I would like to expand my current business. Initially, I wanted to open a grocery which would cost me a lot more than what I used with my current business. The combination of a vegetable stall and a grocery would increase my income, which would allow me to accomplish my long-term goals like buying a plot and building my house.

GiveDirectly came to my life at a point where I was at my turning point. The funds provided have assisted me in starting all over again. My life has changed ever since. The struggle of feeding my family and being unable to assist my husband was frustrating. Thanks to the funds, I am a businesswoman and aspire to grow my business in the future. I have nothing. I feel the organization has done more than enough and I appreciate the fact that they call and follow up on how we have spent the cash transfers

My husband is a casual laborer who works as a masonry on construction sites. I am a stay-at-home parent and it has been a struggle to support our small family of four members. The cost of living has gone up and with the current drought, it’s expensive to afford a decent meal in a day. The floods affected the house years back, and it is almost collapsing. We are lucky with the current climate because, with strong winds and the rains, we would be homeless. As soon as I received my first transfer, with the anticipation of having the rains, we immediately used the cash on the renovation of the house and the rest on food and water. When I received my second transfer, I wanted to have a lasting effect from the cash transfer; I took a step of faith and opened a business selling sardines, tomatoes, and onions for $300. I also cleared all the outstanding school fees arrears for my two children with $150. I spent the remaining amount on buying some new clothes for my family. I am grateful for the support program that has changed my financial situation in a short time.

Before I got the funds from give directly, I had so much I wanted to do but I couldn't because I did not have the resources for it. For instance, the logs I used to build my house with had been destroyed by wood-eating bugs. They were, therefore, weak and could be easily swept away by strong winds. So, I was required to replace them. In addition to this, I needed to change schools for my child to have her move to a nearby one. I also was thinking of starting a grocery store business to help out my husband with the family bills. All this became attainable when I saw the message confirming the receipt of the cash. It was such a pleasant surprise and I could now foresee my financial breakthrough.

There has been a great difference ever since I started receiving these funds from give directly. My child now schools at a nearby school, I also demolished my old house and built a new one which is safe and comfortable as the old one was I the verge of collapse. We also have sufficient food provision, something with struggled with for a while as my husband's inconsistent salary as a handyman at a construction site was too little to sustain us.

I am married with two children, the eldest is in school while the other has yet to start. My husband who works as a handyman at a construction site always made sure that most if not all of our needs are provided for. To help him out, I wished to start a grocery-selling business. However, since the house we lived in was on the verge of collapse, I instead opted to demolish it and used the money I got from give directly, to build a new one. I also facilitated the transfer of my child to a nearby school so that he would not need to trek to school every day. Whatever amount remained, I utilized it to purchase some food for my family.