Despite the challenges I have faced, I am determined to work hard and complete my studies. My ultimate goal is to join the Kenya Defense Forces, where I can serve my nation and contribute to its well-being. The hardships of being sent home from school only fuel my motivation to succeed and make a difference. I aspire to save enough and give back to my community, ensuring that others facing similar struggles have opportunities to thrive.

I am currently a student at Mutopanga Secondary School, fully engaged in my studies as I progress through my third year. Unfortunately, my education was interrupted when I was sent home due to unpaid fees. My mother, who sells vegetables along our house, faces the challenge of unstable income. Thankfully, upon receiving my transfers, I accumulated it and promptly allocated $98 to settle my school fees. Through my mother's earnest communication with the school principal, they kindly accepted the amount we could offer, allowing me to return to the classroom. With the remaining $4, I purchased food, ensuring my sustenance for the week and enabling me to resume my studies with renewed focus and determination.

Upon completing my studies, my aspiration is to enlist in the military, a pursuit that holds deep personal significance for me. The prospect of serving and protecting my country brings a profound sense of fulfillment. The current financial assistance I am receiving is instrumental in advancing me toward this goal, particularly by enabling me to complete my secondary school education—a prerequisite for joining the armed forces. I am genuinely grateful for the assistance GiveDirectly has extended to both my family and me, recognizing the pivotal role it plays in paving the way toward my aspirations.

I am currently a high school student in my second year, advancing to the third year in the upcoming academic term. The early loss of my father created significant challenges for me and my seven siblings, making life quite difficult. The burden fell on my mother, who struggled to not only meet our educational needs but also to provide sustenance. The inability to pay school fees frequently led to my dismissal from school, adversely impacting my academic performance. I am happy that with the assistance of GiveDirectly transfers, my mother can now comfortably cover my fees. This support has resulted in a positive shift in my academic performance, as I can now concentrate better in school. I diligently saved the $102 received over three months, intending to cover my school fees for the upcoming year and contribute towards settling a portion of my outstanding fee debt. GiveDirectly has truly transformed my life, offering me the prospect of a brighter and more prosperous future.

Looking ahead, my most significant achievement will be directing my upcoming monthly stipends towards funding my education in the next academic term. This endeavor will play a pivotal role in not only ensuring a promising future for myself but also easing the financial strain on my mother. It's challenging to fully express the depth of my happiness stemming from the invaluable financial assistance provided by these transfers, which are instrumental in propelling me closer to the realization of my aspirations.

I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the organization for its generous efforts in providing financial empowerment to those in need. The invaluable financial assistance plays a crucial role in propelling me towards the fulfillment of my educational aspirations. It's undeniable that this support stands as the cornerstone of my dream realization. Without it, my ambitions would remain beyond reach. I wholeheartedly urge the organization to persist in its commendable endeavors, making a positive impact and continuing its legacy of benevolence.

I am currently enrolled as a form two student at Mtopanga Secondary School, relying significantly on my mother for financial backing to facilitate my education by covering my tuition fees. My mother's livelihood is sustained through the sale of vegetables within our village. The primary challenge she encounters is the financial strain of providing for both my siblings and me, assuming the role of a single parent following my father's demise. Despite her dedication to selling vegetables, her earnings are modest and insufficient to adequately address our requirements. In an effort to alleviate my family's financial burden, I allocated $30 from my July funds to address a portion of my outstanding school fee debt, which amounted to $55. This debt had previously compelled me to remain at home for a duration surpassing two weeks. I am relieved to have been able to resume my schooling after making this partial payment, as it has lightened the load on my mother, who labors to cover my educational expenses while striving to help me realize my aspirations.

As a high school student, I cannot access my phone during the weekdays due to ongoing learning. However, being a day scholar, the weekend is the only time that I can use my mobile phone. I switched on my phone one Saturday and a message popped up confirming that I had received my first transfer from Give Directly. At first, I could not believe it was real until I called my friends back home to check if they had received money as well – they confirmed it to be true. I was excited because I had been anxiously waiting for the funds to help pay my rent.

Before the cash transfers, paying my rent of $10 was a challenge. The little money my mother made from selling charcoal would sometime not fit all the basic needs, which include food, my sisters and my school fees, and my rent. This made rent accrue for three consecutive months, which attracted some eviction threats from my landlord. Gladly, the cash transfer allowed me to pay the fee. Am relieved that I no longer get eviction notices from the property owner. This is the greatest difference I have seen so far.

When I joined high school three years ago, I stumbled on many obstacles in my learning journey with a lack of school fees topping the list. Since my father passed away, my sister and I have been solely depending on my mother for provisions. To take of us, Mum takes on casual jobs such as making charcoal, which hardly puts food on the table let alone settle our school fees. To reduce the school accommodation costs, she rented out a single room near my institution where I would stay as I studied. Sadly, paying the rent has equally been a tussle. By the time I received the transfer, I was in debt of three months’ worth of rent. I spent $10 to reduce the debt so that my landlord would not evict me. I deposited the remaining amount to my school to reduce the tuition fees balance that had remained unpaid for at least a year.