I used to be a civil servant, but now I am retired and live in the village where I farm and raise livestock. I consider my livestock to be crucial assets that I can depend on. Currently, I have several goats and my goal is to breed them, increase their number, and sell them to generate income. This income has so far helped me pay for my children's education. One of my children is already in university, and the other recently completed high school and plans to join university this year. When I received my first transfer, I spent $200 to buy three more goats, aiming to grow my herd. Since I am not working anymore, I believe these livestock will help me generate money when I need it. I spent the remaining portion of the transfer to clear my children's fee arrears. My son had a large fee balance from high school and was not able to collect his certificates. I thus paid $100 to clear the arrears, and he was then able to collect his certificates and is now ready to join the university. I also paid a full semester's fee of $250 for my other son already enrolled in the university to ensure he continues with his studies without any interruptions concerning fees. I am happy that my children are currently pursuing their academic goals.

I am delighted as a parent to see my children thriving in school and working towards their academic goals. Being able to settle my children's school fees has made a significant difference in my daily life. One of my children is currently in university, while the other has completed high school but had outstanding fees, which prevented him from collecting his academic certificates. I now have peace of mind knowing that I have recently cleared a full semester's fees for my child in university, and he can comfortably continue his studies. I am grateful that paying the fees on time has also given me ample time to prepare for the next semester's expenses. Additionally, I settled the outstanding fees for my high school graduate, and he has received his certificates. He is now preparing to join university this year. Furthermore, I have acquired three goats, expanding my existing goatshed. These assets provide me with a reliable source of income that I can rely on in case of financial need. I can readily sell them or use them to generate income to support my children's education. As a retired civil servant now engaged in subsistence farming in the village, this additional source of income is invaluable to me.

I had gone out to seek some cyber services in our nearby centre. While I was waiting to be served, I received a notification on my phone and upon checking, I realized it was an M-Pesa message. It turned out to be my first transfer from GiveDirectly. This was the best news I had received, and I was overwhelmed with gratitude as I thanked God for such a blessing. I had been struggling financially to the extent that I couldn't pay fees for my two children, one in high school and the other in university. This transfer was a huge relief for me and a great help for my children's education.