My new goal is to buy a water tank. We are faced with a serious drought problem in our area that has led to continuous lack of water within our compound. This has often forced us to travel for long distances in search of water and which has been consuming a lot of time for my children since they have to travel for long distances in search of water. Getting a water tank will bring a long term solution to this problem and will bring the much needed comfort to my family. It may be a little hard to make this happen considering that we still struggle to put food on the table for our families but I am very optimistic that just as I was able to build a new house and buy a dairy cow, one day I will be able to buy a water tank.

In my opinion GiveDirectly did very well by giving us aid in form of cash. This gave us the freedom to choose how to spend the money and everyone spent the money in a way that they thought was the best or would benefit them as much. Looking at the livestock that I bought and the fully constructed house makes me very happy and delighted to have been part of this program. I am looking forward towards achieving much more having been helped to achieve things that would have been an hindrance to me.

We used KES 8000 to pay school fees for our child and used another 40000 to build a new house for our family. The amount that remained was used to buy food and other basic household needs for my family. Having bought livestock from the first transfer, what remained was for us to build a new house that would host my family of seven comfortably. All along we had been living in a house that we inherited from our parents and this house was a small grass thatched house that would not provide the much needed space and comfort for my family. We however did not have the ability to put up a new house since we heavily rely on subsistence farming and off casual jobs to make ends meet. This work gives us just enough to buy food and we are often left with very little to save and possibly do big projects. Upon receiving this transfer from GiveDirectly, we made a decision as a family to invest the money in building this new house and I am very happy seeing the house complete. We now have the comfort and dignity that every other family would wish for.

I was busy cooking in the kitchen when I suddenly heard my phone ringing. Upon checking my phone I saw a Mpesa notification showing that I had received the promised transfer from GiveDirectly, this was the happiest day in my life. I immediately broke the good news to my equally happy husband. We all prayed together as a family that evening. I am so grateful for the transfer that uplifted our lives amazingly.

The biggest difference in my life today is that I no longer buy milk daily for my daily consumption. This is because I was able to buy a dairy cow with the transfer that I had received from GiveDirectly. I was unable to buy one before due to financial constraints. I am grateful and filled with happiness that finally, I was able to realize my goals within a short time.

My husband and I are consistent farmers in the Village, together we are blessed with four children. Upon receiving my transfer we thought of purchasing a dairy cow so that we would cut down the cost of milk daily. This is because a litre sells at KES 50 yet one little is not enough for our daily consumption. Therefore we bought a cow worth KES 35,500, I then Paid school fees arrears of KES 4000 for my children. Lastly, I used KES 3000 in buying plastic chairs. I am so happy to have accomplished so much within a short time.