I have been keeping chickens and they've always come in handy when my children were sent back home. Unfortunately, I have sold all of them and spent the money on paying school fees for my children and I do not regret it since, with the help from GiveDirectly, they were able to resume their studies after staying at home for a long time. My daughter will be through with her secondary school education in a month's time and it is my wish to start poultry keeping project. This will enable me to continue supporting my son in his education by paying for his school fees on time.

GiveDirectly has put a smile on my face and that of other people in the village. Personally, I had started developing ulcers because my children were constantly out of school and nothing makes me happy like knowing that they are fairing well in school. This would not have been achieved had GiveDirectly restricted us on how to spend the financial aid. To me, this is what they did best since one's dream can only be realized if he is given the opportunity to plan what he has been given.

I depend on subsistence farming to cater to our basic needs and to pay school fees for our two children who are in secondary school. Life had not been easy for me since my spouse who works in Naivasha has not been sending us any financial support. My children were on the verge of dropping from school due to fee arrears that I had not been able to clear. In addition, my son had been sleeping in a room that was attached to our granary. Because of this, rats used to destroy his clothes and personal belongings especially when he was in school since the house would remain locked most of the time. My transfer came in handy as I spent KES 27000 to clear their fee arrears and I am happy that they are doing well in school and my daughter will be sitting for her final secondary school examination in two weeks. Apart from this, I spent KES 10000 to buy some timber, nails and to pay for the labor of the construction of a house for my son. I demolished the room that he used to sleep in so that I would get the iron sheets to use in roofing this new house. Using the remaining amount, I bought some foodstuffs and clothes for my children.

I was at home doing the normal house chores when I saw my neighbour rushing into my compound, she was looking all happy, while I was wondering what might have contributed to her smile, I heard my phone ringing, though I greeted my neighbour first, that was when he broke the good news that he had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly, I immediately rushed to pick my phone in the house, upon checking I saw a Mpesa pin showing that I too had received the transfer, I was overwhelmed with joy because I knew that I will be able to clear the school fees arrears that were still pending. I am so grateful for the support that lifted my life.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to clear the school fees money right on time, I am glad that this time my children would comfortably concentrate on their studies without any worry that they might be sent home. In addition to that, I was able to cut down on the cost of buying milk, I am so happy that GiveDirectly lifted my life positively, I can comfortably afford to smile without any worry because I am assured that my children are in school and they would not be sent home and for that, I am grateful for the support.

I have two children in secondary school, school fees have been my major challenge due to financial constraints, therefore when I received my transfer I paid a sum of KES 20,000 to cater for the fees arrears, in addition to that I bought a dairy cow worth KES25,000 so that we could save up on the cost of milk daily, I am so happy that GiveDiectly gave me the promised transfer on time as they had promised, my children can comfortably study without any interference of been sent home.