Venturing into fruit farming holds promise for my family of five, and I am eager to explore this opportunity in the coming year. Despite the harsh climate in Baringo, I have learned that certain fruits, such as mangoes, can thrive here. My plan is to kick start this venture with a capital of $30. To gather this initial investment, I intend to seek casual jobs and diligently save up the required amount. This approach will allow me to gradually build the necessary funds without straining our current finances. Fruit farming presents a potential source of additional income for my family, and I am determined to make it work. I believe that with dedication, hard work, and careful planning, this venture can bring positive changes to our livelihood. I am excited about the prospects this holds for our future and am committed to making it a success.

It is amazing how much of a difference GiveDirectly has made in my life. My family of five now enjoys decent shelter, a stark contrast from the mud-walled house we used to call home. This change has allowed us to save more and feel a sense of stability we never had before. As things stand, everything is going well, and I could not ask for more from GiveDirectly. Their support has been pivotal in transforming our circumstances for the better. I believe they are doing incredible work, and from my perspective, there is nothing that needs changing about the organization. Their impact has been truly life-changing, and I am grateful for the positive turn it has brought to our lives.

Receiving the transfers marked a turning point in my life. With the transfers, I dedicated myself to completing a dream that had lingered for too long: building a sturdy 2-room iron-walled house to comfortably accommodate my family of five. I spent $200 on this. Previously, we resided in a small, mud-walled house that constantly demanded repairs, causing undue stress and strain. Dependent on casual jobs where I earn $2.5 daily, every cent goes towards ensuring there is food on our table, leaving nearly nothing to save for improving our living conditions. Therefore, the transfers became the beacon of hope I needed. I allocated $85 to repay debts, freeing myself from burdens that held me back. Another $45 was invested in securing food for my family, a fundamental necessity. Additionally, $120 was set aside to fence our farm, a step towards securing our livelihoods. This was an investment in our future, ensuring that our efforts in farming would yield better returns. The transfers, although seemingly monetary, were the catalysts that transformed dreams into reality. They allowed me to build a home, ease financial strains, and invest in our family's future. For the first time, I can say that the path ahead looks brighter, and I am immensely grateful for this opportunity.

In the coming year and beyond, I am preparing to transition from maize farming to millet farming. This decision is prompted by my recent experiences with maize cultivation, which have resulted in losses due to inadequate rainfall leading to crop failure. Millet presents a more promising alternative, as it is more resilient to drought conditions and has a shorter growth period of around three months. By cultivating millet, I aim to ensure a more reliable source of food for my family. Additionally, I plan to sell some of the millet harvest to purchase maize for our consumption, further enhancing our food security.

GiveDirectly has made a significant impact by providing us with substantial transfers. These transfers have empowered us to make substantial investments that we once believed were beyond our reach. Thanks to these transfers, I was able to construct a comfortable house for my family, a dream that seemed distant as I lacked a stable income source due to my reliance on sporadic casual work in the village.

Upon receiving the second transfer, I allocated $300 to purchase additional construction materials, including iron sheets, frames, building nails, and posts, to further advance the construction of our two-room house made of iron sheets. I'm pleased to report that the house is now nearly complete, with only the installation of windows and doors and the cementing of the floor remaining. These final touches will be completed once I receive the next transfer. This new house will replace our old, crumbling mud wall structure, sparing us from the laborious task of frequently smearing the walls. Additionally, we encountered difficulties in procuring food due to the scarcity of casual labor, which I typically rely on to support my family of six. However, with the remaining $70 from the transfer, I was able to purchase an ample supply of food, ensuring that my four young children didn't go without essential meals necessary for their health and well-being.

Receiving the first transfer from GiveDirectly was a heartwarming moment for me as I sat at home with my spouse. I couldn't contain my excitement and immediately shared the good news with her. She was immensely grateful and thrilled, as we had been carefully planning how to utilize the transfer as soon as we received it. The following day, we went to the shopping center, collected the full amount as planned, and started making the initial purchases that we had set to make.

Since receiving the first transfer, the biggest difference in our daily lives has been twofold. Firstly, we have been able to address the issue with our old house, which had mud walls that would collapse often during rainy seasons, leading to costly repairs. With the transfer, we initiated the construction work by purchasing construction materials to replace the weak mud walls. Secondly, we faced challenges in sourcing food due to the scarcity of casual labor, which we relied upon in the past. However, after receiving the funds, we were able to buy enough food, ensuring we now enjoy healthier meals. We are incredibly grateful for the support, as it has made a substantial difference in our overall well-being.

The first transfer from GiveDirectly brought about a significant change in our living conditions. We had been residing in a small flat-roofed house, and while it kept rainwater out during the rainy season, there was a risk of the mud walls being washed away. Unlike many in our village who constructed their houses with iron sheets, we couldn't afford it before due to other financial obligations. Therefore, our priority was to use a substantial portion of the transfer to obtain construction materials and improve our home. With the money collected, we purchased 8 iron sheets for $84, along with 14 building poles for $42, and two kilograms of nails for $4. We intend to add more iron sheets with the subsequent payments. I am grateful for GiveDirectly's support, and I look forward to starting the construction work soon after receiving the second transfer. Additionally, I spent the remaining $70 to buy a sack of maize, which has been sustaining my family of five during this time when finding casual labor has been challenging. The generous support from GiveDirectly has significantly improved the quality of meals in our household, and I am thankful for it.