Yes, I have a goal of building a spacious three-bedroomed house. I have a family comprising 11 members with myself included. My current house is tiny (one bedroomed) and cannot accommodate all the members of the family, forcing some to stay with relatives and neighbors. I have not had a close relationship with some of my children, denying them the parental need and care they deserve. I would like to have all my family members live on one roof and share quality time and important memorable moments with them. It is for this reason that building the house is a priority for me once I receive the transfer.

The service delivered by the Give Directly officers was one of their kind. The officers were disciplined, polite and very helpful to every member of the village, and that’s a kudo to the organization. I would like the organization to have physical follow up exercise to access the impact of the transfers. This will help the organization feel and see how the funds have impacted the lives of the villagers.

I am a teacher by profession. Providing basic needs (food, shelter and school fees) to my family of 11 members has proved very challenging. As a teacher, I am employed by the board of management in the school and not by the teacher’s service commission. I face many challenges working under the school management, including late payments and huge salary deductions. My wife stopped working because of her health condition, thus I am the only breadwinner in the family. Due to the many changeless I have, I incurred lots of debts to take care of my family. Upon receiving the transfer, I spent part of it in paying off all the debts I hard and I am glad I don’t owe anybody. Besides paying off the debts, I saved the remaining amount. My second-born child completed his certificate of primary education last month. From the results that were released last week, he passed with flying colors, scoring 323 marks. The money will ensure that I buy him essential materials such as school uniforms, stationery and also pay part of his fees to enable him, start his secondary education on a wonderful note. My poor financial condition would not allow me to accomplish this without incurring some debts. I am grateful that although I did not build a house for them, I will work harder to ensure I build the house and have all my family members living together.

I saw the SMS confirming that I have received the money from GiveDirectly in the morning, so it could have probably been delivered earlier at night. I thanked God and GiveDirectly because I just didn't expect to receive such an amount of money even though I'd been promised at registration. I was stranded as I had arrears and debts all over, therefore, I was so relieved when I got the money.

The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that I am so relieved now, than I was before. I was able to settle my daughter's school fees arrears and the debts in the various local kiosks where I used to get some commodities on credit. I am so grateful and my heart is at peace.

I spent most of the transfer which was KES 21000 on settling my daughter's school fees arrears because I didn't want her education to continuously interrupted or disrupted endless arrears. This was also because I am almost retiring from work and I might not be able to actively work to provide for her education as well as she is my first born, so she is of so much importance to me as much as her good education is to her. Therefore, when I got this money I made sure I settle her school fees arrears as early and as conclusive as possible, because I know that she would take care of me in the future when I am unable to actively look after myself, due to old age. I also spent KES 10000 on starting the foundation for a better and more permanent house because the one we are currently living in is a very poor state and repairing or improving it, according to the consultations I made with experts, would just end up costing me maybe more than what I would use to build a new house. Therefore, I am in the process of building this new house, whose foundation was only made possible by GiveDirectly. I am so grateful.