My hope for this year and the years to come is to complete the construction of a new house so that my family can move out of our damaged mud house. Once we have a safe and secure home, I plan to shift my focus to farming and livestock keeping. This will help us secure a steady food supply and create a sustainable source of income, which will ensure that my children can continue their education without worry and that I can provide for my family. I plan to use the third transfer from GiveDirectly to make this vision a reality. The thought of having a permanent home and a stable livelihood fills me with hope, as it will place me in a much better situation than where I am now.

What stood out about GiveDirectly is their clarity in explaining their program to us. They communicated everything transparently, which helped me build trust in them and their mission. Because of this transparency and the smooth experience I had, I don’t have any recommendations for changes to the current program. In my view, it works effectively just as it is, without any issues.

When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I felt incredibly grateful and saw it as a valuable opportunity to improve my life. I live in a mud house, and recent floods damaged it badly, causing it to leak and putting my family at risk as the structure is on the verge of collapsing. I used $300 of the transfer to buy building materials, including iron sheets and building poles, hoping to construct a safer, more stable home. I am eagerly awaiting the third transfer to complete the construction, providing my family with a comfortable and secure place they can truly call home, away from the risk of flooding and the discomfort of a leaking roof. In addition, I used $60 to pay school fees for my child, who is in Form One in secondary school. Paying this fee has helped me feel relieved from the worry and pressure of unpaid fees, allowing my child to continue their education without interruption. The remaining amount went toward buying food, an essential need for my family. Ensuring that we have enough to eat helps us all stay healthy, and being able to meet this basic need with the transfer brought us much-needed peace of mind.

Sunday was meant to be a relaxing day at home, with no plans to go anywhere. However, as the day went on and I felt bored being alone, I decided to visit my neighbor to pass the time. While we were chatting, he mentioned that GiveDirectly had sent money. I wondered if I had received any as well, but since my phone was out of charge and I was offline, I couldn't check. The next morning, once my phone was charged, I checked and saw the first message was from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Without wasting any time, I immediately sent $60 for my daughter's school fees, as her teacher had been calling me almost every day, and I was anxious about missing her calls.

I am thankful and appreciative to GiveDirectly for their generous support. With the cash received, I was able to pay my daughter’s school fees, ensuring she won’t be sent home for non-payment. Additionally, I bought a goat that will provide milk and can be sold if needed. As I am getting older, I know I won't be able to continue doing hard jobs like charcoal burning for much longer, so this investment is very important to me.

About six years ago, my wife and I separated, and she took our two children with her. Although the children live with her, I am responsible for paying their school fees. I have been struggling to plant Kenyan seeds and use the proceeds to cover their fees and ensure I have food at home. After receiving this cash, I used $60 to pay for school fees since I hadn’t sold anything that term because my farm was swept away by floods. To ensure I have something to invest in and sell in case of an emergency, I decided to use $50 to purchase a goat. When it gives birth, I will use the milk and sell it if needed.Additionally, I had been sleeping on a traditional bed made of sticks. Although I was comfortable with it, I wanted to have something more like what my friends and neighbors have, so I spent $50 on a new bed. With the remaining amount, I bought food to stock up at home, ensuring that while I continue burning charcoal, I have something to eat without having to borrow from shops.