For this year and the years to come, my goal is to continue with farming. After finishing my beans farming, I plan to plant maize, which will provide continuous and consistent income. This farming will help ensure that my family’s needs are met and allow me to invest in other projects. The thought of all these plans coming to life gives me hope for the future. I am excited and happy because I know that with hard work and determination, my life and my family’s situation will improve.

What I like about GiveDirectly is the straightforwardness of their cash transfers. They inform us transparently about how the program works, which makes it easy to trust and appreciate. The support they provide has made a real difference in my life. My recommendation is for GiveDirectly to reach out to more people and enroll as many people as possible, so that more families can benefit from this life-changing support. I believe the program has the potential to help many others, just like it helped me.

When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I immediately used $200 to buy three sheep and construct a modern boma to keep them secure. Owning sheep will help ensure the sustainability of this support, as they will allow me to meet future challenges without worry. I used $100 to plant beans on two acres of land, which will provide food for my household. I also plan to sell any surplus to generate income, helping me initiate more projects. Additionally, I spent $100 to build an outside kitchen, something I lacked before, which has created more space for my family. Finally, I used $50 to buy food, addressing our most significant need, especially now that we’ve received this support. I didn’t want my family to struggle with food, and thanks to GiveDirectly, we can now have enough to eat.

I used to own goats but lost some to disease and sold others to meet family needs. From my experience, goats multiply quickly and provide milk that I can sell to address my financial requirements. They are also easy to manage. I plan to start with about four goats: three females and one male. I am confident that as they grow, they will help me meet my financial needs in the future.

GiveDirectly does well in providing a clear enrollment process and thorough education about both the organization and the transfers. Their officers are straightforward and focused on their primary objectives, which eliminates the stress of providing food or other amenities during the process. Continuing to send money through M-Pesa is highly effective, as it ensures that the funds reach the intended recipients safely and directly.

After recent rains, our two-room house flooded and became damp, making things difficult, especially with our young children. When I received my second transfer, I decided to demolish the old house and rebuild a larger, three-room structure in the same compound using iron sheets and walls. I reused most of the materials, added a few more, and expanded the house to include an extra bedroom for the children. Before that, we had all been sleeping in the same room. I spent $350 on the house. I also cleared my son's high school fees, paying $50 to prevent him from being sent home, as I wasn’t sure when I’d have the money again. I used $30 on food since my crops weren’t ready, and food was scarce. The remaining $20 went into planting vegetables in my kitchen garden. Now, my vegetables are ready, and I harvest them once a week, making at least $15 per harvest. I'm grateful to GiveDirectly.

It was around 3:00 PM and I was in bed, relaxing after a tiresome day working on my farm. Suddenly, my phone, which was right next to me, buzzed with a notification. Curiously, I checked the message and saw that it was from M-Pesa, indicating the receipt of a transfer from GD. I was overjoyed to receive the money and immediately shared the good news with my family, who were equally excited. We had been yearning to own a TV, so we planned to go to town the following day to buy it. Thank you, GD, for making it possible for us to acquire something that seemed impossible.

Since receiving the transfer, the biggest difference in our lives is having a TV, which has brought my family closer together. Owning a TV was my long-time dream, and I am overjoyed that the transfer allowed me to make this purchase. Watching TV has become a source of entertainment and information for us. We can now enjoy various programs and stay updated on the news, giving us insight into what's happening in our country. Before, we could only hear about events and our leaders through the radio, but now we can see them on TV. My children are particularly excited about the TV. They are more motivated to complete their tasks quickly, like fetching water, so they can watch their favourite shows. This has replaced their habit of wasting time on the road with friends. In the past, I often felt left out when my neighbors and friends discussed TV programs. I could not join in because I wasn't familiar with the shows they talked about. Now, I can be part of those conversations, which has improved my social interactions and sense of belonging.

I had always wanted to buy a TV set, but my income from farming maize on our acre of land was not enough to meet my family's needs and afford one. I have admired my neighbours who have TVs, listening to them talk about the programs they watch. When I received my most recent transfer, I decided to use $140 to buy a TV so my family and I could enjoy it and stay informed about the world. I also spent $12 on a new phone, as my old one had issues with the buttons and lost network connectivity. Additionally, I used $20 to buy food for my family. With the remaining money, I ploughed my half acre of land to plant vegetables for commercial purposes. It had been a while since I farmed this land due to a lack of funds. I am happy the transfer enabled me to do so, and I am optimistic that the vegetables will be ready for harvesting soon.