My life is currently different because had I not received the transfers, my children would not have been allowed to continue with their studies. They had huge fee balance that would have taken months to pay. To avoid their studies from being discontinued, I paid for them through the transfers. In addition to this, I also managed to renovate my living house because it was not in a stable condition. I was worried that in case of heavy rains, it might be swept away. I thus rebuilt it with blocks of sand and cement. I am glad that It is now permanent. I am also owning goats which are living assets that I can readily rely on in case of a financial need. I am expecting them to reproduce and increase in number. I can sell the offspring to raise money.

We were used to getting support in terms of relief food which was for a very short period of time. We did not experience a big impact thus we still lived in poverty. Getting the unconditional transfers from GiveDirectly was the best strategy to uplift our living standards. We have been able to improve our lives because we are now enjoying good shelter, paying fees and owning livestock as assets. In my opinion,giving us the freedom to decide on what to spend the transfers on is what GiveDirectly does well. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.

I spent KES 20000 of my second transfer on paying school fees for my two children who are currently in high school. They had a huge fee balance and I paid on time so that they would be allowed to continue with their studies. I also spent a portion of the transfer on rebuilding my house which was not in a stable condition. I purchased blocks, sand and cement and renovated it to be decent and more permanent. I also put a nice floor in my house since it was rough and dusty inside. In addition to this, I also purchased goats to add to my goat shed. These are living assets that will help me as they reproduce. I can readily rely on them in case of a financial need.

I had gone to my farm early in the morning and left my phone charging in my house. While working, a neighbour informed me that GiveDirectly had sent the transfer as promised. I hurriedly went for my phone and true to the word of the neighbour, I saw the message. I had received my first transfer. I was greatly overjoyed and celebrated with my children having received a financial help.

The biggest difference in my daily is that I finally renovated my house after failing several times due to lack of money. I remember my neighbours would cry out that one day it would collapse on us. It was in a very bad state. Its only through this transfer that I purchased some bricks and cement and renovated it. Its currently in a very stable state, courtesy of GiveDirectly.

I spent a larger portion of the first transfer on buying building materials to renovate my house. It has been in a bad state for long. Its walls were not stable and full of cracks. I was worried that it might fall on us whenever it rained heavily. Thus I bought bricks, sand and cement and rebuilt it. I also paid for the labour involved in the construction. I am planning to spend the remaining amount to buy goats to keep in my homestead. These are assets to me which I can readily depend on in case of a financial need.