The fact that we now have a stable source of income we can rely on is a very important step in my life. But I am more pleased with the fact that I have my own livestock. I have seen so many people have their own and I felt left behind because even my agemates have. It is the best investment because it requires very little resources to keep and take care of unlike even the motorcycle we bought. The fact that I used part of my transfers to buy two goats makes me happy because they will reproduce in no time and the number will increase. Anytime I have any financial emergency, I don't have to rely on others but can sell some of the goats to raise money.

The fact that GD gave us money to handle our own needs in our own way was the best part of the program. We would have not have made the steps we have made in my family by now on our own. There is nothing GD did not do well. They should just continue in the same way.

I spent my transfer on buying a second-hand motorcycle when we joined up part of our transfers with my mother to raise the required amount of money. It has been our plan to buy one but due to low income, we would not. At least now we have a source of income which we can rely on. I also used part of the transfer to buy two goats as an investment for my family, a solar system which has really brought a lot of difference in our lives, especially at night. We have enough light and my children can do their homework comfortably. The rest I used as fare to pay my parents a visit and to buy more food fr my family.

Owning the goats has made my life to be so different so far. I settled in buying goats because, first, they can live in any climatic condition, they can easily be maintained, they reproduce twice a year and they mature faster compared to other domestic animals. I have been longing to rear them for a long period but I could not afford it because they were costly and I had some basic needs to cater to too. The coming of GiveDirectly had changed everything in my life completely because currently, they have started reproducing which is giving me hope as a farmer. When the offsprings mature and increase in number I will exchange them for a dairy cow and making me wealthier, because I will achieve a lot after selling them. From the benefits I will be getting I will be able to pay school fees for my children with ease unlike before when I used to strain to get their school fees.

I remember vividly it was around 3 am when I heard the message notification on my mobile phone. When I checked what the message was all about, I confirmed it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly informing me that they had sent my first part of the transfer they had promised. I was overwhelmed with joy at the moment and I could not sleep again.

I spent part of my first transfer on buying some building materials like twenty pieces of iron sheet, building poles some nails. I wanted a new house because the previous one was in bad condition and very small. Whenever it could rain it rained on me which was so stressing. I then bought a bed and a matress. I had been sleeping on an old mat which was very uncomfortable. I never longed for the night to fall because I could never have a good night's sleep. When I woke up, my whole body could ache. This changed. Because of the frequent droughts we experience here in my village, I also decided to purchase a water tank for water reservoir purposes, two goats for rearing and clearing hospital bills for my son who was admitted sometime back and I had not settled the bill for lack of money. Thanks to GiveDirectly.