Our new goal is to build another house and buy a cow. We want to build another house because the one that we are currently living in is small and the space is not enough for the four of us. It is also grass-thatched. Getting grass for thatching the roof has become a big challenge since it is no longer easily available and hence one has to buy them. We also want to buy the cow because we do not have one and hence we are incurring the cost of buying milk. We usually buy a litre every day at KES 80.

GiveDirectly taught us well in the meeting that they held with the community members before embarking on the enrollment process. We got to understand what the program was all about. They also did well by giving us money so that we can choose for ourselves what to do that makes our lives better. I hence do not see anything wrong with the way they conduct their work. I urge them to continue with the same spirit of helping the needy.

We spent the second transfer on buying a motorcycle which we bought at KES 40000. We decided to buy the motorcycle because my husband usually makes very long trips on foot every day to get to his place of work. He is casually employed in construction work. He usually spends four hours getting there and the path that he usually uses is passing through a forest. We are glad because with the motorcycle that we bought, he can get to work faster and he no longer gets tired walking such a long distance. We were not in a position to buy the motorcycle before because we did not have the money. I am a small-scale farmer and hence we usually depend on the money that my husband makes to pay school fees for two children who are in a private primary school. We usually save money through the merry-go-round contributions that we usually make in the self-help groups that we have joined and the lump sum amount that we get when it becomes our turn to receive in the group is what we use in paying the school fees. I had gotten sick and I spent part of the first transfer treating myself. I did not however get better. I hence used the remaining amount after buying the motorcycle on seeking medical attention. I am happy that I was able to get well and I thank God for that. I am also grateful to GiveDirectly for the big support that they offered us.

The pop-up on my phone displayed just enough information to confirm the receipt of my first transfer. I was very happy with this news as the night before that morning was the hardest for me. We almost slept without the evening meal with my child and in the morning we had exhausted almost all household utilities as my child had to take morning tea that had no sugar. I could not doubt that message as I had been anticipating that within the range of the dates that we were given during enrollment. I had to visit the nearest shopping center where I managed to withdraw and purchase household foodstuff.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the renewed hope of picking the construction of my new house. The first step of purchasing enough iron sheets gave me a great feeling as this was the beginning of the work that I have always hoped for. This will not only be providing a decent shelter but also create enough space for my growing family and also enhance the collection of the rainwater from the roof.

Going out every morning in search of casual labor to ensure that I provide food for my children has never been easy. At some point, I could go for days without securing one and this would always push me to borrow from the shops, friends, and also from the family members that later get difficult to pay them back. On receiving the first transfer, I needed to start a poultry project that will at least earn me an extra income every day through the sale of eggs and even chicks. I spent KES4500 on obtaining 10 mature chickens that are now laying eggs. I also obtained a piece of new furniture at an equivalent cost of KES4500 to add to the single bench that I have been having in my household. I have always borrowed some from my neighbors whenever I have visitors and by obtaining an additional three-seater and a table, I am confident to have more than ten people seated in my house. During the enrollment period, I had a wider scope of ensuring that I construct a new house to replace the two small ones that are currently getting older especially on the roof since they are both grass-thatched. I managed to purchase 25 iron sheets at KES18750. I also settled school fees for my child currently in a private school worth KES15000. With the remaining KES10000, I sought medical attention since I was not feeling well when I received this first transfer.