In the upcoming year and beyond, I have a lot of aspirations, but first I need to ensure that I successfully fulfill the school fee obligations for my two children. Presently, one of them is already enrolled in secondary school, and I anticipate that the other will commence junior secondary education in the coming year. I wish to do more farming activities, both livestock and subsistence, all geared toward providing for my family and using surplus produce to pay my children's school fees.

With the advent of GiveDirectly in our village, a remarkable transformation has taken place. In the past, many residents inhabited aged structures composed of mud walls and thatched roofs. Since then, living conditions have significantly improved, as every household now enjoys better dwellings with iron sheet roofing. Previously, the absence of water tanks resulted in arduous trips to the river for water, but following the transfers, over half the village population procured water tanks, enabling them to collect clean rainwater from newly installed roofs. This process displayed a lack of favoritism, and I anticipate that GiveDirectly will adopt the same impartial approach when extending the support to other villages.

Before acquiring a cow from my neighbor, whom I had been obtaining milk from to support my family, I was spending a significant amount on purchasing a daily liter of milk. I am appreciative that, despite my financial limitations, he kindly allowed me to take one from his herd, under the agreement that I would return it once I acquired my own. The enrollment into GiveDirectly's transfer program proved beneficial for my family, and I was determined to invest heavily in livestock. Following the purchase of a heifer with the initial transfer, along with other achieved objectives, I dedicated $120 of the second transfer to acquiring another heifer and $110 for the purchase of three sheep. The latter endeavor is intended to complement the cow's milk production in the future, as I anticipate selling the sheep's offspring. Additionally, I spent $100 on food provisions for my family of five. Given that my daughter is presently enrolled in secondary school, timely payment of her fees has been challenging, prompting me to save the remaining $200 for the upcoming term. Relying solely on my husband's modest business ventures has its drawbacks, particularly during seasons when livestock sales are sluggish, leading to income uncertainties.

Around 4:00 pm, I received a message from GiveDirectly confirming the receipt of the first transfer. I was delighted to receive that exciting news because I had been anticipating it with so much to do. I was at home with my husband at the time, and he was equally thrilled with the news. We went ahead and collected the money the next day in the nearby shopping center because we had planned ahead of time.

Since I received the first transfer, the most significant change in my daily life has been the acquisition of two heifers on my land. I spent $420 to purchase them, in addition to paying for my daughter's school fees and all the necessary equipment for her to join Form One. The financial stability that the transfer brought is something I am grateful for, and I hope to accomplish even more with the subsequent transfer.

After receiving the first transfer, I made my daughter's education a priority by paying $120 for her school fees and providing her with all the required books and stationery as she started her secondary school studies. This investment in her education has the potential to improve her future prospects significantly. Furthermore, I spent $420 on purchasing two heifers, which will increase milk production in the future and potentially generate income for my family. I appreciate the support from GiveDirectly and look forward to utilizing the subsequent transfers to continue improving our situation.