As our economic backbone, I am currently providing strong support to farming in order to ensure the mass production of short-season crops such as beans, vegetables, and Irish potatoes. These are not only for our own consumption, but we will also sell the surplus to generate income. In the long run, I believe the savings from farming activities will be useful in purchasing a lactating cow to provide an immediate solution to my family of four's high milk costs.

Since GiveDirectly arrived in our village, a lot has changed. Previously, many people lived in old structures with mud walls and grass roofs. Since then, housing conditions have improved, and every household now has a better house roofed with iron sheets. No one had a water tank, and we all spent a lot of time walking to the river to get water, but after the transfers, more than 80% of the population purchased water tanks and are now collecting clean rainwater from their newly constructed roofs. Most of our children, who had stayed at home due to a lack of school fees, are now back in school, along with other diverse spending patterns in every household since they gave us the freedom to choose our spending. The approach was flawlessly executed by the friendly field officers, who made certain that we understood everything from the beginning by explaining in a language that both the young and the elderly could understand.

When I received the second transfer, I used a large portion of it to improve my farming activities, which had always been our primary source of income. With my four children, I believe that improved farming will ensure food security while also providing a source of income from surplus produce. I spent $200 on farm inputs such as certified bean seeds, fertilizers, and herbicides, as well as labor charges for farm operations leading up to planting. I am relieved that we've made progress and that weeding has begun, as we anticipate a better harvest at the end of the season. I also spent $120 of the remaining funds on food for my family of four and $10 on new clothing. In addition, I spent $80 on a heifer to add to the existing heifer. I had been purchasing milk, and hopefully, as they mature, I will be able to reduce my purchasing costs and instead produce enough to sell the surplus.

It was around 8:30 Am I was doing the dishes. I had left my phone in the house when I went back to check there was a message confirming that I have received some money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money. It was one of the happiest days of my life. When I informed my family members everyone was so happy and we celebrated. I stayed for two days before I went to withdraw the money. I knew I would fulfill my dream of owning a water tank. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our standard of living.

purchasing a water tank is the biggest difference in my daily life. This is because I used to go for quite a long distance to collect the clean water for my household uses. I have always wished to own a water tank but I did not have the money to purchase one. I depend majorly on small-scale horticulture farming and small businesses selling cereals. This earns me some small income and I was not in the position to save. We are no longer being exposed to water-related diseases by drinking dirty water. I will use the borehole water that I have drilled in irrigating my farm and start to major in horticulture farming. I will be selling the farm produce to earn an income to meet household items and even purchase pesticides. I am so grateful because I have saved time that I could have used in collecting the water to do other activities at home, I am so grateful because currently, I have enough time to bond with my family at home.

I spend KES 21,000 on purchasing a water tank for storing clean water for household uses. We used to go for a long distance to collect clean water and this was so tiresome and time-consuming. Part of the money I used in wiring the house and I was later successful connected the electricity and I am so happy about this because now we have lights. For the rest of the money, I bought some pesticides for spraying my groups and bought food for the family.