Due to low income, I have always spent most of my transfers on foodstuff and other basic household needs making it hard to buy bigger things. Withing the period of the last four months, I have only managed to buy an extra table through the transfers. We had a small table that was hardly enough for all of us especially during meal times forcing some of my family members to carry their plates while they ate. Now that we have two tables, we are having a good time eating together and comfortably as a family.

I have been sick this past month and was admitted to the hospital at some point. So far, I have not yet cleared the bill that accumulated during my stay at the hospital even though I was released with an assurance that I will clear the bill as soon as possible. In order not to break the hospital's trust, I wish to use the next few transfers to clear the bill after which I can focus on clearing my children's school fees.

The transfers have made my daily life easier and bearable over the past four months as they have always supplemented my daily budget. I do not have a stable source of income as my business is only a small one that does not provide enough for my family's needs. Even during the tough seasons where foodstuff was expensive and I was too sick to provide for my family, my children never lacked, all thanks to the transfers.

I have two children in secondary school whose fees for this term I have not cleared yet. This is stressing me up especially not that I am still recuperating from the illness I just suffered hence unable to work to earn any income. I also have to clear my hospital bill first before focusing on the school fees. I hope that in six months, I will be fully recovered and the bill I currently owe the hospital will have been fully cleared and my children's school fees cleared as well. I know the transfers will take a huge part of these expenses and I am praying that when the transfers are over, I will have no debts.

My life is different from how it was before I started receiving transfers from Give Directly because I can now afford to buy decent clothes. I used to borrow clothes especially when I had an occasion to attend. I could feel embarrassed but since I could not afford to buy a new one, I ended borrowing. Since I get monthly income I feel relieved. I no longer strain myself by doing several casual jobs in order to meet our daily needs. I have become healthier because I am now able to afford three meals a day. I also have a voice in every decision made concerning our family since I am also capable of settling the families goals such as farming. I believe we will never sleep hungry anymore because I managed to effectively invest on our farm using the transfers I got from this organization.

My new goal is to build a kitchen. Currently, I cook in the living room which is normally stuffy because it doesn't have a chimney. The smoke emitted while I cook inside the house normally chokes my children while they studying. They sometimes have to wait until I finish cooking then continue studying later which delay their sleeping time. This may affect their general performance because they end up sleeping in class also. I know that when I build it, It will bring an end to this problem.

The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is that I can now easily manage my expenses. We rarely miss meals. Most of our family needs are also met in time despite being a widow. Previously, we could go hungry for a couple of days or afford to only take one meal. I used to work very hard or rather overwork myself running up and down looking for casual jobs just to make sure that my children had something to eat. Ever since I started getting help from Give Directly, life has become better. I can now concentrate on my farm because I can afford the major inputs that are required. I believe that if I work on my farm as required, I will have more food that will sustain my family for a period of time.

I expect my life to change in the next six months in that, I will have built a kitchen. My children will have a humble time to do their studies because they will have nothing to distract them like the smoke which is normally emitted from the fireplace in a stuffy house. The kitchen will serve many purposes, apart from being the cooking area, it will also serve as a store. The endless problems such as being choked by the smoke and risking of contracting respiratory diseases as a result of cooking in a stuffy room will eventually come to an end.

As my grandfathers would say, Education is the key to success hence currently my life is different in that I have been able to settle most of my children school fees and now it gives me joy seeing them go to school without the worries of them being sent home for school fees.

My new goal for the next four months is to save on a monthly basis and used the money to build a kitchen which I will use to cook in. At the moment I am cooking in my main house and from the smokes that comes from the firewood, it's hazardous to my family's health.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that my children are going to school without being sent home for school fees which makes me happy seeing them attend school regularly unlike before when they could stay a month or so due to school fees arrears since I wasn't in a position to settle these bills. Through this, I seemed I was a laughing stack in my village.

I expect in the next six months to have bought the necessary building materials out of my monthly saving and use the money to build a kitchen where I will use to cook in hence I will no longer get exposed to smoke that comes from the firewood which is hazardous to my family's health.

The biggest difference in my daily is that I am able to afford my family basic needs. I can now say my living standards has increased even though I am a casual laborer.

In the next six months,I know that I will have most of the household items I have missed in this life. My life will change for the better.

My life is currently different from how it would have been had I never received the transfer in that my family is able to meet their basic needs. As I look for casual jobs,they can never miss a meal. My children can now dress well too,courtesy of GiveDirectly.

I do not have a new goal, but I am currently building on seeing my children through school. I want to find ensure their school fees is paid and they stay in school.