I received the earliest transfer during the Christmas season. Therefore, I mostly spent on the celebrations by acquiring new clothes worth 1,500 KES for my children and bought celebratory food stuffs such as wheat flour and cooking oil for 1,500 KES. I used cash from the other transfers to purchase three bags of cement for 1,950 KES to construct foundation pillars around the walls of my house to protect it from crumbling during rains. Additionally, I paid medical expenses worth 2,000 KES for my grandchild who had been admitted for three days due to malaria. I also procured food using 1,450 KES and paid a motorcyclist 200 KES to deliver water from the pond to my home since. I used the rest of the money, 400 KES, to acquire a chicken to rear and increase income streams.

My grandchild was admitted in the hospital for 2 days, on the day of discharge I was expected to pay KES 1500 but I didn't have any money.I had moved back to my home and my mother and my grandchildren depend on me for all their basic needs.I used KES 1500 of my transfer to settle the hospital bill and bought food for KES 1500 for the 7 members of the family.

Water is a real challenge in our area especially during drought we have to walk for almost 10 KM in search of water or order for water at a fee which is usually very expensive. I, therefore, bought a water tank with the first transfer for harvesting rainwater. The second transfer I spent on bags of cement for repairing my house. The whole house is not in good condition, the walls are almost collapsing while part of the roof was already blown off by the wind. I would not wish for it to fall down because it will be so expensive to construct a new one.

My life would have been different in that I would be struggling to put food on the table. I would also be unable to send my children to school consistently without being sent back home. I would not have also been able to plan for a future as I have now thanks to Give directly.

Something that Give directly does well is that they provide a way for vulnerable people like me to have a better life. I have been struggling with fetching and buying as it has been too expensive but thanks to this program I have been able to buy water tanks to offset the drought we have been facing.

The first cash transfer that I received from Give directly, I was able to buy a water tank which has been a source of happiness for my family. We have had to daily fetch water or buy water since we did not have a place to store it and it was expensive. The second transfer I was able to divide into smaller projects like buying KES.1500 worth of food and daily vegetables needed. I was also able to buy two bags of cement worth KES.1300, which would be used to do some plastering and repairing of my home. The remainder of KES.200, I was able to pay school fees for my grandchild who is in primary school. I am happy to say that things are looking up for my family.

That day I was at home cooking breakfast and I heard my phone buzz. I went to check and was pleasantly surprised that I had received the money. I felt happy that one of my dreams was going to come true. I did not immediately go and withdraw their money. I waited for two days as I was researching which water tank would best suit me and my family. I am thankful to Give directly for this opportunity.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now no longer have a water shortage problem. I was able to buy a water tank which has helped during this drought season. I have been able to fetch water and fill it which has eased the number of times during the day that I go to the stream to fetch water. I also have enough food which was hard due to expenses for buying water. Now we can have three meals a day unlike before where we only had porridge for breakfast and an evening meal.

This year has not been a great one for us farmers. We hardly saw any rain and that is what we required to plant crops. Without the rain, we have no food and there is also a shortage of water as our water suppliers and taps have run dry. With this money, I was able to buy a water tank worth KES.1800. I used the remaining KES.200 transportation for bringing it home.