In the coming year and beyond, my primary goal is to become a landowner and build a home for my family of four, moving away from the situation of living on someone else's land. I intend to achieve this by utilizing the proceeds generated from the current harvests on my maize and tomato farms to identify and purchase a piece of land. For the past seven years, since I relocated to this community, my aspiration has been to secure my own plot where I can create a stable and nurturing environment for my children. With determination and hard work, I am optimistic that I can finally realize this long-held dream and provide a better future for my family.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly has been doing exceptionally well in our community. Their project has been the most beneficial initiative since I arrived here. The enrollment process was efficient and well-organized, and there were no complaints due to the clear communication channels established. The direct transfers were received promptly, and people showed their appreciation by calling back to express gratitude. One of the significant strengths of GiveDirectly's approach is its focus on empowering local community members to work on their projects without the need for external intervention. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and self-sufficiency. However, one area that could be improved is providing additional support or resources to help individuals maximize the impact of their projects, especially those involving agriculture or other income-generating activities. Such support could further enhance the long-term sustainability and success of the beneficiaries' ventures.

Upon receiving the most recent transfer from GiveDirectly, I allocated the funds to improve my farming endeavors, specifically focusing on managing the tomatoes I had previously planted with their support. With $200, I acquired the necessary equipment for effective tomato cultivation, while an additional $100 covered transportation costs. To ensure successful growth, I invested $120 in herbicides and pesticides for weed control and pest prevention, safeguarding the plants, flowers, and fruits. I spent the remaining $30 on essential household goods for my family of four. The project's positive impact is evident, as I now enjoy the fruitful results of an acre and a half of green maize and have tomatoes ready for the market from another acre. This life-changing opportunity has transformed my situation significantly, transitioning me from laboring on others' lands to leasing my own and reaping profits that will eventually help me acquire my own land. I am immensely grateful for GiveDirectly's support, as it has opened doors to a brighter and more promising future for me and my family.

Our reliance on subsistence farming has been worth the effort, but I hope to do much better in the coming year by expanding the land under plantations to ensure optimal harvest. This will be useful as we plan to buy a piece of land as a family in the future. To ensure consistent food availability, I am currently working on my current free-range chicken farm, where eggs are collected and sold every day to make income. I currently have 47 chicks and hope that they will multiply and help my family with future projects.

GiveDirectly has always been considerate in keeping its promises, with the transfers arriving ahead of schedule. To me, this is the most efficient program that genuinely cares about the recipients. We are getting the best experience because we are allowed to do whatever we want. People who were once impoverished are now up and running their own businesses. I appreciate that the office dealt with individuals directly, with no complications in the processes, and that the entire promised amount was deposited into our accounts with no deductions before we received it. The same thing would be good to happen in other villages with the same level of fairness, and with no tribal bias or influence from village leadership.

I have been a squatter for the past six years, moving as I do casual labor alongside my husband to support my family. I relocated from western Kenya in the hopes of finding work in the large farms nearby, but that did not happen. I am grateful for the warm welcome I received from the residents and have been living on a friend's land, where we built a temporary structure for our family of four. I had been reliant on leaseholds in order to provide food for my children and occasionally surplus for sale. I had already begun paying for a 4-acre plot of land when I received the second transfer. I paid the pending $150, and I am relieved that the planting season has begun. I plan to plant the tomato seedlings I have in my nursery bed on the two acres and use the rest on maize plantations. On a good season, I expect to make at least $1000 from tomato sales, whereas maize usually has a higher profit because we get free seeds from the Kenya Seed Company and a ready market after harvest from the same company, which pays in a lump sum. I also spent $150 on a heifer, which I am hoping will soon relieve us of the need to buy expensive packaged milk from the store. My husband runs a motorcycle taxi, which has been our main source of income. In addition, I set aside the remaining funds to finish the land preparation, which I estimate will cost $200 because plowing and harrowing an acre costs $50.

I have been anxiously waiting to receive my cash transfer to reflect on my phone since they visited and promised to help. This was the only way I would confirm that it was not a scam. I recall that moment I got the text showing that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was working on the farm when I received the text. I was at a loss for words when I got that text showing cash sent to me from GiveDirectly. I told my husband about the news and we were both very happy with the support. We were happy to have such support because we knew we will accomplish our goals.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am expecting a bumper harvest from my farm due to the financial aid I received. This wasn't the case before because of financial limitations. I am forever indebted for receiving the support that transformed my life.

When I heard GiveDirectly had visited our village, I gave up on all hopes of receiving any aid. This is because I wasn't speaking the same dialect as the locals. I got used to the discrimination other organizations subjected me to whenever organizations visited the village. Little did I know GiveDirectly was a different organization. I was surprised to receive a visit from them at my homestead. Upon receipt of our transfer, my husband and I opted to invest the entire amount in farming. We planted vegetables, butternuts, and tomatoes, something we were good at. I am forever grateful for the support of the cash transfer that gave us an opportunity for a change in our life.