In the coming year, my goal is to launch a farming venture and dedicate my efforts to it. I am fortunate that my uncle has agreed to lend me an acre of land situated near the river, making irrigation feasible as our region doesn't receive consistent rainfall. I am deeply grateful for this chance and am determined to make the most of it. I intend to cultivate maize and beans on this land, both for personal consumption and for commercial purposes. I am confident that this agricultural project will not only sustain my family but also provide a foundation for offering the best for my children's future, freeing me from the many worries of fending for them.

What stood out to me about GD is their genuine commitment to helping the poor. They made a significant promise of financial support, and I am delighted to confirm that they fulfilled their commitment, delivering the exact amount they pledged. The fact that this transfer was not a loan requiring repayment is a tremendous relief. Repaying a loan would have posed challenges for us, but GD's unconditional support has been a lifeline. I am profoundly thankful for their assistance.

Receiving the third transfer marked the completion of my one-room house made of iron sheet, a project initiated with the previous transfers. Utilizing $280, I purchased necessary materials that I had not purchased before, i.e., doors and windows, and covered labor costs, ensuring the construction's successful conclusion. Moving into this newly finished home has brought an overwhelming sense of security, comfort, and achievement. The worries of enduring rain leaks, a persistent issue in my previous hut, have become a thing of the past. Moreover, I allocated $80 to clear my child's secondary school fees for the current term, alleviating my worries about her education being interrupted due to my failure to pay the fees. My income, derived from herding my neighbor's livestock, only amounts to $30 monthly, which is insufficient to sustain a family of three and cover educational expenses. With the remaining funds, I purchased food supplies, including a sack of maize, beans, and various groceries, ensuring our pantry was well-stocked. This prudent planning guarantees our sustenance for a considerable period, providing a welcome sense of stability in our household.

In the coming years and beyond, I will focus on maize farming as a means to ensure food security for my family. I am fortunate to have 1/4 acre of land situated near a river, and I am determined to make the best use of it by planting maize. Given the dry nature of our area and the scarcity of rainfall for farming, I plan to employ irrigation methods to sustain the maize crop. This way, I can guarantee a steady supply of food for my family and reduce our dependency on external sources for sustenance. By investing my efforts in maize farming, I am confident that I can provide my loved ones with a stable source of nourishment.

What I truly love about GD Transfer is that it is not a loan, and there is no need to repay it. The free enrollment process was also a great advantage, as it ensured that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, had an equal opportunity to benefit from the program.

Receiving the transfers was a significant relief for me, especially as I am the sole provider for my three children after separating from my spouse some years ago. My current job, herding my neighbor's livestock, only pays me $30 per month, which is barely enough for our basic needs. However, with the transfer, I was able to prioritize my family's well-being. I used $90 to buy essential food supplies to ensure that my children had proper nourishment. Another important investment I made was to build a new and better house for us. With $280 of the transfer, I purchased iron sheets and iron rods as materials to start off the project in order to replace our small and leaking hut. I am happy that my long-desired dream of having a more comfortable dwelling has come true, and I plan to start the construction process soon after receiving the third transfer. Paying $80 of my child's school fee using the transfer was also a significant relief. My child is in secondary school, and I have been struggling to keep up with the fees, leading to her being sent home on several occasions. Being able to clear part of the arrears has alleviated my worries and made me feel like a better parent. I am grateful for the support that the transfers have provided, enabling me to improve the quality of life for my family.

At approximately 3:00 pm, I received an Mpesa message from the service provider, which, upon reading, confirmed that GiveDirectly had made the first transfer. The moment filled me with immense joy and excitement, prompting me to promptly inform my family members who were present at home. We all shared the exhilaration upon hearing the news and eagerly anticipated initiating the next steps. We made arrangements and planned to collect the transfer from the nearby shopping center the following day.

Since receiving the first transfer, the most significant change in my daily life has been the relief of clearing my children's school fees and the ongoing construction of a new house. The burden of worrying about their education expenses has been lifted, allowing them to focus on their studies without interruptions or concerns. Moreover, the construction of a new house symbolizes an upcoming comfort that would provide my family with a better living environment that we have been longing for. While the construction is still in progress, the anticipation of moving into a new home fills us with hope and excitement for a brighter future ahead.

Utilizing the most recent transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to address the challenges and improve the living conditions for my family of three. With $40, I paid for my daughters school fees, acknowledging the hardships of raising them alone after their separation from their mother, who left and remarried with another man three years ago. The financial support from GiveDirectly has had a significant and positive impact on our lives, providing crucial support. I invested $68 in purchasing six iron sheets, intending to construct a new house that I hope to address the issue of inadequate housing. Our current grass-thatched hut has proven problematic during dry seasons due to termite infestations and water leakage. Constructing a new house with an additional room will offer my daughters a more comfortable living space, ensuring their well-being. Additionally, I allocated $60 towards purchasing food for our family of two, considering that one of my daughters is currently residing with her grandmother. I spent the remaining $12 on essential household goods such as toiletries, sugar, tea leaves, and cooking oil, which continue to be of great use to us. The support from GiveDirectly has truly made a difference in our lives, and we are grateful for the opportunity it has provided.