I have a small shop which I selling clothes and African materials ( vitenge ) the business was struggling because of inadequate stock. I stocked the business and now I make more sales since more clients who come don't turn away because of lack of their preferred items from the shop. Today , I am able to provide for my family with ease out of the doubled profits I make from the business. Secondly, I have build a decent iron sheet shelter that accommodates my family comfortably. The shelter we lived in before was old and weak with its roof dilapidated. As of now, I feel happy living in a decent place with no worries about any weather change. Truly, had it not been for the financial support which I received from GiveDirectly I wouldn't afford this changes that makes my entire life happy and better placed.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly did a good job of uplift our living standards. Before, most of us couldn't afford basic needs like access to a better shelter which was due to our low financial status. Its thrilling to afford better shelter, livestock and education for our children with the courtesy of GiveDirectly. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly didn't do well.

I spent 20,000 KES of my second transfer to restock my small business . I paid school fees for my two children who are in secondary and primary school respectively. I am happy and peaceful that my children are attending school consistently since its always pains me see them stay home due to school arrears. I also bought food for my family's consumption

The biggest difference is that I am now independent after I started receiving financial support from GiveDirectly. I managed to buy a few goats using the transfers. My decision to go for goats is that I am assured of achieving a lot from them within a short period of time. First, they take a shorter time to mature and they reproduce mostly twice a year. This means the chances of being wealthy are so high. The fact that my grandchildren are still schooling and I am the one taking care of them, I will not struggle with paying their school fees, because I plan to sell the offsprings to ensure they study well without being sent home frequently due to fees arrears. To add on that, when the offsprings multiply and mature, they will give me the ability to buy a dairy cow. There is a possibility I won't go back to doing casual jobs any time soon.

It was around 7 am when I was preparing breakfast for my grandchildren when I heard my phone ringing. I decided to wake up my helper so that he can check who had sent the message. After checking I realized she told me it was an mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy. I still remember the day as if it was yesterday. It was indeed a memorable moment in my life.

I spent part of my first transfer on buying a few pieces of iron sheets and building poles. This was for the purpose of construction of a new house for my grandchildren. Previously they used to sleep at my neighbor's house because my house was very small. In addition to that, I also cleared their fees. They had a huge fee balance that had accumulated for a whole year. I then hired some to prepare my farm since I am old and can't do the work anymore. Apart from that, I also bought three goats because they are cheap compared to the other domestic animals and they reproduce faster. The remaining amount of money I bought sufficient foodstuffs for my family.