In coming year and beyond, my goal is to buy a cow that will provide us with affordable access to milk in the future, eliminating the need for us to buy it every day. Despite my current financial challenge, I continue to have faith that the stars will align and I will be able to buy a cow when the time is right.

What I loved the most about GiveDirectly is their straightforward and transparent enrollment process. Their staff conducts themselves professionally, ensuring fairness and no bias or discrimination during the selection. As of now, I haven't identified any shortcomings in GiveDirectly's operations.

Upon receiving my first cash transfer, I promptly allocated $156 to construct proper shelters for my goats. This involved purchasing posts, chain links, and covering labor costs. The previous shelter was in poor condition, plagued by ant infestations and structural weaknesses that endangered the safety of the young goats. Additionally, there was a risk of them straying and falling prey to wild animals during the night. This improvement has brought me peace of mind, allowing me to sleep soundly knowing that my goats are safe and secure. To support my spouse's personal needs, I gave him $200, and I'm pleasantly surprised that he used it to buy a goat and clothing. I used the remaining funds to secure food for myself and my spouse since our kids are grown, independent adults with families. Ensuring a stable food supply is essential, as my income from selling tomatoes in the village is unreliable and barely covers our necessities. This investment in food guarantees our sustenance and prevents hunger

My goal for the future is to acquire a cow, which would enable us to obtain milk at a lower cost than purchasing it from external sources. Despite various financial obligations, I remain optimistic that God will provide a way for me to obtain a cow when the time is right. I am grateful and content with the progress we have made thus far.

GiveDirectly has consistently treated us with great respect since they began their operations in our area. Their approach involved significant community engagement, which was impressive. The field officers emphasized the unconditional nature of the transfer and conducted themselves in an exemplary manner. It was beneficial that the project granted us greater independence, as we received our funds directly into our Mpesa wallet.

Upon receiving my second transfer, I decided to pursue a long-standing aspiration of mine: fencing my land. However, this had been an arduous goal to achieve in the past due to the lack of reliable income streams. As a farmer who also takes up occasional odd jobs to make ends meet, it was a challenge to secure the funds needed. Thanks to the $450 from the transfer, I was able to purchase chain link and wire mesh for $250 to fence my land. I allocated $10 of the remaining funds towards my children's upkeep and used the rest to buy foodstuffs. I am grateful for these achievements and feel content and delighted.

I was at my home relaxing after having worked long hours in the hot sun. My son hurriedly came back home jovial and excited and I asked why he was in such a good mood. That's when he broke the good news of the cash transfers having been sent. We had waited for this for a while. I was elated with joy as this good news meant I would finally accomplish my goals. At this moment, we embarked on a plan of how to spend the money.

I'm happy to say that the transfer made me achieve my dream in a short period. Buying goats for my family is a lifetime achievement and a milestone that I thought I'd not accomplish quickly due to financial constraints. I'm fortunate and grateful to have received the transfers that have uplifted our lives.

My business involves selling firewood along the road to earn a living. Upon receipt of my first cash transfer, I knew it was an opportune time for me to change and thus improve my life. I always dreamed of improving my living status however, that was limited due to the strain of financial capability. Our kids are grown, independent adults with families of their own to fend and we can't rely on them for sustainability. For this reason, my husband and I fend for ourselves. I used $110 to purchase two goats, $20 to buy a phone, and the remaining amount was spent on foodstuffs. I'd not have accomplished this before, due to unreliable income because what I would earn merely met our basic needs. I'm thankful for the support.