Living with a family of ten under one roof has always been a challenge. Due to limited space, some of us have had to seek alternative accommodation. Initially, I had hoped to construct a new house, but financial constraints hindered my plans. However, when I received my final transfer, I decided to invest $160 in purchasing iron sheets to extend our home and create an extra room. I also allocated $150 to acquire tomato seedlings from a farmer in Naivasha, which I planted on an acre of land. I am currently managing the field, hoping for a better harvest. I plan to use a portion of the proceeds to put up the extension using the iron sheets I purchased and pay for my children's school fees. Additionally, I bought food worth $65 for my family of ten and transported it home with other items costing $5. The remaining $70 went towards paying my son's secondary school fees.

GiveDirectly has had a substantial positive impact on our village by providing unrestricted cash transfers. This has allowed us to fund several projects and improve our lives significantly. Previously, I used to farm on a small piece of land for basic food provision, but now I can lease and purchase essential farm inputs. GiveDirectly's generosity and commitment to alleviating poverty are commendable. I would encourage them to expand their impactful work to other struggling villages. GiveDirectly though, needs to exercise more discretion during the enrollment process to ensure that no long-standing residents are left out. It is creating imbalances, as some people who were not enrolled have to rely on those who received support. To ensure fair support for everyone, GiveDirectly should conduct thorough assessments independently. Moreover, weak network coverage for the phones provided to recipients is a significant issue that needs addressing. It would be beneficial if GiveDirectly could invest in better phones that can function effectively in the specific locations they operate. This way, they can enhance their programs' overall experience and impact.

Farming has always been the foundation of my family's livelihood. Presently, I cultivate tomatoes on an acre of land, where my entire focus lies. Before receiving support from GiveDirectly, I farmed on small plots to ensure a steady food supply with minimal surplus for sale. I am thankful for the support from GiveDirectly, which allowed me to expand my cultivated area. In the upcoming year, I aim to further enhance my farming activities by increasing the cultivation area to boost productivity. This expansion will not only guarantee a consistent food supply for my family of ten but also enable me to capitalize on the results of my current tomato plantation. Additionally, I intend to lease more land and utilize it in the upcoming planting seasons.

Recognizing the potential profitability of tomato farming in our area, I decided to use $290 of the transfer to invest in this venture. Tomato farming has proven to be a successful source of income for me in the past, and I believe it will continue to provide financial stability for my family. Additionally, I invested $50 in planting maize for domestic consumption. By growing our own maize, we can ensure a steady supply of food for our family and reduce expenses on purchasing it. I also used $50 to purchase new clothes for my four children since their previous clothes were worn out and needed replacement. This ensures that they have proper clothing is important for their well-being and confidence. For the remaining amount, I bought a sack of dry maize, this has addressed our immediate food needs for my family of eight, providing sustenance and nourishment.

In my opinion, GD has done well providing us aid through unconditional transfers. This gives us, the recipients, the freedom to decide how to best utilize the funds based on our own priorities and needs. It allows us to have agency over our own lives and empowers us to make choices that can have a positive impact on our well-being. I have not seen anything that the organization needs to improve, maybe just they should add us more transfer to enable us thrive through this bad economic times.

For the coming years and beyond, I intend to invest my time, energy, and money into tomato farming venture in order to establish a reliable income that will enable me to meet the demands of my family. With the income generated from the venture, I will be able to consistently and timely pay for my children's school fees. This will enable them to access quality education, which is essential for their future success.

When my daughter was joining secondary school, I received my first transfer, and at that moment, I had no other means of raising enough school fees as my livelihood from casual labor and subsistence farming had been adversely affected by a harsh and prolonged drought. As a result, I spent $115 on paying for her tuition fees and equipping her for school. This was a significant relief for both me and my daughter as she was almost missing the slot reserved for her. I also spent $60 on purchasing foodstuff for my family of 10, which lasted for almost a month as I continued working on local casual jobs to earn my daily wages. Finally, I utilized the remaining money to purchase other essential household items.

The most significant change in my life since receiving the first payment was being able to pay for my daughter's school fees, which saved her from missing out on a spot at her new school. It brought me great joy to see her continue with her education. I am thankful to GiveDirectly for their unconditional support, which not only helped with the school fees but also enabled me to buy food for my family of ten.

At around 3:00 pm, I was working on the farm when I heard my neighbors cheering and celebrating. Curious, I decided to go home and check my phone, which had turned off earlier. To my delight, I discovered that I had received the long-awaited payment from GiveDirectly. My husband and I had planned and budgeted for the money, so we were excited to start using it immediately. We collected the money from the nearby shopping center and were ready to put them to good use.