I do not have any new or additional goals at the moment since I am planning to build a pit latrine for my family. We have been sharing one with my son's family and I always find it hard directing visitors to where it is since it's not in a good condition. I have already dug the pit and I am still looking for money to use in sourcing the necessary materials and to pay for the labor.

People were able to practice timely cultivation this season, paid school fees for their children, built better houses and acquired assets like livestock. These would not have been possible had GiveDirectly not made their financial aid unconditional. GiveDirectly deciding to give out aid in terms of money that is unconditional is the best thing an organization can do and I do not see anything that they did not do well.

When I received my second transfer, I saw the need of investing it in things that can easily be converted to cash. Because of this, I spent KES 25000 to purchase five goats. I settled on this since they increase in number over a short time, their milk can be used to make tea and they rarely get sick like cows. In addition, I spent KES 17000 on farming by hiring a tractor for land preparation and planting purposes, buying hybrid seeds, and hiring people to help me weeding them. From the KES 12000 that remained, I bought a small water tank at KES 3000 so that I can be using it to store water for domestic use and used the remaining amount on food, a blanket, and clothes.

It wasn't a surprise for me when I received a message from GiveDirectly that confirmed the receipt of the first transfer since I had been anticipating and it came within the range of dates given during enrollment. I felt good as we had been making plans on how best we will spend with my family, and had to immediately inform other family members. We had all plans in place and had to just finalize the arrangements and withdraw the money on the following day before making my first purchase.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the purchase of the two heifers that are have given me hope of increased production of milk in the future. Even though the production is low at the moment since I am dependent on only one cow, I am still glad that we are not buying milk as we used to do in the past. This will also give us a chance to sort other household bills using the money income from milk - a project that I had been hoping to capitalize on for a long time.

Even though I had been living just with my grandchild in my household for over two years now, life has never been that easier still since my age could not facilitate the required agility to do all that a parent could do to provide for the family. On receiving this transfer, I invested heavily in livestock after buying two heifers each at KES16000. I had been having a lactating dairy cow but had been providing just enough milk for the household in most cases but needed more breeds that would produce extra liters for sale. The two heifers I bought are good breeds - potentially prolific producers of milk - that can help me in the future. I also spent KES 4500 in farm operations and KES2000 on buying certified seeds and other farm inputs that I just planted on my piece of land. I also obtained more foodstuff as we had already exhausted the maize we had in the store. I spent KEs2700 on buying an extra sack of dry maize grains and used the remaining on buying clothing both for my grandchild and mine and also other household goods. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for this great support and I have great hope to do a lot when I receive the second transfer.