This year, with the help of Give Directly transfers, my primary objective is to ensure the construction of a home for my family. Our current living situation, cramped and aging, no longer meets our needs, and it is crucial for us to have a secure and joyful dwelling.

The organization's remarkable choice to extend assistance to the most vulnerable community through unconditional transfers, without considering factors such as status, education, gender, or age, was truly remarkable. We feel deeply privileged to have had the opportunity to witness and benefit from such a compassionate initiative.

When I received the unconditional transfers,I was very happy. I knew that this was an opportunity to turn our lives around. I made thoughtful decisions on how to utilize the the transfers to address our most pressing needs and set us on a path towards long-term stability. Education is paramount in our family, so I alloacted a portion of the transfers to pay off my child's school fees arrears. With $50, we settled the outstanding balance, ensuring that my child's education would continue uninterrupted. I invested $15 in purchasing school uniform, and with $22, I purchased the necessary books and educational materials. Taking responsibility for our financial obligations was another crucial aspect of my plan. I used $30 to pay off an existing debt, relieving the burden of financial strain. This allowed us to start anew with a clean slate. Of course, ensuring the well-being of my family was of utmost importance, With $50, I bought enough food for about two weeks. This not only satisfied our immediate hunger but also provided the foundation for a healthier lifestyle. Recognizing the importance of personal care and self-esteem, I allocated $40 for my wife to pamper herself and get her hair done. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to her, with the reaming amount of money, I set it aside to cater for my plan to build a better house for my family.

I want to be able to open my own business by the end of the year since I find it difficult to properly support my family's basic necessities while working as a barber for someone else. Thus, my goal is to start a business selling secondhand clothing with the last transfers from Give Directly.

The organizations ability to distribute transfers as an individual entity has made it simpler for us to believe in and trust the money we receive from Give Directly. Finding a non corrupt organization that provides funding unconditionally and without bias to everyone in the village, regardless of social,economic or education status was a win for Give Directly.

I decided that since I have three children, I should take advantage of this great chance to first construct a home for my family. This was a great blessing for me because my wife, child, and I have been living with our parents for the past three years because I haven't been able to build a home of my own. Therefore, with the help of my second transfer and savings from my regular barbershop, I was able to purchase all the building supplies required to build a two-room house.

When I heard the first message alert, I was sitting in the barber shop where I had been doing odd jobs. I did not bother checking it because I assumed it was just another service provider message that came in at random. After a few minutes, I received another alert, and I had to check to see what it was, only to discover that it was a Mpesa message confirming the receipt of the first transfer from GiveDirectly. Even though it was not stated that it was from GiveDirectly, I had no doubt because the amount indicated was exact and I was not expecting any other money.

The most noticeable difference in my daily life is the ease with which I can introduce my child to school. I had no clear plan because my income had been inconsistent. I was able to secure him a school, purchase new uniforms, and cover the first term's fees with the first transfer.

I work and am paid on commission in a barbershop in a nearby shopping center. Despite the fact that I have been going to work every day, the consistency of my earnings varies greatly with the seasons. I was trying to support my family of three with this part-time job. Receiving extra money from GiveDirectly was a relief for me because I had a lot of money to invest at the start of the year. Among them is seeing my firstborn son begin preschool classes and ensuring that he is fully prepared for the new educational system. I paid the full term's school fees at a nearby primary school with the first $45, and later purchased him a new pair of school uniforms worth $15. I love seeing him run to school every morning and return home happy in the evening, eager to show me what they learned all day. I also spent $100 on new clothes for my son, including shorts and shoes; dresses, skirts, and blouses for my spouse; and trousers and shirts for myself. I also purchased a simple sofa seat for $35 to fill the small space in our single room. My wife had been looking for work, and when she got a cosmetic attachment, I paid her travel expenses of $30, bought groceries with a portion of the remaining funds, and saved the remaining $35 in case of an emergency.