Every day, my thoughts are focused on building a better house for my family. Currently, we live in a two-roomed slope house with an additional grass-thatched house. (one room for the girls, one for us, and the grass one for the boys). With my first transfer, I invested in crop farming, planting seed maize for the Kenya Seed Company. The maize is now at the tasseling stage across two acres and is doing exceptionally well. I anticipate harvesting about 40 bags, which should bring in around $3000. This income will help me pay my children’s school fees and start building a new, better house. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this possible and turning my dream into a reality.

GiveDirectly provides transfers to everyone fairly and without discrimination. The officers expect nothing in return during enrollment, ensuring that we incur no costs. They are humble and respectful to all. The unconditional nature of the cash transfers allowed me to plan it at home with my family based on our specific needs, acknowledging that everyone has diverse requirements. This money has brought unity to our family, as the sensitization during baraza (community meetings) and the officers' emphasis on family agreement prevented any disagreements. Receiving the money in installments, with a skip month in between, has greatly aided our planning. Comparing GiveDirectly with other organizations, GiveDirectly stands out with its effective approach. There are no improvements needed; keep up the excellent work.

Last year, my daughter finished high school but left with arrears of $240, which prevented her from obtaining her certificates. She received an admission letter to a university; she is supposed to report next month. Clearing her arrears had been a significant challenge for us. We rely entirely on seasonal farming, and with two other children in high school, covering their fees and providing for our family's needs stretched us. Thankfully, with my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I spent $10 on her transport and cleared her arrears, allowing her to finally obtain her certificates. Additionally, I used $60 to reduce the fees for my other two children, paying $30 each. I also invested in buying two goats at $60 each, totaling $120, to support future school fees for my children. Prioritizing their education is essential for us, as my husband and I did not have the opportunity to attend school ourselves, so we are determined to ensure our children do. Their success tomorrow will be our win. The remaining $20 was used to purchase a few essential food items.

I had gone to assist my neighbor who was having visitors that day to receive them. This involved cooking, welcoming, and serving them. I vividly remember that evening; we were done with all the preparations and were just making conversation with the visitors and my neighbors. Suddenly, my phone buzzed, notifying me of a message. Without hesitation, I reached into my skirt pocket to check whose message it was. I was so happy to see it was an Mpesa message indicating that I had received a transfer. I did not let my excitement show since I was in front of people. I just kept the happiness inside, eagerly waiting to return home to inform my family of the good news. Later that evening, upon reaching home, I informed my spouse about the good news, and he was also very happy. We had longed to prepare our land for planting but did not have the money for it. So, that was the first thing we did with the received funds.

My life is much better since I received the transfer. I am now relieved that I have managed to plant my crops on my one acre of land, something that was made possible by the transfer. The maize I grow is sold to Kenya Seeds Company, and the proceeds from these sales are crucial for supporting my family. Before receiving the transfer, I was overwhelmed with worry about missing the planting season and potentially losing the contract with the company. This contract is essential as it directly impacts my ability to pay for my children's school fees.

The transfer came at a time when I was desperate and had a lot on my mind. It was planting season, and my acre of land was not even ready since I did not have the money. Because the maize crops we intended to plant were meant to be sold to Kenya Seeds Company, they needed to be sown simultaneously with the rest of the farms around them. I was particularly worried about losing the contract with the company, as I was almost late for their planting time. Failing to meet this deadline would mean losing the contract and due to this, my two children in secondary school might miss their studies since the proceeds from the maize usually help me cover their fees. So, when I received the transfer, I used $11 to prepare and plant the land. I am relieved that the crops are now in the ground. I used the remaining amount to ensure that I could at least pay a portion of the school fees for my two children. This helped them have peace of mind and concentrate on their studies without the worry of being sent home immediately after the school term started.