My long term and short term goals are somewhat intertwined. I would love for my children to finish their education, with myself being able to fiance the same. While in the long run I pray that, that in turn means good jobs for them so they can take care of themselves, their families as well as myself in my old age.

It's hard to find fault, of any kind, with what GiveDirectly as an organisation do. To put into perspective their impact, imagine that prior to me building the aforementioned house, I had kids sleeping in the kitchen! All I can say is I would love to see the programmes continue longer, with GiveDirectly continuing to offer the support they have been giving to recipients so they can accomplish some more life changing goals and get to where they are financially on their feet, moving forward. Eg. More transfers would mean I could start a business that my kids can benefit from while they study.

The GiveDirectly transfers were used in various different ways. Part of it went to buying food which was sustainable for us as a household and a large chunk went to building a 2 bedroom house, on my 2 acre farm that I cultivate as my form of employment, and the rest went to tuition for my kids. I have four kids, one of whom is my grandson who became orphaned, and whom I try to support as best I can. I paid KES. 20,000 each for the two kids, a boy and a girl, who are both in pwani university. the other also just cleared high school, while the eldest girl is married and living with her husband. My husband used to supplement my farming income with his salary from driving psv vehicles, he used to get paid KES 500 per day, but he is currently without one assigned to him and hence out of work. If it were not for these funds from GiveDirectly I dread to think of how we would have accomplished all we have had on our plate. We are eternally grateful to GiveDirectly.

I was busy weeding my crops late in the evening when I suddenly heard a message alert on my phone. Since I was deeply engrossed on my work, I did not bother to check the contents of the message until I got back home. I heard my neighbors shouting that GiveDirectly had sent the money as promised. I remembered that I had not checked my messages. I could not hold back the joy when I confirmed that I had also received my first transfer. I thanked them for keeping their promise.

I was busy weeding my crops late in the evening when I suddenly heard a message alert on my phone. Since I was deeply engrossed in my work, I did not bother to check the contents of the message until I got back home. I heard my neighbours shouting that GiveDirectly had sent the money as promised. I remembered that I had not checked my messages. I could not hold back the joy when I confirmed that I had also received my first transfer. I thanked them for keeping their promise.

I have been staying with my children in the same house even though they’ve become of age. They are currently in college and for sure, they could not enjoy their privacy living with me under one roof. I could not readily afford to build a house for them until I received the first transfer. I am at peace now because I took Ksh. 46000 and purchased building materials such as stones to construct a house for them. I am glad that once the house is complete, they will no longer be troubled with a place to stay. I spent the remaining amount on buying foodstuffs which include a sack of maize and daily vegetables for my family. I saved the money that would have been used to buy the food to pay fees for my children.