The transfer enabled me to purchase cows that if I was to purchase at my own cost, it would take me years to save enough money. However, with the coming of GiveDirectly into our village, I now own them. For sure, were it not for GiveDirectly offering us financial support, then I would not be having these cows. I am not only happy that the transfers enabled me to acquire these cows but because I will also be able to earn an income through the sale of milk.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done better in ensuring that our lives are changed from the miserable life that we were living previously. We can attest that the transfer has positively impacted almost everyone in our village. Some of us did not have houses, and for the few that had them were not in good condition while others were grass thatched. However, the situation is now different, for new iron-roofed houses have been constructed. People have assets in terms of livestock to depend on during the financial crisis as well as boosting the farming practice that we do. To me, GiveDirectly just did well in our village and there is no section that they did not do well.

I spent the whole of my second transfer to buy three cows. I had desired to own these cows in my life because they are the only assets that one can own in our poverty-stricken village and with the lowest economic status. This is also a source of wealth because once they reproduce and increase in number, I will be in a position to sell their offsprings. Through this livestock, I will be able to educate my children who are still young. I will be selling the offspring in case of a dire financial crisis. I will also be benefiting from the milk that these cows will be producing. I will no longer be buying milk elsewhere. I will sell the surplus to the local dairy shops and earn an income. Through this income, I will be able to meet my daily household needs and other household expenses.

Previously my children could be sent back home for school fee everytime because i couldn't raise their fee on time. This is not the case anymore because I used a portionof the money to clear their school fee and I'm happy and peaceful because they are able to concentrate in their studies. This is the biggest difference in my daily life.

It was early morning when I got a message notification on my phone. Being that I'm not well conversant with the phone, I asked my son who was next to me to read out the message. I was overjoyed when he informed me that I had received money from GiveDirectly.

Water is a challenge in our area but I have a farm next to a river where I practice farming and previously I could manually use water containers to water the crops. This was hectic and time-consuming. The moment when I received the first transfer I bought a water pump with a portion of the money which I'm currently using to irrigate the farm. In addition to that, I had a leaking grass thatched house which is uncomfortable staying in since most of the households are destroyed by the rain. A portion of the money I used to purchase building materials which I'm already using to construct a decent house.