My short-term goal is to open a small hotel and sell food to the locals at Bamba Center. I would sell chapati, beans, ugali, and other local delicacies at moderate prices. With that kind of stability, I can guarantee a constant revenue stream with which to elevate the quality of life for our kids in the foreseeable future.

I was alone, selling charcoal that I made myself and tilling maize on the farm I own to feed myself and my children. GiveDirectly did for me what they do so well for so many other people. They restored my dignity and enabled me to support my family. I wish them nothing but the best and hope that they continue to do the same for countless others.

My husband and I are, sadly, separated. He is a mason, and I sell omena and burn wood to make charcoal. I earn $0.2 per packet of omena and make charcoal from burning wood. meaning that I couldn't have done much with the income I was receiving were it not for GiveDirectly sending me the transfers. I was able to stock up on food and pay school fees for my three children, all of whom are in Grade 1, at Mariani School in Mombasa. They all demand $35 in tuition fees, which the transfers allowed me to cover. GiveDirectly has allowed me, as a single mother, to not only care for my children but also to do so with dignity and how I felt best. We are forever grateful as a family.

It was exactly 6 in the evening when I was at the nearby town centre when I received a message notification from my mobile phone. Upon checking, I realized that it was an Mpesa message from Segovia Technology. I was overjoyed with happiness I just wish you could see how I reacted. I decided to board a motorbike and rushed back home since I couldn't keep calm. After sharing the great news with my family, they were over-excited as well. I could not afford to sleep that night all I could think was how I could utilize the cash.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now a proud owner of a dairy cow. It has always been my dream to purchase it but because of the financial hardships that I have been encountering, I could not afford it. I however resolved for the cow because according to me it has numerous benefits besides the climatic condition in my region being so favourable for its survival. I am therefore very certain that soon the cow will start producing milk. I am planning to start a business selling the milk to the neighbouring dairy shops and generate an income. The money will empower me to send all my children to school without strain like before. I have been depending on small businesses and sometimes I was unable to bring food to the table. As a single parent of three, having the cow will bring a positive impact on my life. I also believe that through this investment, I will be able to achieve a lot as they increase in number.

I spent part of my first transfer on buying a new bed at KES 6500 and a mattress at KES 6000. For the past twenty years, I have been sleeping on the floor and I felt there was a need for a change since I have always been complaining of back pains. Additionally, I purchased a dairy cow at KES 18000 which will now serve as the living asset that I can readily depend on. Also, I managed to clear school fees for my two children who were still at home as a result of the arrears. With the remaining cash, I have been buying foodstuffs for my family and other household items that I was lacking.