After spending the first transfer on the construction of a new house, I still need to finish the interior decorating by installing a ceiling board and purchasing new furniture. I am still using the old benches from the previous house, which I would like to replace with a more comfortable sofa set that matches the new construction. I also have a long-term plan to fence around my property and subdivide the grazing field in order to control the movement of my livestock on the land. I am working hard to ensure that my current grocery store remains competitive and provides an adequate supply of fresh farm produce to customers, resulting in a consistent increase in sales. Even though the savings that will allow me to start this business will take some time, the profits will allow me to achieve my new goals.

Our village has undergone significant change in a short period of time. It was wonderful when we received the transfer and spent it independently, without interference from anyone, because we had the freedom to choose how we spent it. The varied spending pattern was impressive because everyone ensured that they spent wisely on what they needed the most. The majority of the information we received from the officers who visited was very clear, with the exception of the fact that the enrollment approach and criteria excluded some households that we felt deserved the most support, while on the other hand, there were some households that we thought the criteria would exclude, but they received the full amount. Some people were disappointed because they had hoped that the program would change their lives. GiveDirectly should spend a significant amount of time conducting extensive investigations before leaving some households and should also attempt to contact them later if there is any suspicion of ascertaining their identity.

I am a single mother of two who has been living with a friend's child for the past year. I had been working hard on both my grocery business that has been my family's main source of income. I spent $300 on a dairy cow that will soon give birth after receiving the second transfer. Previously, I had purchased at least a liter of milk at the current price of $1. This has been so costly that I have been trying to find a way to stop the purchase. I am relieved that we will soon have ample supplies for my family as well as surplus for sale from the cow. My son, who was working in a nearby town, lost his job, and the construction of his house, which was funded by his wages, had to be halted. As a result, I had to chip in and spend $150 on windows, doors, and paints. I also paid the labor force that completed the construction with this amount. I am relieved that my son is now living in his house and not having to move around looking for a place to sleep. I later used the remaining $80 to cover my daily transportation costs from home to the market and back, as well as to expand my current grocery business, which has been doing well since then, with a profit margin increased from the daily $2 that I would get to the current range of $3 to $5 per day.

It was around 7:30 am and I was at home milking the cow. I had left my phone in the house. When I was done milking, I went back in and I found my phone ringing. It was a call from one of my friends. I picked it and we talked. When we were done talking, I saw that I had a new SMS. I opened it and I was so surprised when I read that I had received KES 55000 that GiveDirectly had earlier promised us. I was so excited about seeing this and I thanked God for it since the plans that I had made were now going to be fulfilled.

The transfer has brought a big difference in my life and that of my family. My grocery business has grown having bought more stock with the transfer amount that I reinvested in it. I used to take stock on credit and pay it later after selling them but I no longer do so. I am also glad because I was able to till my land and plant on time. I was not in a position to do all the above simultaneously before. I could first till then look for money for the seeds and fertilizer. By the time I get it, I could at times get the weeds as having grown again on the piece of land that I had tilled. The crops are doing well and thus I am so much grateful to GiveDirectly for making all these possible.

When I got my recent transfer, I first took out KES 10000 that I spent on finishing the construction of the boy's quarters for my son. He used to have a small grass-thatched house that was made of mud as his quarters. After finishing his college studies, he tried his best and he built another house that is made of timber planks and roofed with iron sheets. I use to support him only whenever I could and since he was almost done with the construction, I had promised to help him finish when I get the transfer money. Other than that, I also bought iron sheets at KES 20000 and trees at KES 9000 that I plan to use in constructing another house for myself. I only have one small house where I usually cook and sleep. It has always been my wish to build another house but I didn't have the money to do so. I have been struggling with the payment of school fees for my son and I only have a small grocery business that I solely depend on to earn a living. I want the house that I will build to be the main house and then the one that I have at the moment will be the kitchen. This way I will be able to have more room that can even accommodate guests visiting my household. I also spent KES 3000 on buying some clothes for my youngest child and I re-invested KES 4000 in my grocery business. With the remaining transfer amount, I spent it on farming and cutting down the trees that I had bought, and sawing them for timber. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for the support.