In the years to come, my plan is to venture into the poultry business. Observing its success with my neighbor's, I've noticed its profitability, particularly due to the high demand for eggs. Along with selling eggs, I intend to raise and sell mature chickens. I am confident that this endeavor will serve as a reliable source of income, supporting my efforts to provide education for my five children.

Indeed, GiveDirectly has done a commendable job for their remarkable commitment to providing crucial financial assistance to those undergoing hardships, a contribution that has notably alleviated poverty. Thanks to their support, I have been able to accomplish a goal that once appeared out of reach: building a proper house for my children. In the past, my children had no choice but to sleep in the kitchen due to space constraints, which not only affected their privacy but also posed potential health risks. I am now overjoyed that they have a comfortable and secure place to rest and sleep peacefully.

I utilized the entire amount of the most recent transfer to complete the construction project that I had initiated with the previous transfers. I had already built an extension room on my main house for my children to have their own space, but some crucial finishing touches were left incomplete, such as cementing, and installing windows and doors. Thankfully, the transfer provided me with the means to buy essential materials like cement, sand, windows, and a door, and also cover the labor costs. I am now delighted to see my children sleeping peacefully in an improved environment that can also serve as a study room for them. This is a far better option than the dusty kitchen floor they used to sleep on, which exposed them to health risks like respiratory diseases.

In the coming year and beyond, my goal is to establish a small business selling second-hand clothes. I have previous experience in this field, having sold clothing in various markets before I dropped and started concentrating on farming. I plan to source my stock from a wholesale shop in Iten and resell it in smaller quantities at nearby shopping centers and markets. My intention is to use the income generated from this business to supplement my family's farming activities, which can be unpredictable at times. Additionally, I hope to use the profits to provide for my family's basic needs, such as school fees and food. By establishing this business, I aim to increase our household income and improve our overall standard of living.

GiveDirectly has done an amazing job of providing financial support to those in need, which has helped to alleviate poverty. Thanks to their support, I have been able to accomplish a lot, including building a new home, improving my farming activities, and securing enough food to sustain my family of eight. I appreciate that GiveDirectly trusts us to budget the money on our own, as this allows us to prioritize our needs based on the specific challenges we are facing. However, while GiveDirectly's focus on financial support is beneficial, there may be some instances where material goods would be more helpful, such as during times of emergency or natural disasters like droughts that led to the extreme shortage of water both for our use and livestock's. Overall, I believe that GiveDirectly is doing an excellent job of providing aid to those in need, and they could continue to improve by offering more diverse forms of support when necessary.

I recently received a second transfer from GiveDirectly, which I used to further improve my home and support my family's subsistence farming. With the initial transfer, I had started construction on my home, but I was unable to complete it due to the need for stronger doors and windows that would withstand termite infestations. Thankfully, with the second transfer, I was able to purchase a $200 metallic door and three windows for $95 that are durable and termite-resistant. I also spent $30 on a 50-kg bag of dry maize grains to feed my family of eight. As it is currently the planting season, I spent $40 to prepare an acre of land and bought $27 worth of maize seeds and $40 worth of bean seeds that I have already planted on my farm and am currently tending to. Finally, I used the remaining funds for transportation while bringing the purchases home from the shopping center. Relying on subsistence farming and livestock, which are often threatened by harsh weather conditions, I am grateful for GiveDirectly's support, which has helped me improve my home and provide for my family's basic needs.

I received the payment around 3:00 p.m. on February 23. I had hoped to receive a notification message by the 15th of that month, but the slight delay did not deter me. I had no reason to doubt the source, even though the name of the organization was not included in the mobile money message, because I had no other expectation of such a large sum. I had called the office the day before and was assured that everything was fine and that my first transfer was just a matter of time. I told my kids about it, and they were all excited and wanted to know if it was true. When we finally collected the money after the second day in the nearby shopping center, we were all thrilled that GiveDirectly had kept their promise.

The most noticeable difference in my daily life is the ongoing renovation to create an extra room in my home for my five children. They had been sleeping in deplorable conditions, and everyone is hoping that they will soon have enough space and a clean environment to store their books and clothes as well as study in. The new room is spacious and will be able to accommodate more than one bed once it is completed, so it will be sufficient for my growing children, who had been sleeping in a small store at my doorstep.

My family of seven had been living in a small house, with the five children moving out every night to a small store where they would put their bedding on the floor and fold it up every morning. It has been a bad experience for them because they could not study in the evenings in confined spaces, and their bedding was getting dirty more frequently due to the dust in the cramped store. The first transfer was a relief because it allowed me to renovate the old house we lived in and added an extra room for my children. I am glad the materials I had been buying in bits came in handy and that I had to spend $180 on labor charges, which were significantly increased when we got the money. Removing the entire roof and changing the model of the house cost me a lot of money, but  I am glad that my children will be able to move in once the floors are finished. In addition, I used the remaining funds to purchase food for my family.