I was out in the field looking after my goats when I heard my phone buzz with a message. Curious, I checked and saw that I had received my first cash transfer from GiveDirectly. I could not believe it! I was overwhelmed with happiness, and as I headed home that evening, I shared the good news with my family, who were just as excited as I was. With my love for goats, my first thought was to use the money to buy more goats and grow my flock, knowing it would help secure a better future for us.

My son, who is in high school and preparing for his final exam, was sent home due to $250 in unpaid school fees. Thankfully, I had received GiveDirectly cash just the previous day, and I used it to reduce the arrears immediately. Without that money, I would have been forced to sell my goats, which I am desperately trying to grow in number after losing about 40 to rustlers. Worse still, my son’s return to school would have been delayed, yet he needed to focus on his final national exam. I am so grateful for GiveDirectly; it came at the perfect time, allowing my son to return to school immediately.

A day after receiving my transfer, my son, who is in his final year of high school, was sent home because of unpaid school fees. He had arrears of about $250, but I did not have the full amount to clear it. I decided to pay $50 towards the fees with the transfer, promising to settle the remaining balance after his final exams, before collecting his certificate. I also bought a geometrical set for my younger son, who urgently needed it for school, for $2. Additionally, as a passionate livestock keeper, I used to have over 60 goats before rustlers stole them, forcing us to relocate. Currently, I only own 16 goats, which is far fewer than I used to have. To rebuild my herd, I used part of the transfer to buy two more goats for $103, bringing my total to 18. Goats have always been instrumental in covering family needs, like school fees, so increasing my herd is a priority for me. I also started keeping chickens to diversify my income, as I can sell eggs to meet daily expenses such as food. I had one hen, which had hatched four chicks, and I used the transfer to buy two more chickens for $8, planning to expand gradually. Because of insecurity, my wife and children are living in another location for safety, so I sent her $10 to buy some food essentials for them. The remaining portion of the transfer went towards buying food for myself, as I have had to buy everything since relocating due to the insecurity in my area. Thank you, GiveDirectly.