I received the transfer at a time when drought had struck us making some of the basic needs like water and food really expensive to acquire. I am grateful to GiveDirectcly because it's through their transfer that sustained us during that period. I was able to buy foodstuffs for my family and also to pay some household expenses. In addition to this, my life is also currently different in that I have now acquired a pair of oxen that is aiding me in my farming. I do not hire from anyone like I used to do in the previous planting seasons.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in improving our lives. We were unable to fulfil even some of the very basic needs since we were stricken by poverty. Our lives are now different because we have been to build decent houses, buying livestock as assets and taking our children to school. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.

I spent a larger portion of my second transfer on buying goats that I am currently keeping on my homestead. My expectation is that they will reproduce and have many of them. I can readily lean on them in case of any financial need. There was a shortage of food and even water and it was expensive to acquire after a prolonged drought. We did not do any farming thus we were forced to buy food daily which was costly to us. I thank GiveDirectly because besides buying goats, I also spent the transfer on buying daily foodstuffs and paying for other household expenses.

Having a pair of oxen to me is the biggest difference in my daily life. I never thought that I would one day use oxen in my farming since owning one has always proved to be expensive to me, and I could not buy them on my own. I did not have money. GiveDirectly gave me power by sending me money. It has enabled me to get an assurance of increasing the acreage of my arable land so that I will be able to harvest abundant yields. Consequently, I will be ensured of food security in my family. Additionally, I will be hiring them to my neighbours during the planting season so as to earn me an extra income.

There was a notification on my phone during the early hours of the morning. I proceeded to check what it was all about only to be surprised by a Mpesa message confirming receipt of the transfers from GiveDirectly. I felt joy all over my being and straight away I went to have a glance at my previously-drawn plan. At that instant, I knew that my life was going to different, of course towards good.

I spent KES 30000 of the transfer in the purchase of a pair of oxen. It has been my desire to have my own oxen which would facilitate my farming. I have always been forced to hire these services from neighbours for a long time now, occasionally during the planting season which seemed expensive. Also, I have been using hoes to till the land which was ineffective with larger acreage. Having my own pair will enable me to increase my acreage for better harvests. I am also assured of doing my cultivation early and timely. In addition to the pair of oxen, I spent a portion of the transfer to buy 300-litre water storage tank. Currently, we are faced with a water shortage, thus having better storage is economical in ensuring adequate water is available when needed. Lastly, I spent the remaining amount of the transfer to provide daily foodstuffs for my family and in meeting other household expenses.