I would want to start up my own business and be able to see my children through their education without any difficulties now that I am raising them alone.

It was a great blessing having GiveDirectly visit and support our village right from the first to the last transfer. In my opinion, this initiative gave a new face to every household and more so the whole village. we were given a chance to listen to and decide whether to receive and spend the transfer independently without any push but ensuring that they change our lives or not. The fact that the support was only limited to the two transfers made every household spend wisely following the teachings we had received during enrollment stages. I can't see anything to complain about but to just encourage GiveDirectly to keep supporting other villages as well.

Since I separated with my husband who was the sole bread winner in the family, life has not been easy. I moved back home to my parents place with my two children. The second transfer was helpful in buying food since my parents are not working. I bought two goats for $60 which I raise at home. I bought some utensils, furniture and new pairs of clothes for my two children, and saved the remaining amount to use in checking any household item that we may run short of in the future.

It was 2 pm, and I was fixing a late lunch for the family. I had not realized how much time had passed because of the work at the farm. As I was cooking, my phone had a beep of a message tone, and with my anxiety, had to check up on the message. I was pleased to see the amount of money I have been waiting for some time, since the support program visited my village. I went on with my cooking but I was humming joyous songs, thinking of how I will spend the cash.

The biggest difference in my daily life is since I received the funds. I have been sleeping on rugs in an old traditional bed, which is uncomfortable and most of the time my husband has been forced to repair it now and then. At the moment I have bought a strong bed and a nice mattress which not only is comfortable but healthy for our back problems.

My husband is a palm wine tapper, and most of the time he has provided just enough for our basic needs like food because my children are still young and not yet enrolled in school. Most times, the money provided is enough for the day and it all depends on the customers and the season. The inconsistency of the flow of income has limited me to have some things I have longed for, like furnishing the house and having livestock of my own. Upon receiving the cash, I used KES 12,100 and bought a bed, mattress, and small suitcase for my children’s clothes. With the current water shortage, I also bought a tank for KES 3500. The previous night, we discussed our finances, and he advised me to buy food that would last us a few months because business was on the low. I used KES 11,000 to buy a 50kg bag of maize and rice. I bought two goats for KES 7000 in case we needed to sell them for financial support in the future. With all said and done, as a woman, I lived up to my dream to buy the kitchen utensils I have always wanted and bought my family new clothes with KES 9000. I have saved the rest of the money to be used in our daily expenditures, like buying vegetables and water for household consumption.