As a dedicated crop farmer, I have been focusing on my current planting of butternut squash and green grams, which I expect to be ready for harvest in about two months. Witnessing the success of my wife's business has inspired me to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams. I plan to start my own business focused on buying and selling charcoal, which I believe has significant potential. My strategy is to open a store in town where I can purchase charcoal for around $7 and sell it for approximately $10 per bag. especially since charcoal is readily available due to the legalization of harvesting from the prosopis tree, which is known for producing high quality charcoal. This investment not only aims to enhance my financial stability but also to contribute to our family's overall economic growth.

GiveDirectly's One of the most commendable aspects of their approach is how they promote unity within families. Before any cash transfer, they encourage families to come together and agree on who will receive the money, which helps to prevent any potential conflicts that might arise. Additionally, GiveDirectly emphasizes the importance of wise spending. Although the cash transfers are unconditional, they encourage recipients to avoid illegal activities. My suggestion is that after each transfer, GiveDirectly could organize community meetings to showcase the positive impacts of the funding. This initiative would motivate others and also create a sense of accountability among recipients, demonstrating how the funds can lead to meaningful change in the community. Overall, GiveDirectly’s approach is commendable, and by incorporating more community engagement, they could enhance their impact even further.

When I received my second unconditional cash transfer, I knew exactly how I wanted to use it to support my family and help us get back on our feet. My wife runs a grocery and cereal business, which has been crucial in meeting our daily needs, especially since my crop farming is seasonal. However, her business stock had been running low, and I recognized its potential to provide us with consistent income. Therefore, I decided to give her $195 to increase her stock, which has already resulted in higher profits. She even managed to pay $50 in school fees for our children and bought them some clothes while her business continues to thrive. Additionally, I invested $150 in my crop farming by planting butternut squash and green grams. This money went towards land preparation, planting, and irrigation, and I’m pleased that my crops are doing well. With harvest expected in about two months, I now have faith in getting back on my feet again after losing my previous crops to floods. Furthermore, I allocated $50 to clear the fees for my three children in elementary school. The remaining $55 I spent on food to ensure we have enough to eat and to avoid relying solely on the business during its growth phase. I purchased essential cereals and condiments to sustain us while we await the harvest from my crops. With these combined efforts, I believe both my wife’s business and my farming will lead us toward financial stability, allowing us to provide a better future for our children.

I was at Kabarnet Boys for my son's Form Four prayer day, and as I was sitting there, I heard a message notification on my phone. I assumed it was just another message from Safaricom, nothing unusual. But when I checked, I saw it was a transfer from GiveDirectly. I couldn’t believe my eyes—I thought I had been left out because some of my village mates had already received their money, but I hadn't. This was such a blessing; I knew I could finally clear my son's school fees arrears, something I had been struggling with since my casual labor barely covers our needs.

The biggest difference that this money brought into our lives is that my son is finally settled in school. Before we received this help, it was heartbreaking to see him stressed out, always wondering if he'd be able to stay in school the next day or if he'd be sent back home again. This uncertainty weighed heavily on him, especially since he's a candidate preparing for his final exams. Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, all that has changed. The school fees are now paid, and he no longer has to worry about being sent home. With that stress lifted, he can finally focus on his studies and prepare for his exams with a clear mind.

When I received the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, the first thing I did was use $100 to pay off the school fees arrears for my son, who is in Form Four. That debt had been weighing heavily on me because I had no idea where I would find the money. After that, I took on various casual jobs to clear the remaining arrears, making sure I could fully settle the school fees. With $50 of the money, I cleared a piece of land that a friend in the village had given me; it was overgrown with bushes, and I knew that clearing it would make ploughing and planting easier later on. The rest of the money went towards buying essential household items—cooking pots, cups, plates, and water containers—since the ones I had before had been swept away by the floods.