My paramount goal is to bolster my financial standing, specifically to raise more money. The driving force behind this pursuit is a deeply rooted commitment to ensuring my children receive the education they deserve. As a parent, the dream of providing them with a solid educational foundation has always been at the forefront of my aspirations. I understand that education is not just a gateway to a brighter future for them but a key that unlocks myriad opportunities. With a focused determination, I plan to explore various avenues to increase my income, meticulously saving and strategizing so that when the time comes, I can meet the financial demands of their education without compromise.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly has truly excelled by delivering unconditional cash transfers that have empowered me to acquire valuable assets. With their support, I made a strategic decision to invest in a dairy cow, a move that has not only become a sustainable source of income but has also elevated our standard of living. The flexibility of the cash transfer allowed me to make choices aligned with my family's needs, fostering a sense of agency and responsibility.

After receiving my recent transfer, I directed $100 of the funds towards settling a long-standing debt with a friend. This debt originated from the purchase of a two-acre piece of land, a dream I had nurtured for years. The sleepless nights and daily reminders of financial burdens had haunted me, but with the debt cleared, I finally experienced peace of mind. I later invested $200 in acquiring a dairy cow, foreseeing a brighter future for my three kids. My intention is to breed the cow, ensuring a growing source of income that will support their education through the coming years. As they enter higher grades, I believe the multiplying cows will provide the financial stability needed to help them pursue their dreams. Also, upon recognizing the need for privacy for my teenagers, I allocated around $180 to purchase iron sheets, timber, and building poles. This investment allowed me to expand our living space, creating a more comfortable environment for my children. Sharing a house with only two rooms was no longer a concern, and it aligned better with our cultural values. I finally used the remaining funds to cover the current semester's fees for my children, ensuring they wouldn't face the risk of being sent home for lack of funds. While my income from a chef job at a nearby school had always been insufficient for my extended family of ten, the unconditional cash transfer provided the means to address immediate needs and build a foundation for a brighter future.

The SMS arrived at 3 p.m. just as I was on my way home from work, and the timing could not have been more perfect. It was a reassuring confirmation that GiveDirectly had kept its promise, and the prospect of my dreams becoming a reality filled me with happiness. My immediate thought was providing comfortable bedding for my family of seven, a luxury we had been longing for. When I finally arrived home, I could not contain my excitement, so I shared the news with my wife and children. Their faces lit up with joy as they too realized that our long-awaited transfers had arrived, bringing us one step closer to our aspirations. With the transfers in hand, I waited for three days, contemplating the best way to utilize this financial support that had come our way. It was a time filled with anticipation, planning, and gratitude for the positive changes these funds would bring to our lives.

Before receiving the transfers, my financial situation was truly precarious. I found myself in a challenging position, lacking the necessary assets to enhance my cooking job, which was the primary means of supporting my family of seven. The absence of these resources made it increasingly difficult to make ends meet and provide for my loved ones. However, the moment I acquired the goats through the transfers, everything changed. This newfound resource presented an opportunity to secure a brighter future for my family of seven. With the asset in hand, I envision selling it and using the proceeds to invest in my children's education. This transformative shift meant that I would not only provide for their immediate needs but also ensure their long-term success, breaking the cycle of financial hardship and opening the door to a more promising future.

Upon receiving the transfers, I made a series of thoughtful investments to improve our living conditions and secure our family's future. First and foremost, I spent $150 to purchase much-needed bedding, as we had been sleeping on the floor with nothing to provide us comfort. Another $120 went towards acquiring goats, a step towards building a sustainable source of income for my family. These goats not only hold the potential to generate future revenue but also represent a valuable asset for us. In addition, I spent $17 to purchase new cooking pots, replacing the broken ones that had been causing us inconvenience. And finally, the remaining funds were dedicated to buying iron sheets, a crucial improvement for our shelter. Our family of seven relies on my income from my cooking job for our livelihood, but the $65 I earn monthly has been insufficient, primarily going toward school fees for my children. With the support from these transfers, my life has undergone a significant transformation. I am overjoyed to have received assets that not only enhance our daily living conditions but also promise future income generation. This assistance has truly uplifted us and set us on a path to financial stability and a brighter future.