In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well in uplifting our lives through their financial help. As subsistence farmers, our only hope is to wait for a good harvest that's when we are at peace. But currently farming has not been doing well thus we have been struggling to provide the very basic needs to our families. Casual jobs are also unpredictable and I thank GiveDirectly for coming to support us. At least it is now possible to have enough food through the transfers. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not well.

My three children have been frequently sent home for school fees because I was not able to pay for them on time. I am happy that through the transfers, I was able to clear the fee arrears which amounted to Ksh.2000. They are now continuing with their studies without interruptions on fees. In addition to this, I also spent the transfers on doing a shopping on foodstuffs for my family. I am glad that we have not lacked food in my house for the past two months. Lastly, I have been saving some money to revive a poultry project that had collapsed due to inadequate capital. Thus I spent KES 1000 on buying some building materials to construct a structure for this project. I am planning to buy the chickens soon and rear them. I believe that this project will generate some cash to cater for my financial needs.

I was heading to the shop to buy food for my family. While shopping my phone rang out loudly. Since I cannot see well without having my glasses on, I requested the shopkeeper to look into the message that had just arrived. He read it loudly and that confirmed to me that I had indeed received the transfer. I was very happy. Since the shop had an Mpesa agent I withdrew the money there and then. When I got back home I shared the good news with my wife and we all smiled as we sat down to plan on how best we could use the cash.

Yes, the money has made a big difference in my life. My kids now have their birth certificates which they will use during their national examination registration. My bicycle which has been my major source of transport as I conduct my business is now back to its normal condition after a series of repairs. I am glad that I will now be able to continue with my business from where I left.

I sent the amount from the transfer in different ways. First I spent KSH 1000 to go pick birth certificates for my three children. My four children are going to sit for their national examinations next year. A requirement for their registration is the birth certificate. The fare I have to pay to go pick the certificate from the immigration office is KSH 400 to and fro. I also spent KSH 600 to pay for the certificate. I am now happy that on that everything is sorted and they are ready to be registered and sit for their exams when the time comes. I also spent KSH 500 in clearing fee balances that I had for my child who is in primary school. I have a bicycle that I use as my means of transport when doing my business. Since I stop doing my business due to the tough economic conditions, my bicycle has been in a poor state and now that I want to go back doing business I spent a whooping KSH 850 to repair it. I also spent KSH 150 to buy sugar for my family. I saved the remaining KSH 500 to be used in reviving my chicken selling business.