I am still in school, and because we completed our secondary educations at the same time, my husband allowed me to enroll first in college. He also wants to enroll in college after I finish or if we get enough funding along the way. Despite the fact that I am in school, I have been doing casual labor on weekends to supplement the support he has been providing me. On good days, I can make enough money to send home for our children's maintenance. I am grateful for GiveDirectly's support and hope to complete my studies soon so that I can give back to my husband, who has worked tirelessly to support my studies.

GiveDirectly did an excellent job of reducing poverty from many households. The choices we made were worthwhile because we now have larger and better houses and have completed the majority of our school obligations. I am thankful for the support and we hope that it will be replicated in other villages. The approach was straightforward, and all deserving households received the funds. House-to-house enrollment was the most effective way to reach everyone without relying on village leadership.

I used $200 from the second transfer to finish the construction of a new house that we had begun with a portion of the first transfer. I am relieved that my family of four is now living in a decent house with spacious rooms. We previously lived in a single house that was so small that I was always forced to find shared accommodation for my visitors among my immediate neighbors. We now have an extra room and are no longer concerned about how my visitors will spend the night with us. I needed to save some of the remaining funds, but we decided to save money by purchasing 15 chickens for $100. Since then, we've been collecting and selling eggs to cover minor household expenses, as well as occasionally selling chicken to fund an informal savings group we started with other neighbors. In addition, I spent $40 to pay off a debt I had in the immediate food shop and got $60 worth of foods for my family. I also spent $20 on new clothes for my children and the rest on school fees after enrolling in a course at Kenya Highlands University in Kericho.

I was extremely happy when I received an unexpected message around 4 pm. On checking it, I realized that it was from GiveDirectly bringing in the good news of the first transfer. At the moment, I was alone at the farm alongside my immediate neighbor across the fence who had just received the same amount at the same time. I had to rush home to inform my household members who after an exciting moment of celebration together, I headed to the nearest shopping center where I withdrew and started spending on the basic household goods that I needed.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the construction of a new spacious house that will not only comfortably accommodate the family members, but also give a welcoming platform for the visitors who used to be given seats under a tree whenever they come around. I am happy that the shame of sometimes squeezing in a small room that was both a kitchen and a living room is now a story of the past.

Just after withdrawing the first transfer, I spent KES 9000 on obtaining foodstuff that included two sacks of maize, beans, rice, and other smaller kitchen utilities that my household had been missing. I also initiated the construction of a spacious house in the same week - an addition to the pre-existing kitchen that we had been sheltering in for the past five years with my family of four. So far I have spent approximately KES 3000 on the construction and I am impressed that the work done looks great. I also cleared a debt of KES 10000 both in the immediate shop that I had been sourcing daily foodstuff on credit, and also some neighbors who had lent me some money while I was waiting for the transfer. I am now at peace with everyone knowing that I have no debt and ready to keep working hard to raise my savings. I spent KES 3000 part of the remaining on buying new pairs of clothes for all the other three family members, and also a pair for me. I saved the remaining KES 2000 which I later used in paying the biweekly contribution to the local savings group that we started with the like-minded villagers. I am grateful for the support and the transformation I have realized so far, and I am looking forward to a better future.