I drilled a borehole at home, but I don’t have the funds to pump the water yet. I plan to install solar power to operate the pump so I can use the water for crop farming and sell it to neighbors. Water is often difficult to find, especially during the dry season. I’ve already invested in storage materials and plan to add more. I will sell the water at a low price to support community members. With the income from this, combined with crop farming and my current shop business, I will create financial stability. This will help ensure that my children and my wife won’t struggle when I get married.

The enrollment process was entirely independent, handled solely by GiveDirectly officers, with no involvement from community leaders. This approach ensured fairness, unlike most other organizations. I recommend that you continue supporting more communities and appreciate it if you maintain the same method of operation, as it is highly effective.

I opened a kiosk last year to sell food items. When I received my first transfer, I used it to add stock, but the shop felt cramped and lacked space for additional inventory, causing me to occasionally run out of items for my customers. With my second transfer, I decided to expand the shop, spending $280 on the expansion. I then used $150 to add more stock and saved the remaining $20 for emergencies. I had been wanting to expand but lacked the funds to do so. Previously, I relied on the shop and occasionally did charcoal production, but now I fully focus on the shop and no longer engage in charcoal production or casual jobs. I now have a well-stocked shop and no longer lose clients due to a lack of some items.

It was around 3:00 PM, and I was busy cutting tree branches for charcoal production. My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it, thinking it was just another message. Eventually, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to check my phone. To my amazement, it was a Mpesa notification confirming that GD's first transfer had come through. Overjoyed and energized by the unexpected news, I worked with renewed energy and quickly finished organizing the wood blocks and setting them on fire. Later, at around 6:00 pm, I returned home and opened the kiosk shop that I own just next to my house. I took a list of goods, noted down what needed to be restocked, and started planning my next order with the transfer. Thank you so much, GD, for the generous support!

The transfer I received has made a huge difference in my life. I no longer have to spend my days burning charcoal, which has given my mind some much-needed rest. Using the transfer to restock my kiosk has significantly boosted my business, increasing my daily profit by about 50%. This has allowed me to meet my basic needs without having to rely on charcoal burning. I can now fully dedicate my time to running my kiosk, staying open from morning till evening, whereas before I used to take breaks in the middle of the day to tend to the charcoal. I am grateful to GD for bringing about such positive changes in my life.

I was overjoyed to receive the first transfer, as my kiosk was nearly empty, and I lacked the funds to restock. Charcoal burning was my only option for raising the money for restocking, but this is usually tedious work, and finding buyers is hard. When the transfer came through, I immediately used $90 to restock my kiosk. I'm happy to report that this boost has increased my daily profit from $20 to $40 on a good day. Additionally, I used $70 to pay the school fees for my brother at Yatya Secondary School. Our father passed away in 2017, leaving me with the responsibility of supporting him. Thanks to the transfer, I was able to settle this term's school fees, easing my mind as I no longer have to worry about him being sent home for unpaid fees. With the remaining amount, I bought some new clothes for myself making me look good when attending occasions.