GiveDirectly does well by giving us the unconditional transfer. The funds have helped us manage our struggling situation we were in occasioned by lack of jobs and harsh weather. I am grateful that I will use the funds to become financially stable and uplift my life.

My eldest son is due to sit for his final secondary exam. I am happy that he could persevere through much struggles. Going to school having no meals, frequently being sent home and missing classes due to school fees arrears, sleeping late and waking up early, and many others. The end is near, and I spent KSH 2000 from the transfer to buy him essential tools to enable him to sit for his exams well. I bought him a geometric set, pencils, pens, clip board and other stationeries. I am praying and hoping he will do well so that he can fulfill his life dreams of becoming a Doctor. In addition, I spent KSH 500 to buy some medicine and pay some hospital bill for my son who has epilepsy. The condition he is currently in needs constant checkup and the drugs suppress his condition, making it manageable. With the remaining amount, I bought food to add to the almost finishing stock in the house to avoid starvation.

I received the text message at around 11 in the morning. I was on my farm harvesting vegetables for lunch. I heard my phone vibrating loudly. I am illiterate so I cannot read and had to wait until I was back home. When I arrived back home I asked my daughter-in-law to read the message for me. He then told me the good news that I had received my first transfer. Being my first transfer and I had been eagerly waiting for the transfer, I did not hide the joy within me and I jumped up and down while very happy. I called my son and asked him to go withdraw the money and get ready to go back to school.

Yes, the money has made a big difference in my life and that of my child. I am very happy that my child is back in school. This being his final year in school I am praying that with the transfer I will be receiving I will be able to ensure he only focused on studying hard by supporting him with his daily needs while he is in school. I am very he will perform well and go on with his studies at the university.

When I received the transfer I spent KSH 800 in buying some four chickens. I have always wanted to own any livestock but due to my financial status, I have not been able to do that. I have a plan of rearing the chicken and later selling them and buying some goats. I also spent KSH 2000 on my son. My son is currently in his final year of study in his high school education. He schools in a day school and this requires him to rent a house, support him with money for food and other personal effects. On the day I received the money he had come home because the landlord had locked him out because of rent arrears. Luckily I received the money and gave him the KSH 2000 and went back to continue with his education. I spent the KSH 200 remaining to buy a packet of maize flour and some sugar and consumed it together with my husband.