only earn a living from my tenants but also I will open a rental shop in the same building. I believe this will change my living standards because for all those years I have been relying on the charcoal business. The little income, I made, could not meet all my family's basic needs like paying fees for my children. This led to always being sent home regularly because of the arrears. I am now hoping that soon I will start collecting good returns because the stalls are ready for use I will therefore no longer strain on catering for my household needs and paying school fees for my children

I spent part of my first transfer on purchasing the following building materials which include; iron sheets at KES 24700, the building poles at KES 8400 and the labour costs of KES 10000. This was purposely for the construction of business stalls in the village since I felt there was a high demand. The businessmen in my region had to go to the neighbouring villages to rent a stall simply because there was none in the village. I am so glad to have achieved this dream and I know very soon they will all be occupied. Apart from that, it will be easier for me to open a retail shop on the same premises. Finally, with the remaining cash, I bought food for my family.