My new goal is to start up a timber yard and also buy a pick-up which I can use to transport trees which I buy from different places. After receiving my second transfer, I started a timber business which allowed me to save a good amount. I am now working on topping up the remaining from other sources of income.

Everyone in my village is so grateful for the tremendous work Givedirectly did. All households that received the transfers have transformed their lives through the acquistion of dairy cows, land, construction of iron roofed houses, and many other things which were not achievable before. We are so thankful to God and Givedirectly at large for the support.

Upon receiving the second transfer, I bought trees worth Kshs.40,000 which I later subdivided to timber and sold. The business has so far given me good returns. With the remaining amount, I used to purchase oil for my power saw which I use to cut down and subdivide the trees. Am so grateful to Givedirectly for the great support which made me realize my potential.

I had been working with a power saw I obtained some months ago and every morning, I wake up to any casual labor I am called to do. At the moment I received the transfer, I was out in the nearby village cutting timber after felling down some trees in the owner's compound. I first received a call from my mother - currently elderly - asking me to get back home as the money from GiveDirectly had been sent. At that moment I had to check my phone and was glad to also find mine as I already have a clear plan on how I will be spending it. I had to excuse myself and leave the two boys I had been working with to keep the work going. I needed to go pick her helper whom we moved to the nearest shopping center to withdraw that money.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the great investment in five bullocks that I am currently looking after. I had been ensuring that I give the right feeds and supplements to enhance faster growth as I make them ready for the market. This is a great project I had been wishing to start but the lack of starting capital had been holding me back. I am grateful that it finally picked and the great work to keep it going is on my side.

Three years ago, I was a known drunkard in our village after losing the job I had been for almost 7 years. Due to the frustrations I had, I found myself deep into the locally brewed alcohol that I would struggle to get at least KES200 from the casual labor and drink every single coin before the day ends. I am glad that I managed to stop the habit when I realized that I was losing much more than I was gaining. On receiving this transfer, I decided to spend KES50000 on obtaining five bullocks each at KES 10000. This is a project I had been hoping to start in that I will be fattening them and selling them out after few years with a big profit margin. I already have milk-producing cows within the farm and I never saw a need to add more but instead did that investment as it is easier with the available ranges that are best suited for grazing. With the remaining KES 4000, my wife had to use it in obtaining clothing for the children and some that she also needed. We are all glad that we have a running project and we are hopeful that we will see it work for us soon.