I planned to starting and growing a business especially since a realised a niche that affected me as well since most stores in our village were quite far and most times people could travel for over an hour or more to locate and buy an item. So after long consideration I though it would be best if I opened my own store and served people in my community rather that having to almost feel like we were travelling in order to acquire stuff. Using the first transfers I had also managed to begin the construction of my store but I had to pause since I ran out of money, so I intended to continue finish the parts I had left. Lastly if I still had some money left on me then I would have loved to buy livestock and ensure growth in my farm.

Financially GiveDirectly has upgraded me to heights that I would have never expected or anticipated. In the beginning I was skeptical about GiveDirectly and the intentions it had since I have never seen such an organization. But all my doubts were cleared sooner than I expected and I am very glad that I did not let my thoughts cloud my judgement and took up the opportunity I was offered.

The first transfers helped me kick start the building of my store but I had to stop after I ran out of money so I was left with plastering of the store and the flooring as well. Therefore after I received the money I went ahead and bought a cart of sand which cost me KES 3,800 and six bags of cement which cost me KES 4,200 meanwhile the transportation fee cost me KES 2,500. I then decided to buy five goats which cost me KES 21,500. This enables me to a livestock keeeper and also after the animals breed then I could always offer them to the market and provide for my family. I was left with around KES 21,150 which I intend to use in paying the labourer since he charges KES 1,500 per day and as for what I will be left with I will use it as capital to purchase items for my store which include maize flour, wheat flour, sugar, cooking oil, salt and even books just to mention the few things that I have in mind.

While doing my morning household chores, a neighbor passed by and asked me whether I had received the promised transfer by the GiveDirectly officers claiming that he received the previous day. I trembled thinking that I had missed out yet I was registered. My phone was off. When my helper heard that, she gave me her phone battery since the phones were of the same type so that we could confirm. Within some seconds a message was received in my phone and upon confirmation it was the transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. My heart was filled with joy for not being left out of the wonderful GiveDirectly program.

The biggest difference that I can attest is that, initially I was very sick, booked for surgery for several times but I couldn’t manage due to lack of funds. As at now through the transfer I got from GiveDirectly I was able to seek the required medication; the surgery was done and I am progressing well. I can boldly say that, this was made possible because of GiveDirectly.

The first thing I did after withdrawing the money was to take myself to hospital since I had been booked severally for surgery due to kidney problem but lack of money saw me procrastinating the medication process. Thereafter, I bought a door for my house and fixed it since it has been without a door for the last one year. All this is due to poverty. I also bought a small solar panel for KES 2000.00, four goats for KES 16000.00, paid KES 10000.00 school fees for my 2 secondary school children and saved the remaining amount. The aim of saving this amount is to wait for the next transfer so that I do a bigger income generating activity which will be a pillar for my family.