I have been buying, felling trees, and sawing them to timber with a chainsaw for almost a year. This has been my family's primary source of income because demand has been high at both local carpentry shops and any construction site that requires timber. It is my intention to grow it and ensure that the supply I produce meets the high demand in the future. This will ensure a consistent source of income, allowing me to provide for my children both at home and at school.

Everyone in our village was overjoyed to receive a free cash transfer that came with the freedom to spend it however they saw fit. I am grateful to the field staff for their hard work in enrolling all households without favoritism and assuring us of an equal amount that was later deposited directly into our accounts. The organization is doing so well because it first educates people on the best practices for using their accounts to avoid losing money to fraudsters.

When done correctly, livestock farming is one of the simplest practices in our region and can be a lucrative source of income. My dream has always been to buy and raise better breeds of cattle, but starting capital has been a challenge. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for providing a solution through the cash transfer, as I used $490 of the second transfer to purchase two Friesian heifers. I already had one that provided only enough milk for my family. When the extra two calve down, they will increase production, which can be sold to pay school fees and other household bills. My firstborn son is currently in seventh grade, so early preparation for the transition to secondary school is critical. I used the remainder of the transfer to pay the school fees for my three primary school children. They are currently studying happily with no interruptions because I have paid for the entire term.

I was home that evening when I received a message from Givedirectly that confirmed a receipt of my first transfer. I was very happy and thankful to God and Give directly and planned on withdrawing the funds the following day.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the investment in a dairy cow that has just begun to provide us with milk for consumption. I no longer spend a coin on buying milk and also it has given me the ability to provide for my family in the future.

Before receiving the first transfer, I had discussed with my wife what we needed to spend the transfer on. Purchase of a dairy cow was on our priority list. With KES 28,000 we spent on purchasing it from a nearby market. We are currently milking two liters of milk per day. I spent KES 18,000 in payment of arrears and term fees for my two children in secondary school. I am happy since they are currently having ample time to study without being sent home. The remaining amount, I used in buying school uniforms for my children both in secondary and primary school to replace the old and tattered ones. I am grateful for what has transpired in my household for the past few weeks after receiving my transfer and hoping to do more with my second transfer.