Providing for myself had always been quite tough especially after my husband died. I ended depending mostly on my kids because I am old and at times making ends meet would also be hard for them and I would feel like burden. But thank God for GiveDirectly because now I can cater for myself and my needs without my kids intervening and I do not burden them with my problems anymore.

I belong to a savings committee back in the village where we all chip in money and then offer it to individuals on intervals precisely monthly which is popularly known as merry go round. This committee helps us in saving our money and also helps one in receiving money in bulk in order to undertake big projects that need a lot of money without feeling the financial strain and burden. Therefore after I received the money from GiveDirectly I took KES 2,000 and took it to the savings committee. I was left with about KES 1,000 which I used to cater for nourishment in my home since I depend on myself. I bought eight packets of maize flour, one kilogram of sugar and a portion of beans which would last me a while and in turn the KES 1,000 was all done.

I was in the farm when the notification that the funds had arrived came in. After going home my children confirmed it for me. I was very thankful and happy because I had really wanted to build a foundation for my house and the only way that would be possible was if I joined the savings group because just staying with money would tempt me to use it if I saved it on my own, plus the benefit of the savings group was that when my turn came I could receive close to around KES 10,000, which was quite a decent amount to begin my plans.

This funds have enabled me to have hope that I could finally make my home better and safer because I did have plans and hopes that maybe some day I could afford to start this project of renovating my house but the funds from GiveDirectly were most definitely a major boost and for that I am grateful.

In the village the house I stay in is a mud house and I have wanted to renovate my house for a while now but I have been financially incapable because I am old and barely have a job rather than working in people's farms for little pay and selling charcoal from time to time of which with both I barely make enough to cater for nutrition and build. Therefore after I received the money I went ahead and joined a savings group with fellow women in the village where we each contributed money KES 1,000 and offered it to each one of us at intervals per month, popularly known as merry go round. The aim of joining this group was that when my turn came to receive the money I would have enough money to buy bricks and cement so that I would begin working on my house by creating a better foundation for my home because every time it rained heavy, the house would be swept away due to the mud and ended up costing me all the time while always living in fear. I was left with KES 150 and with that I bought a packet of maize flour for KES 90, a bag of sardines for KES 50 and some little cooking oil for KES 10.