In the coming year and beyond, my strategy is to launch a cereal business in our nearby trading center. I see this as a promising opportunity, especially considering that there's currently no cereal shop in the area. People have to travel to Loboi Trading Center to purchase cereal products. By establishing this business, I'm aiming to tap into this demand and create an additional income stream, complementing the revenue generated from my tomato farming venture.

What I loved the most about GiveDirectly is their direct transfer approach, where they send the funds directly to the recipients' accounts without involving a third party. This method ensures that we receive all the transfers without any uncertainty or doubt. We are truly grateful for that.

For a while, I had been nurturing a strong desire to transition from maize farming to the more profitable venture of tomato cultivation. This aspiration was fueled by observing the success of my neighbor, who had managed to significantly improve their quality of life due to the income generated from tomato farming. Witnessing their ability to acquire a plot of land and construct a decent house for their family spurred my own ambitions. However, the lack of funds had been a stumbling block for me, being a humble peasant farmer. The turning point arrived with the receipt of the third transfer. Recognizing this as a prime opportunity, I decided to invest the entire $450 in purchasing tomato seedlings and covering the costs of labor for planting. I am elated to share that the tomato plants are thriving, and I anticipate a bountiful harvest in the coming month. The anticipated proceeds from this endeavor will greatly aid me in funding my two children's secondary education.

I am committed to saving a lot of money so that I can add an extra acre of land to do tomato farming like I am now and earn more money, which will allow me to buy more water pipes for my home compound. I believe that farm investment is one of the accomplishments I would like to have in order to assure consistent revenue. I would not have done any of these things if it hadn't been for the GiveDirectly office coming to support me in this way, and I am grateful.

I feel like GiveDirectly scanned me and identified the problem I was having because a cash boost is what I was truly wanting so that I could discover ways to sustain myself, which is what I am working on right now after receiving the transfer. Many people in this area feel rejuvenated and reenergized to realize their full potential in striving beyond their low living standards.

I have been selling honey to support my parental responsibilities, but recently things have become difficult for me. I have a candidate in Form 4, and having school fees arrears was not something pleasant. As soon as I received the GiveDirectly transfers, I cleared the $15 school fee arrears to ensure that he was not sent back home, which would have caused a lot of inconvenience for him because other children were busy studying. I also paid $100 for the water pipes I was purchasing for the purpose of doing irrigation on my farm without having to borrow from my neighbors, as I had always done whenever I wanted to water my agricultural items. This was quite exciting for me since I will be able to take care of my own farming and watering of the products without being scheduled. I've started tomato growing, which cost me $200 to set up everything on the farm, and I'm excited to see how much I can produce. I picked tomato farming in particular because of the large revenue it generates compared to all other crops, as many individuals in this area have proven.

At around 3:00 p.m, I received a message containing the wonderful news that I had received the first transfer from GiveDirectly, as expected. At the time, I was on my way back home from the shopping center, all by myself. Upon receiving the message, I hurriedly made my way back home to share the good news with my family. Once I arrived, I excitedly informed them, and my children were thrilled to hear that they would now all be able to attend school together, unlike before when some had to go first.

Clearing my children's school fees has been a game-changer for me. Before, it was always a constant source of worry, trying to figure out how to pay for their education. My two children in secondary school used to take turns attending school, as I struggled to find the money to pay for their fees. But now that I have cleared their fees, they can both attend school in time, every day. And the best part is, my daughter who is in form four no longer has to worry about being sent home due to unpaid fees. It's a huge weight off my shoulders and has made a tremendous difference in our daily lives.

I was able to breathe a bit better after the most recent transfer from GiveDirectly, knowing that my children's education was taken care of. I spent $100 on my daughter's Form 4 costs and $80 on my son's Form 3 fees, allowing them to focus on their academics without the worry of unpaid fees. I spent the remaining $20 on groceries for my family of five. As I work on my farm, I know how crucial it is to plan ahead, and GiveDirectly provided me with the opportunity to do so. I had been relying on farming and sometimes get a decent yield of tomatoes, maize, and butternut in good seasons. I am grateful for the first support, which enabled me to invest in my farm and hope to increase my production. With the progress I have made, I am optimistic that the subsequent transfers will aid in ensuring that things continue to fall into place for my family.