In the coming year and beyond, my primary aim is to find a stable source of income that will enable me to pursue higher education. Despite completing form 4 in 2019, financial constraints prevented me from continuing my studies, and to this day, I haven't secured a reliable means to facilitate my entry into further education. My family's situation has been challenging as my parents separated long ago, and my father has since passed away, while my mother has remarried into another family. During this time, my aunt has been taking care of us with my younger brother who is still in school, but I have decided to step aside after finishing my form four studies, as we were reliant on aid. My goal is to work diligently, explore different opportunities, and save up for my education to create a brighter future for myself.

GiveDirectly truly impressed me with their unbiased approach during enrollment, considering my situation even though I was living alone. They not only promised timely transfers but also delivered on those promises consistently. I deeply appreciate the positive transformations that have occurred, and the fact that despite the lack of specific instructions on how to use the money, no one in the program misused it, thanks to the valuable lessons provided prior to enrollment. However, I believe it's crucial for GiveDirectly to maintain this effective approach without making any significant changes. Moreover, they should continue to extend their support to other villages in the same manner, ensuring that their impact is felt far and wide.

Upon receiving the first and second transfers, I invested in construction materials, laying the groundwork for my dream home. I eagerly awaited the final transfer to kick-start the actual construction and was glad that it did not take too long before I received it. When it finally arrived, I began the construction process in earnest. It has been quite the journey, and even though the entire third transfer was depleted in the process, the invaluable casual labor I have been employing has ensured steady progress, albeit at a slower rate. Despite presently living alone, I have decided to build a more spacious house subdivided into two rooms, with the hope that soon I will start my own family.

I did not proceed to college after completing my secondary school studies in 2019. I have a passion for electrical work, and I have been repairing phones at our nearest trading center. Right now, I'm thinking of using my next transfer to enroll in college and study electrical engineering. This will help me reach my goals in life and improve my abilities in the areas I enjoy the most.

GiveDirectly, in my opinion, did well by including everyone in the village without showing any preference. They also succeeded by giving us equal sums of money. There is nothing that I can see that shows that they performed poorly.

Prior to being permitted to take their exams, my brother, a college student, had some financial arrears that needed to be resolved. Even though the exam dates were drawing near, my father lacked the funds to cover his educational expenses. I used KES 1000 from the GiveDirectly transfer to pay off his remaining fees so that he wouldn't be late for his exams. Since I'm single and have fewer responsibilities, I chose to use KES 25200 of my transfer to purchase 28 pieces of iron sheeting. I intend to utilize them to build a larger house because the one I currently live in is quite small. I made a purchase of some food to consume using the remaining money.

At approximately 5:00 pm, I received a message from the mobile money service, which upon reading, I promptly recognized as being from GiveDirectly because of the specific amount received. Despite the delay in receiving my payment due to the delayed enrollment, I was overjoyed and grateful to have finally received it, as promised during the initial meeting with the staff who enrolled me. Since I reside alone in my home, I took my time to carefully plan and only withdrew the funds on the third day when I was ready to utilize them.

The biggest change in my daily life since receiving my first transfer is the new hope and motivation of constructing a new house. The purchase of 12 iron sheets, although they are not yet enough, has made the idea of building a new house seem more achievable. This has given me a sense of accomplishment and a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that I am actively working towards a better future for my family. While I am yet to start constructing, I remain optimistic about using part of my second transfer to purchase more materials and pay for labor during the building process, which will bring me one step closer to my goal. This hope and optimism have had a significant impact on my daily life, providing me with a sense of direction and positivity.

Despite living in a small house that only accommodates one person, I have always aspired to construct a spacious house where I can comfortably host my visitors. Using the first transfer, I bought 12 iron sheets for $108, which I plan to use to build a larger house. In addition to the iron sheets, I aim to purchase more building materials with the second transfer, hire a labor force, and complete the construction process as soon as possible. Furthermore, I bought an additional plastic seat for $6, foodstuff worth $40 that I am still using, and saved the remaining amount for emergencies and refilling any depleted household items. I appreciate the support I have received and eagerly anticipate the possibilities that the second transfer will bring.