In the next one year I plan to accumulate more funds from farming and use this to lease more land and put it under agricukture. The goal is to make sure that we are not only food sufficient as a family but to increase the income that we make from farming and change our living standards as well.The maize that we planted in the farm that we leased is about to mature and we intend to use the proceeds from the plantation to further expand this business and do more.

In my opinion GiveDirectly does very well by giving some form of training before the enrollment process. The dissemination of information is very helpful in dispelling rumours and uncertainties that comes with GiveDirectly funds. Giving cash as a form of aid is another game changer that empowers the recipient to do what pleases them or benefit maximumly from the funds.

When I received my second transfer, I used $90 to lease 2 acres of land and put it under agriculture. I then used another $60 to buy food for the family since we were facing a hard time with food as at that time. I also used a sum of $40 to buy clothes for my children and saved the remaining amount to be used to meet other needs of my family. We had always wanted to lease a piece of land and put it under agriculture but due to the little amount of money that we made, it was a little of a challenge to us to make this happen. I am so happy that we have not only been able to lease this land but also put it under agriculture and we are looking forward to making our first harvest soon. This transfer has changed my life and that of my family in a very grate way that I cannot thank them enough. Being a mother of five and relying almost entirely on odd casual jobs to meet the needs of my family, has been a great challenge to me. My husband who works as a driver has had on and off peak seasons in his work and this has made our lives very unpredictable. We are so grateful that this transfer may change our story for good. With the expanded farming and the dairy cow that we bought, then we are very optimistic that things will change for good for us. We will be able to pay school fees for our children in time, and meet all our family needs in time as well.

I had no money on the day the transfers were sent, forcing my family to skip both morning and afternoon meals. Fortunately, as I was relaxing at home late at night, I noticed a Mpesa message. What a surprise; I had no idea my transfer would be sent at such a late hour. I felt so good and happy knowing that I would be able to get meals for the family. Because it was late at night and I did not want to withdraw the money in bits, I decided to buy some food for the family on credit that evening.

The biggest difference I have noticed since receiving GiveDirectly transfers is an abrupt change in my socioeconomic status, Previously, I was too poor to own even a goat but currently I am owning one lactating cow and a bull. I can always count on milk from the cow. What was once only a nightmare has become a real-life experience for me. As a result, the family is now assured of daily meals because we cannot live without milk. We now eat well, and our health is better than it was before the transfer.

Milk is considered a special meal among my community members. However, due to the abject poverty in which my family has been living for over a decade, I had been unable to own even a single cow in my life. Fortunately, with the transfers, I was convinced that my time had come to start raising livestock. As a result, I spent KES 45,000 on a lactating cow and a young bull. I will be able to get free milk for the family from the cow, ensuring that we always have enough food. I also spent KES 7000 on food that will last us for the next month. I appreciate the transfer from GiveDirectly.