Most children look up to their mothers for provision, and as one, I have to fulfil their needs. Since my husband is away most of the time, I am the one who always responds to their needs. This can only be possible with a constant source of income. Therefore, for this to bear fruit, I hope to utilize $100 on opening up a grocery business at Kapkwen to operate on market days to earn income for my family of three. Meanwhile, on non-market days, I will attend to my dairy farming to continue providing food for my family. I will be happy to be financially stable, busy, and food secure.

Education is the key to success, and every parent wants the best for their children. However, finances can be a shortcoming. I am glad that GiveDirectly has made it easy for the parents to educate their children through the transfers. In addition, since the transfers are unconditional, most family lives have been uplifted as they can make informed decisions on their pressing spending needs. Therefore, I never wish for the organization to alter their way of working, for it is perfect as it stands.

Although dairy farming comes with its share of challenges, such as lack of water and pasture, I am glad to have pulled through to support my family of three. I often sell 3 litres of milk daily to the milk vendors for $1.2, which I earn weekly. I opted for dairy farming because crop farming is unsustainable as a result of harsh climatic conditions. I am happy to have fed my family as well as provided for their clothing and shelter. However, the profits generated thus far are not sufficient to cater to other extensive needs, such as house construction and school fees for my two children. I am therefore grateful to GiveDirectly for making this a success. From the transfers, I was able to admit my daughter to grade 9 by paying $90 in school fees and purchasing school necessities such as uniforms, books, and personal belongings. I also spent $80 cementing my two-room house, which had become dusty, to reduce respiratory diseases. For the rest of the transfers, I stocked enough food to last the household until the next harvest season in six months. I am excited that my family is food secure as well as comfortable.

I felt so happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. That day, I was alone at home when I heard my phone ring and upon checking, I confirmed that I had indeed received a sum of $550 from GiveDirectly. I did not share the information with anyone apart from my children who equally felt very happy when I shared the news with them. I later withdrew the money after planning on how to use them appropriately.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the investments that I made. Having paid school fees arears plus that of an entire month have made me feel some form of relief. The dairy cow that I bought as well shall go a long way in enabling me meet most of my needs in future. This has made me and my family very happy.

I used $100 to pay school fees for one of my children who is in secondary school. I used another $250 to buy a heifer and the remaining amount was used to improve our house and compound. The money came at a time that I had huge school fees arears and I thought this was a perfect opportunity to clear the fee balance. I do most of the decisions alone ever since my husband was put under arrest. It is sometimes hard to make ends meet but I have to keep pushing. I am so happy that we now have one additional dairy cow and have also cleared the school fees for my child. The next couple of months shall be stress free for me and I will use the moment to look for extra money that will help me pay school fees next term.