My life has been different since I received the transfers from GiveDirectly. Due to the lack of a stable source of income, I used to survive on the casual jobs to make ends meet. Providing food for my family was an uphill task because sometimes they had to sleep hungry. I feel empowered since I have now bought two bulls to plough my farm. Initially, I was using my hands to till and It consumed a lot of time and energy before I prepared my land for farming. I can now expect to have a good yield from my farm and be able to sell the surplus to earn a profit.

I am very happy and grateful to what GiveDirectly has done to me. Getting the transfers, directly to me without involving third parties, is the best thing that GiveDirectly did well. We have had of stories where money is embezzled and not reach the intended destination or purpose. Personally, I have been empowered and I would want them to come back again to help transform the lives of the many who are poor in the society.

I spent The second transfer in buying two beds and mattresses. I used to sleep on worn out beddings, together with my children, but I can now sleep comfortably. The remaining balance from the transfer, I am planning on how to repair my house, buy food for my family and goats. I will rear the goats and hope to sell in the future to earn a profit.

I thank GiveDirectly for changing the old image of our household to a now happy family with added livestock and improved way of cultivation. Plowing our farms using oxen has proven to be the biggest difference in our daily life, no more sweating on the farm with the old farm implements and it is our hope that we will register a bumper harvest this time.

The excitement on the day we received the money from GD was at its topmost level. I had never taken GiveDirectly any serious since the first day when they came enrolling everyone in the village. In my mind, I was thinking of the common government enrollments programmes which have been going on within the village since my tender age and have never come to pass and GiveDirectly made the biggest difference by delivering on their promise. I was very happy and the other members of the family never believed also when I informed them of the good news since they were daring me to try and withdraw from them to really believe that it was a real money, my elder son supposed it was the fishing scams who normally sent people fake messages, while their mother could not stop but obligingly back him up as if it really was sure confirmation that it was just a scam. I had to take a step of confirming with my neighbors who had received the same message which made them believe though not fully. We only came to terms and all in a celebratory mood after I had withdrawn the money. We are still thanking God for sending us a great blessing through GiveDirectly.

Tilling of land had been a real hard task during rainy seasons. All along I have been digging up my land using a hoe which has never been easy since it has been slow and also tiring. Receiving GD money is such a big releive. I decided to spend part of the transfer in purchasing oxen though the prices were so high but could not wait any longer since most of my land has not been cultivated and we are headed to the planting season. To make the whole project complete, I spent part of the remaining amount in obtaining a brand new plough which would ease my work and save me the struggles of hiring labor from the villagers who are already established. I now foresee a future where I will not only be having some savings with us but also surplus food in our granaries which would have solved the food security issue which has been a problem in our region.