In the coming year and beyond, my goal is to continue expanding the goat investment. I plan to achieve this by saving more from my current casual work and focusing on providing excellent care for the goats. This includes timely vaccinations and ensuring they have an adequate food supply.

In my opinion, GD does well by fulfilling their promises to recipients and being punctual on doing so . Receiving the money in a timely manner has motivated me to also stay organized and work on my plans on time. For example, I have been able to start the planting activities at the appropriate time, ensuring that I maximize on the rainy season with chances of a successful harvest. I have not seen anything that the organization is not doing well and should improve.

I utilized $100 of the transfer to expand my goat rearing investment, which I had initiated when I received the transfers by adding two goats. I'm pleased to share that I now have a total of eight goats as a result. I believe the goats will multiply over time and eventually become a good source of income for my family of five. Additionally, I used $180 to till my land and cultivate maize for domestic consumption. I as well spent $50 on purchasing iron sheets with the intention of constructing an additional room for our house since our current living space has become too small for our family, considering that our three children are growing very fast. I used the remaining funds to buy food for my family, owing to the fact that the cost of food has been rising in our economy and the income I earn from occasional casual work is insufficient to cover all our expenses.

In the upcoming year and beyond, I aim to explore the cultivation of ground nuts as they offer higher profits. My goal is to alleviate the financial strain of future school fees. To achieve this aspiration, I plan to set aside the funds I receive from GiveDirectly. I am optimistic that I can turn this vision into a reality with time. Overall, I am thankful for all that I have achieved thus far.

The sensitization meetings of GiveDirectly were informative and enlightening. The field officers conducted exceptional sensitization meetings that effectively introduced us to the program. They ensured that we comprehended everything we needed to know, including Mpesa's understanding and how to secure our funds. Their patience in allowing us sufficient time to ask questions and share our views was remarkable. What stood out the most was the equitable empowerment of all beneficiaries. To date, I have not identified any areas that require correction.

Upon receiving my transfer, I contemplated investing the funds in acquiring additional goats to supplement the one I already owned. This would secure the funds while also providing an investment that would appreciate in value. Consequently, I spent $200 on goats and utilized the remaining funds to purchase a sack of maize, water containers, and clothing. My financial constraints had previously hindered me from accomplishing this. I rely on farming and raising goats to make a living, which barely meets the needs of my wife and three children. I am grateful that I can finally save money for my children's school fees.

I was overjoyed when I received notification of the receipt of my first transfer around 3 p.m. I was doing routine casual labor in the neighborhood at the time, and the message tone on my phone could not get my attention. When I picked up my phone an hour later, I was ecstatic to learn that it was a confirmation of the first transfer. I was alone at the time because I had left my wife with my parents at home. I told her the news over the phone, and she promised to come over the next day because she was so excited. We coordinated our plans and divided the money in half because she required a portion of it to use with my children.

So far, the investment of a portion of the first transfer on livestock has made the biggest difference in my daily life. Our region's dry weather does not allow for active subsistence farming throughout the year, so livestock farming is the best fit. The purchase of goats that feed on both grass and shrubs is a simple investment that I had hoped to begin, but a lack of funds has always held me back. I live on my grandparents' property, while another part of my family lives on my father's property. I am hoping to do a lot with the remaining subsequent transfers from GiveDirectly.

Due to the extensive droughts in our region, farming practices have become so difficult that most people have resorted to livestock farming. Even though getting them water is still difficult, raising goats that eat herbs and shrubs is a little easier. When I first received my transfer, I spent $80 on two goats from my neighbor, Benjamin. In addition to the two I already had, I now have four that I intend to breed and sell later to feed my family of five and pay school fees for my son and two daughters. My plan also included purchasing new clothes for my children, as well as a pair for my wife and myself. I spent $30 on this, which made my kids happy when I returned home with new clothes. I also gave my mother $10 for household shopping, $20 to my brother, who is currently looking for a job after finishing his secondary level exams, and $10 of the remaining amount to my niece's hospital bill when she was diagnosed with cancer. We held a fundraiser, and she was grateful to everyone who received transfers and generously donated her medication. I am grateful and pleased that GiveDirectly was available when I needed it the most. It left an impression on my heart, and especially on my niece, who was grateful for the medical assistance she received while in the hospital.