Before receiving the money I had plans to renovate my house since the roofing was all rusty and had holes on them plus I had also installed a tap some years back but after sometime the piping system was damaged and it stopped working so I had plans to renovate the tap so that we could have water again.

GiveDirectly played a huge role in my day to day life and I am forever thankful for their generosity they showed because fixing my house was one of my biggest ambitions since at times when it rained my kids and I had to avoid getting drenched as we slept but now we do not have to worry about that anymore.

The first transfers helped me in buying the iron sheets for my house and have them installed but the walls to my house were made of mud and sometime back during the rainy season the foundation was damaged so after I got the second transfers I decided to buy bricks so as I could build a better foundation to my house. Therefore I bought bricks twice which were transported in a lorry and it cost me KES 18,000. My son who had just recently joined highschool had pending balances so to avoid him being sent back home I gave him KES 12,000 for his fees. Then I took KES 10,000 which I planned on spending on food but changed my mind and decided to buy two goats worth KES 6,000 which I planned to rear and the remaining KES 4,000 I planned to spend on food. Lastly I fixed my tap and bought new pipes which in total was KES 2,000 and with the water coming out I can now even sell and earn something for myself.

It was exactly 9 in the morning when I was at my garden watering the vegetable when my phone started ringing continuously. I was so curious and nervous and I had to call one of my grandchildren to confirm who it was. He decided to read the message only to confirm it was from Segovia Technology. I felt so happy and proud because I knew I would achieve most of my dreams liken renovating my house. I remember leaving the task and went back home to spread the news with my family members.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that with the financial support I was able to renovate my house which was not in a good state. Initially, its roof was very old and it could leak excessively whenever it could rain. This was so stressful considering my spouse is very old and I am jobless, we only depended on our children for the daily bread. However, sometimes they couldn't afford even the daily meals because also they relied on the odd jobs with meager income KES 100 in a day. In addition to that, my spouse has been unwell for quite some time and the condition of the house has been worsening his condition especially during the winter season. I have always been seeking shelter for him in one of our relatives which were not helpful. Therefore after receiving the money, I thought of a permanent solution for this challenge that we have been experiencing. I am now happy and hopeful that he will no longer be attacked by cold-related diseases like asthma. Also, I will not be worrying about the security and all sorts of trouble we have been to.

For so many years I have been sheltering under a small house with an unfavorable condition. Its roof was very old and it was hectic during the rainy seasons. I had been yearning to renovate it but I did not have the funds to buy the materials. Therefore after receiving the transfer, I spent a larger portion in buying forty-eight pieces of sheets, timber, nails, and building poles at a total of KES 45000. In addition to that, I bought three mattresses for a total of KES 12000. These were to replace the old mats and clothe that we have been using as beddings. We are now glad becasue we are no longer complaining of back pains like before. To add to that, with the remaining amount of money, I am using it in purchasing foodstuffs like, maize four, vegetables, cereals, and other household items that I am lacking.