My two children had completed their high school studies and my plan was to enrol them to a college. The big challenge was how to raise the money for them. I was troubled on how I would pay for them. Thanks to GiveDirectly for coming because through this money, they all joined a college of their choice. I also built a new house to live with my family. Had it not been this transfer, then I would still be living in my small hut that was in a very bad and pathetic condition.

We were living in abject poverty for many years with nothing to own, accessing a good shelter to some of us was a big challenge and children discontinued in their studies. In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in analysing these troubles we were facing and giving us the money to eradicate the poverty. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.

I spent a larger portion, KES 50000 of the second transfer to enroll my son and daughter to a college. They had completed their high school studies and all I wanted for them was to further their studies and graduate. Though financial hardship was on my neck, I paid an advance for them.My intention is to see them succeed in their education. I spent the remaining amount on buying foodstuffs for my family and paying for some household expenses.

For a long time, I thought that I could not own any cow in my life. This was only made possible through the GiveDirectly support and now I have my own, which I am expecting it to reproduce and to increase in number over some years. To me, this is the biggest difference in my life for it comes along with the pride and respect one is being given in our community if he/she has one.

I was woken up by the message notification on my phone and I went direct through my inbox to check who the sender was. On checking to confirm, for sure I could not hold back the happiness and joy that instantly filled my heart as I realized that GiveDirectly had sent my first transfer. I could not sleep any more as I knew that I would soon accomplish the things that seemed impossible to me.

I spent part of the first transfer to purchase a heifer to keep in my compound. Previously I had no livestock though I had desired to own some for they are assets of great value that cannot be ignored. However, due to financial constraints, I could not buy. It is only through the support from GiveDirectly that has enabled me to buy one. I am expecting that the heifer when it matures it will reproduce and increase in number in future and apart from it being my asset, I will also be getting milk from it for my family's consumption. In addition to this, I also purchased a solar panel which is a source of lighting to my household. This has relieved me of the cost of buying kerosene daily. I am happy that my grandsons will be studying comfortably unlike when they were using the kerosene lamps. Apart from lighting my household, will no longer be incurring unnecessary expenses of charging my phone elsewhere, for the solar is enough to charge the phone. I also bought a new wooden bed and a mattress to replace the old beddings that I was using for they are worn out.