At times, nature dictates the kind of environment we should live in. When it rains in my area, it pours heavily, rendering some of us almost homeless. My family of six currently lives in an old single-grass thatched house that acts as both the kitchen, living room, and bedroom, and with the growing children, shame is unfolding. Again, when it rains, it leaks. Therefore, in the next year, I hope to construct a two-room iron-roofed house using the savings of $100 I currently have. I have not been able to accomplish this because I have diverted all the funds towards school fee payments. I also hope to open a grocery business since it requires a small capital investment of up to $30 to start and is less time-consuming than casual jobs.

With the unconditionality of the transfers, individuals have the autonomy to decide what to spend on, resulting in independence and an improvement in their lifestyle. In my area, for instance, lives have noticeably changed as people have been uplifted from extreme poverty and now live at par. I applaud GiveDirectly for the good job they are doing in the community and also wish them to expand further to the poorest areas.

My son completed his Grade 12 examinations at Solio Secondary School two years ago and scored a C-, a grade enough to acquire him an entry position at the college. Unfortunately, this never came to pass, for I did not have finances to clear the $30 arrears he had at school, and the $4 earned from casual jobs such as weeding is insufficient to cater for all family needs as well as his college fee; therefore, he had to pardon his siblings to progress, at least as he waits for us to get finances. I am happy that GiveDirectly made this a success. When I received the transfers, I cleared his grade 12 arrears, and he then received his certificate and enrolled in a vocational college. I paid $200 of the college fees and spent an additional $70 on shopping for his school needs. I also saved $100 towards purchasing iron sheets for a house I wish to construct. For the rest of the transfers, I used on clothing and food for the family of six.

I was extremely happy and grateful to God and GiveDirectly for their generous support. It was around 4:00 p.m. when I received a message that, upon reading and identifying the sender as Segovia Technoly, excited me because I had been told to expect it from the source. I was alone at home since my children were still at school, and when I told them the news when they got home, they were delighted. I had to collect a portion of the transfer the following day as I had school issues to attend to.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the payment of school fees for children who are now able to study without interruption, the purchase of an expectant heifer, and enough food for my family of six. I am grateful for GiveDirectly's generous support and hope to accomplish a lot with the upcoming transfer.

My children had been coming back and forth from school, hoping to get some money to cover their tuition and give them enough time to study before I received the first transfer. Receiving the first transfer was a huge relief, especially for the two students who attend a day secondary school. The following morning, I made a direct deposit of $100 to the school account to clear the entire term before withdrawing the remaining amount from the nearby shopping center. My reliance on casual labor was no longer paying, and we could sometimes go without a meal until the first transfer arrived. With $40, I was able to purchase enough food for my family of six. Furthermore, with this money, I was able to upgrade my home's lighting system from a single, small, dim light source to a $50 solar panel and a wet battery powering three brighter bulbs in three different rooms: the kitchen, the main house, and the children's room. Every evening, they can now enjoy the well-lit space where they can complete their assignments. I used the remaining money to purchase a heifer, which I expect to calve in the coming months. I had been buying milk from the neighbors and needed a cow that would provide enough milk for my family as well as surplus for sale.