I am a hairdresser by profession but I do not have a station because I cannot afford a monthly rent for the available shops. I have, therefore, been offering door-to-door services whenever I am called by a customer. Recently, I opened up a charcoal business in the nearby center and it consumes most of my time. The clients end up coming for the services in the business premise. I fear I might lose my customers because most of them are not comfortable with the charcoal dirt and dust. Furthermore, I have to take breaks in between to serve customers who come for charcoal. This has been the reason behind my motivation for the additional goal of opening a salon next to the charcoal shop. I will, therefore, assign someone to take care of the shop as I serve my clients. I have already started saving some money to achieve this new goal.

I am grateful for the support we got from Give Directly. The idea of giving money directly to individuals without any conditions was an ideal eye-opener. I have seen a lot of improvements and satisfaction within our village. People have invested in various ways ranging from livestock to businesses, some have constructed better houses, a good number of school dropout children have gone back to school and some have bought pieces of land. This would not have been possible were it not for the support. On the other hand, there is nothing the organization is not doing well.

After successfully meeting the most pressing household needs with the first transfer, we felt it was ideal to have a long-term investment with the aim of having a reliable income for our household. We, therefore, spent the whole of the second transfer on a charcoal buying and selling business. The money catered for 10 bags of charcoal which was the stock and a weighing machine. So far, I can not complain because we have seen a great improvement when it comes to meeting our household needs. Previously, my husband was the sole breadwinner, but he used to strain financially. He is now relieved since we share the household expenses.

That evening, I was at home preparing supper for my family when I received the money transfer message. I was over enjoyed that I called told everyone at home about the exciting news.

I finally feel like someone in the society at last. I have cows which I can call mine now, my children are nolonger being sent home for school fees and I can afford a daily food. My days are more brighter and filled with happiness.

Previously, I was living a miserable life and it felt like I was just trying to survive in the society. My culture values livestock a lot and I did not have any to call mine, my three children were barely in school due to lack of school fees and their uniforms was torn. Even though I had a local traditional bamboo bed, it didn't have a mattress and my three children were would spread cartoon and lied on them during the night. My guess is that they hated nights because they would wake up every morning complaining of back pains. I didn't know when and how I would change life for better. Poverty was the mother of all these problem and I didn't know how I will manage though it. My husband would get seasonal casual jobs and the highest he would earn was KSH 500. With the prevailing droughts, food prices are usually very high and therefore can't afford to do something meaningful with this money. When I received my first transfer, I sorted most our problems. I spend Ksh 30000 on buying two cows, Ksh 11000 to buy bed and mattress for our kids, Ksh 3000 to pay school fees and buy school uniform for my children and still have the balance which I use to buy daily food. I'm so grateful to GiveDirectly for getting us a step out of poverty.