I intend to go back into crop farming. After losing my land to the lake, I stopped. I have approached a relative who has offered me half an acre of land near the river. I intend to focus on planting vegetables, which grow quickly and have a ready market. I will use the income from the vegetables to provide for my seven children, ensuring they have enough to eat and saving any surplus to cover their school fees. With one of my children set to join high school next year, this investment is crucial in ensuring I can meet their educational needs while sustaining our household.

GiveDirectly operates in such a way that I find it commendable. I appreciate how they provide unconditional cash transfers, which gives me the freedom to budget according to my own needs. The follow-up on these transfers helps me and benefits other recipients in the community by encouraging responsible spending. The installment approach to distributing the transfers enables proper planning and reduces the risk of financial misuse. In my experience, there are no areas where I see a need for improvement. I believe continuing with this effective approach will continue to have positive impacts on individuals and families.

For years, life has been challenging, relying solely on charcoal production and casual jobs without any alternative source of income. Unfortunately, I lost my land to the lake, leaving me landless. Currently, I have been living on someone else's property, and the owner requested $400 for the land. Upon receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I paid $200 to the owner. With my second transfer, I cleared the remaining arrears of $200, and now I am the proud owner of the land. This is a significant relief, given that I have seven children and am a single mom. Moreover, I decided to invest in four goats, each costing $50, totaling $200. Goats do well in this area, especially with the grass on the land I now own. They can survive even during droughts, and their reproduction will provide a source of income to help pay for my children's high school fees since I can sell some in the future. I invested the remaining $50 in food. Feeding my family of seven was a struggle, and sometimes we had to skip meals. Providing them with a balanced diet seemed like a dream. Thanks to GiveDirectly's support, things have improved, and I am optimistic about the future.

It was late in the evening, and I had gone to fetch water from a distant river about 2 kilometres away. I left my phone at home since I was not expecting any calls. When I returned home with the 20-litre jerry can on my back, I decided to check my phone while resting on a nearby seat. To my surprise, I found an unread message. I opened it and saw it was a Mpesa message indicating the receipt of a GD transfer. My heart filled with joy, and I immediately informed my children of the good news. We were all so happy, knowing that our immediate needs would be taken care of. I planned to withdraw the money the next day and buy food for my family. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for bringing such happiness and relief to our lives.

The biggest difference in my life since I received the transfer is that my life is now filled with optimism about achieving my dream of living in a better house. Although I haven't built the house yet, I am optimistic that the second transfer will enable me to complete it. With the first transfer, I have managed to buy some iron sheets and frames. I will add more materials with the second transfer and start the construction. This new house will offer a more comfortable and beautiful living condition compared to our current small one-room house, which serves as both a living room and a sleeping area for my five daughters. Apart from being congested, the house is at risk of collapsing in heavy winds since its posts are very weak, not firmly installed in the ground, and have been eaten by termites. This situation makes it embarrassing to even invite friends or relatives over. The new house will provide us with much-needed space and security, enhancing our quality of life and restoring my confidence in hosting guests.

We currently reside in a small, one roomed and old house that serves as both the living room and sleeping area. The house is too small to comfortably accommodate me and my five daughters. Additionally, it is very weak, as its posts and frames have been eaten away by termites, putting it at risk of collapsing at any time. Due to financial struggles, especially as a single mother of seven, I have not been able to build a better house. I rely on irregular casual work and charcoal burning to fend for my family, which barely meets our needs. Upon receiving the first transfer, I saw it as an opportunity to build a more secure, two-roomed house. I spent $72 to buy seven iron sheets and $15 on three frames. I am planning to buy more materials with the second transfer and start the construction. This new house will provide a safer and more comfortable living space for my family. Additionally, I spent $70 on food, ensuring we had enough to eat. Casual work has become rare due to the heavy rains last month that swept away the lands where we usually find labor. The remaining amount was used to buy clothes for my children. Their old clothes were very worn and were very few in number, so the new ones boosted their confidence and made them feel better about themselves.