I didn't have any new goals that I didn't have before receiving this transfer as what I wanted to achieve were these aims that I had all along even before the coming of GiveDirectly to our village. Settling my children's school fees arrears and taking some money to my son's in-laws so as to foster the good relations between our families and get back my grandchildren and daughter-in-law, were the aims I had been having all along. I was putting in efforts to achieve them with my casual job of cutting trees and selling them to those who need, but it was barely enough and I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for the assistance I received was the boost I needed to achieve my goals.

The things that I was able to achieve are what, in my opinion I can say, the things that GiveDirectly did well. I am so grateful for what GiveDirectly to us through its program because I had never before experienced something similar in my life ever since my childhood and it was actually so hard to believe that this could be possible somehow. All went to plan according to me, and there is nothing that is or was done wrong.

I spent most of the transfer which was KES 30000 on making partial payment for my daughter-in-law's dowry. I did this because it was something I wanted to do all along but my casual job of cutting trees and selling barely raised enough to make me achieve that. So, when I got the money I made sure I take this amount to our in-laws so that I could get my grandchildren and daughter-in-law back, and my son to have his wife and children with him. This was important to me because they are already part of my family and I had gotten the financial assistance I needed to make that possible, since even though I was managing to take there part of the dowry a little by little, it was making me so sad because it is not right for children to be raised in their maternal relatives home according to our community customs and traditions. They belong to their paternal side and that is where they should be raised, therefore, having them with me here makes me so proud and takes away the shame of my in-laws having to raise my grandchildren on my behalf.

I was so happy and grateful the moment I received the money from the program because I was able to address the challenges that I was facing especially school fees arrears for my son and also got some livestock that I had desired for so long.

The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that before I used to have a lot of challenges as there was no money and depended on recurrent debts from our local kiosk's to get food for my family. Right now, however, I was able to get food and occasionally and regularly change diet which is something that I could only wish for before I started receiving money from GiveDirectly. I am so happy and grateful.

I spent most of my transfer which was KES 25000 on buying six goats because they are both an investment and tribute in that from them, I will always remember the assistance I received from GiveDirectly. Also, they will live on to multiply and increase in numbers, unlike something else that could be consumed and be finished. I also spent KES 10000 to settle my son's school fees arrears that I hadn't finished and made my son to be consistently in and out of school. I did this because it is my responsibility, and I not only believe but also know for sure that his good education won't benefit him alone but I'll also stand to gain a lot because when he is employed after school I'll be able to count on him in the future to help me address the financial challenges I will be facing. This makes me so happy and hopeful, all thanks to GiveDirectly.