My current goal is to start my own cow selling business in Cheptune Market. A cow goes for anywhere from Kes. 15, 000 to Kes. 30,000, depending on the size of the cow, at time of sale. If I secure the capital to buy a nice one, I can then mark up the price from between Kes. 5,000 to Kes. 10,000, making a profit that would mean a nice source of consistent income for me and my family. Its a goal I want to believe will be achieved by me in the not so distant future.

GiveDirectly are gifted at showing empathy and identifying opportunities to better lives. GiveDirectly have allowed people in our area to build houses, buy water tanks and like me, buy cows to actively change their lives, positively. GiveDirect are respectful and considerate in how they approach the concept of aide and allow one to keep ones dignity, why still being a blessing in recipients lives.

The transfer I received from GiveDirectly was mainly directed towards buying two cows, Kes, 15, 00 and Kes. 25, 000 respectively. They are both back upcountry. While at it, I also rebuilt my toilet into a much nicer and modern one. Thanks to the funds from GiveDirectly, I was able to better our living standards, as well as find a new revenue stream, in the form of the milk we will be selling from the two cows. GiveDirectly have helped us accomplish and surpass our goals as a family.

I had woken up a little bit earlier that morning to attend to my usual chores at the cattle shed when I received a message from GiveDirectly. It was so exciting for me to realize that it was a confirmation of the receipt of the transfer I had been anticipating. I had no idea at all that it was to be sent that morning. At that moment, I had to completely change my plans - I informed my family over the phone, got ready, and visit the immediate shopping center before other villagers flooded the place and was glad to withdraw all I needed that afternoon.

After buying milk for a long period now, I am glad that I managed to finally obtain a heifer calf and a cow. These two have brought great joy to my family and hope to soon get enough milk not only for our household consumption but also surplus for sale. This has been the biggest difference in my daily life. It has brought an instant shift from the hopelessness that was slowly getting roots to being hopeful once again after the transfer.

Six months ago, my wife got sick and was diagnosed with a condition that consumed almost all the assets that we had bought. Livestock was the last to be sold in our field, and since then we had been struggling to purchase milk from the neighborhood. I am glad that even though the hospital bills consumed all the resources we had, my wife got well and now working hard together to bring back what we lost over that period. After the enrollment into this program, we enlisted all that we needed with approximate cost allocated to each item. On top of the list was livestock that I bought in the second week after receiving the transfer. I spent KES37000 on obtaining a heifer calf and a cow that will soon provide enough milk for my family of four. I also constructed a chicken coop after obtaining construction materials at KES3500 and paid the labor cost of KES1000. Poultry rearing has been of great help to us as we have always depended on the eggs collection - the outcome has been useful in sorting household bills. I also added a sack of maize to our food basket and my wife used the remaining amount on buying clothing for our two children.