There isn't much development where I live. We're in the interior of the main land and such, businesses like minimart or whole sale stores would do well. That's what I'd like to do moving forward. Have a business of my own, sell cooking oil, flour etc and make my own money, on my own terms. Hopefully this dream will turn into a reality, soon.

GiveDirectly excels at giving hope to the hopeless. If it were not for GiveDirectly I wouldn't have achieved all I have, with the pride I felt planning my own money and without oversight. I would love for GiveDirectly representatives to visit physically and see the transformation that has arisen from their fine work. I feel it's better than talking over the phone, since you as an organisation will truly see just how much you have been a blessing to us. My only advise/request would be that GiveDirectly never stop their good work and continue to be that friend that we all need in times of despair.

The funds from GiveDirectly changed my life, immensely. I was finally able to build a house for myself and my family. It's hard to explain how much of an impossibility home ownership seemed to me and mine, but by GiveDirectly good deeds, that dream was made a reality. It's a 2bedroom house, with a verandah. Suits me and my husband perfectly. A bed was also purchased, to add to the comfort in said new home. I have one other son, my eldest, who works in Mombasa, while his brother attends higher learning at Motto University and their 3 sisters, all run homes of their own where they married. Needless to say my husband and I were in need of these funds to elevate our daily living and help us keep financial independence rather than depend on our kids. My husband and I both make charcoal, earning KES. 400, daily to burn the wood into charcoal. Between that income and what we make from harvesting coconuts,maize and other cereals on our 5 acre land, raising KES. 20,000 to cater for my child's tuition in campus was a tall order. These funds have allowed us to be able to enroll him into school and started the journey towards a brighter future for him thanks to GiveDirectly. These leaps and bounds would have been impossible if it was not for GiveDirectly generosity

It was exactly 8 am, I was at home washing my clothes when I received the message about the transfer. I went to my daughter-in-law's house for her to check the message and interpret it for me since I am illiterate. I felt very happy for receiving my transfer when it finally landed to my ears that I had received the transfer. I immediately informed my husband who was at home and we both rejoice and thank God for the transfer.

Able to comfortably meet the family's basic needs like food is the biggest difference in my daily life. I am no longer facing rough doing charcoal burning to support the needs of my family. We can afford to have 3 meals per day after receiving the transfer something that gives me an easy time and peace of mind.

I spent most of my transfer on constructing a decent shelter for my family this is because I was living in old, rusty iron sheets roofed house that leaks during the rainy season. I used KES 40,000 to build a spacious iron-roofed house for the family. I also used 10,000 to purchase sufficient foodstuff for my family of 4 members. This is because my husband is old and unable to work and providing food for the family has been a tough job for me. Going to bed without food or skipping meals was the norm most of the time. With the remaining amount, I am intending to support my 2 grandchildren's educational needs. They were left under my care after their parents died some time back.