My main focus in the near future is to save as much as possible for college. I'm currently working for someone, and in addition to the small amount of cash I receive, I also save the funds I receive from GiveDirectly using M-Pesa. I am passionate about enrolling in a plumbing course because it's a marketable field with less competition. Initially, I considered pursuing a course in education, but due to oversaturation, I've changed my mind. Therefore, my primary goal in the coming year and beyond is to enroll in college. I believe that upon completing this course and performing well, I will be able to secure a job and eventually support my family and myself.

I am planning to attend college and pursue a plumbing course. Initially, I considered pursuing a different field, but I realized that the market for education is saturated, whereas plumbing is in demand. After receiving my most recent transfers, I decided to save $60 in my M-Shwari account. I intend to use these savings to help pay for my college fees, although I know they won't be enough, so I will also ask my parents for financial support. I used $30 to pay for house rent since I got a job as a gate man far away from home, which is why I decided to rent a house nearby for convenience. The remaining $12 was spent on buying food for my family.

Last year, I finished my studies and intended to join college and pursue a career in teaching. However, I am currently unable to attend college because I don't have my own house. I have decided to prioritize building my own home so that when I return from college, I won't have to worry about where to live. I have bought two metal sheets so far, and I plan to continue buying them each month until I start my house building project.

Currently, I have no house of my own. My brothers and I came together to build a place where we could lay ourselves because we didn't have enough money to build individual houses. However, I am eager to start building my own house as time passes, and I want to embark on this project. To kickstart the process, I have been purchasing metal sheets each month, acquiring two so far for $24, and also I have been buying building sticks. Considering my plans to join college, I made the decision to invest in a phone since its usage is high in college settings. I spent $68 purchasing the phone and ensuring I stay updated. With the remaining amount of $10, I purchased food for my family for the week.

With the help of the cash transfers I'm receiving, my plan is to join college next month. I see education as a ticket to a better tomorrow for my entire family. My father works as a casual laborer, but his once in a while $10 income barely covers our basic needs, while my mother, unfortunately, is unemployed. I'm determined to change our circumstances. Once I graduate and secure a job, I'll be able to support my younger siblings who are still in school. I'm hopeful that with the GiveDirectly transfers we'll build a brighter future.

With the festive season that was coming up, I decided to treat myself a bit. I knew it was time to refresh my wardrobe, so I spent $30, part of the transfers, on some new clothes. It felt good to start the New Year celebrating after all the hard work I had been putting in. In addition to the clothes, I also bought a phone for $60, getting ready for college as this would be a requirement. I'll be joining a teacher's training college soon, pursuing my dream of becoming a teacher. It's something I've always wanted to do, and now that I have the means to make it happen, I couldn't be happier. With $12 left, I decided to save it for emergencies once I'm in college. It's a relief to have some savings, knowing that I can handle whatever comes my way. Life has really taken a turn for the better since I started receiving the GiveDirectly transfers. They've helped me pay my school fees without stress, and now, as I embark on this new chapter, I'm filled with hope and excitement for the future.

My dream has always been to become a teacher, a passion I have had since childhood. I am now on the verge of completing my secondary education and have aspirations to enroll in college in the coming year. Unfortunately, my parents are unable to financially support my college tuition. In light of this, I have devised a plan to embark on poultry farming, with the goal of raising and selling chickens once they reach maturity. This endeavor will generate the income I need to cover my educational expenses. I'm happy that I can transform my dream into reality, and this is made possible through the unwavering support and commitment from GiveDirectly.

I am currently a Form Four student at Mnazimwenga Secondary School, eagerly awaiting my final examinations. I am deeply thankful for the support I've received from GiveDirectly transfers, which have been instrumental in helping me reach this stage of my education. My mother is unemployed, and my father works as a casual laborer, struggling to make ends meet for our large family of six. With the financial assistance provided through the transfers, I directed $74 towards settling an outstanding school fee debt, ensuring that I can confidently prepare for my upcoming exams without the constant worry of being sent home due to unpaid fees. The remaining $28 was wisely saved, as I plan to invest it in purchasing chickens that I will rear and later sell, aiming to fund my college education. I am truly delighted by the positive change in my life and eagerly anticipate a brighter future ahead.

My ultimate goal is to further my education and pursue a course of my interest in college. As a final-year secondary school student, I am determined to join a reputable institution that can provide me with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career. Additionally, I am motivated to secure a job in order to contribute to my parents' financial well-being. To prepare for the future, I have devised a strategy to save at least $10 from my monthly transfers, ensuring that I can alleviate any potential struggles with paying for tuition fees and related expenses.

The GiveDirectly transfer I received was a tremendous help to me and my family. With my parents lacking reliable sources of income, it had been a struggle to afford my school fees and cover my expenses. Thankfully, the transfer arrived just in time when I was on the verge of being sent home from school. To ensure I didn't miss out on any classes, I used $20 of the transfer to reduce the $40 debt I had accumulated. Additionally, I spent the remaining $14.70 as my pocket money. I am incredibly thankful for the support I received from GiveDirectly, and it brought me great joy and gratitude.

I plan to open an account and save part of the transfers that I will be receiving from GiveDirectly. Since I am in my final year of high school and would want to further my studies, the saved amount will be of help in terms of catering for my college/university education.

The transfers I received was of great help to me because I found it at a time when I was in financial need. I had school fees balance and I was also required to settle some debts. I therefore spent KES. 2000 on school fees and still remaining with a balance of KES. 1000, paid back debts of KES. 1000 and bought food with the remaining amount of KES. 470. I was very grateful to GiveDirectly for the support.

In my own opinion I'm very grateful for what I have been receiving so far from the organization especially because it has impacted my life in the most positive way possible. Through the donations I receive, I have managed to keep myself in school, as my parents also use their money they receive to cater for the needs of my other siblings which includes nutrition and education as well.

I was genuinely very happy to receive the funds when I did, especially because about a week prior I had been kicked out of school due to my parents failing to settle the debt. As soon as I realized the funds were in my account, I immediately went to pay my tuition fee which was about KES 2,000 and luckily the next day I was able to resume class. I then proceeded to spend the balance of KES 1,000 on nutrition for my family and myself, and this included my siblings and my folks as well because at the time there was barely any food left, plus my mom who also happens to be enrolled to this program had noticed received her money.

It was around 4 pm and I was at home arranging my books after doing my assignments. I heard my phone pimp and I thought it was the normal Safaricom notification message, Some thought crisscrossed my mind and triggered me to check the message. Upon checking the message I could not believe my eyes and thus rechecked again. I called my mother to come and witness, during this time I was so happy to have received money from Give Directly. This is the time I flash-backed and said I am going to buy a calculator which has been my long-time dream.

I am grateful to Give Directly transfers because I am finishing school this year and I'm very optimistic that I am going to score better grades.  Give Directly transfers have boosted my self-esteem in that I am no longer sent home anymore when we have mathematics lessons, unlike before when I couldn't sit in class more frequently due to lack of a calculator unless I have one borrowed from a friend. When I see my calculator I see my first transfer. I am being praised by my mathematics teacher in front of my classmates as the most improved and this instills a lot of confidence in me that I can still do better. it's evident that having bought a calculator with my transfer has provided me a humble time to do my assignment hence improvement in my performance. In addition, I maximize using it by doing extra work in my free time. I have learned that giving is good and that it changes a person. If it were not Give Directly I would not have improved my performance as it is now. Thank you Give Directly.

I am happy to say that the GiveDirectly transfer has really changed my life. When I received my first transfer I spent part of it buying a calculator worth $10. As per my plans, this was my number one priority item. In addition, having suffered in school for almost 3 and a half years without having a calculator was traumatizing.  I tried to pester my parents to look for money and buy me even a second-hand one but they could not afford it due to lack of finances. My father works as a casual laborer on the construction site while my mother is currently jobless. My parents struggled to cater to my other 3 siblings. It was painful to me but I had no otherwise because my mathematics teacher couldn't understand and thus kept on chasing me to go look for a calculator during maths lessons. I had to survive on begging from my friends which were tough. During this time my performance was very low due to all these struggles which involved a lot of time wastage. I want to confess that my performance has really improved after buying this calculator. I have time to concentrate and even to practice in my free time. I really want to thank GD. Finally the remaining amount I spent on buying 3 exercise books which cost $ 2.