I aim to keep up with vegetable farming and use the profits to start growing tomatoes. On an acre, you can earn up to $100 per harvest. Harvesting is done twice a week for two months. However, the production costs are high; seeds alone cost $400 for an acre and other management practices. For instance, wooden stakes to keep the tomatoes off the ground cost $45 per acre. This investment requires careful capital planning. It might be costly, but the returns are promising and will help support my children's education.

I'm grateful for the support. It's been a relief for my children's education and has significantly boosted my farming practices. It's saved me from resorting to casual jobs and charcoal production for income. The unconditional cash support has allowed me to prioritize and plan for my most pressing needs effectively creating a positive impact. I encourage GiveDirectly to continue with this same approach to better more lives.

I spent $33 from the support to finish building our toilet. I had already bought the materials with my second transfer. Sharing toilets with neighbors was a problem, especially when they locked it, leaving us without access. I was particularly awkward when we had guests. Furthermore, I invested $100 in farming our one-acre land, allocating $60 for plowing and $40 for buying vegetable seeds and pesticides. Focused on vegetables, including black nightshade, collard greens, and spinach. I've always worked as a farmer, but I never had enough money to start planting on my own. Previously, I did contract farming under Kenya Seed Company. With the funds from GiveDirectly, I chose to work independently. I didn't go wrong venturing into vegetable farming because of its ready market and good returns. Brokers visit our farm to purchase produce at fair prices: a 90kg bag of black nightshade and spinach sells for $45, and collard greens for $36. Education is a priority for our seven children. One of them joined a private secondary school, so I used the remaining funds and some of my savings to pay the $600 required for my son's admission into Form One. We never completed our education, explaining why we don't have formal jobs. We are committed to ensuring our children have a better future. Before the support from GiveDirectly, We depended on making charcoal for our farming capital which we no longer do. We now focus on our successful crop production to support our family.

In the years ahead, my foremost priority is educating my children because I firmly believe that education is the key to a brighter future. To make this vision a reality, I am dedicated to continuing my efforts in farming. By doing so, I aim to generate the necessary funds to cover my children's school fees. Currently, my son, who excelled in his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, has been accepted into a school that requires $70 in annual fees and the other seven in both Elementary school and High School. This means that my husband and I must intensify our efforts to ensure we can afford these fees. I am steadfast in my commitment to prioritize my children's education, understanding that it holds the potential to create positive changes in our lives. With perseverance and hard work, I am determined to secure the resources needed to support their educational journey.

GiveDirectly's most impactful contribution has been the provision of unconditional cash transfers. This support enabled us to address pressing needs crucial to our family's well-being. From securing farming capital to ensuring food, sanitation, and our children's education, these funds have been instrumental in diverse ways, for which we are immensely grateful. In our locality, we're fortunate to have access to a nearby irrigation scheme. My opinion, aside from the unconditional cash transfers, I firmly believe that by extending their support to farming through the distribution of diverse seeds tailored to our region, GiveDirectly could significantly elevate Agricultural productivity. This, in turn, could lead to improved livelihoods in the long run.

Receiving our second transfer of $450 from GiveDirectly was a cheerful moment for my husband and me. Education has always been a priority for us, especially for our two children in high school—one in Form one and three. We cleared their school fees arrears amounting to $300.Our livelihood is tied to small-scale farming, mainly focusing on perishable crops and charcoal production as a side hustle. It's been a constant challenge to sustain our family of 10 with these means. Apart from our children in high school, we also have another child joining high school and five in primary school. This support came at a crucial time when finances were stretched thin. The struggle to put food on the table has been relentless. Thus, we dedicated $60 to ensure there's food. Additionally, our living conditions have been far from ideal. For years, we shared a latrine with neighbors due to not having our own. With this support, we were able to purchase the remaining materials—two bags of cement for $14 and paid $20 for labor—bringing our latrine close to completion. With $56 left, we decided to reinvest it into our farming activities. We bought 10 sachets of vegetable seeds, including collard greens, spinach, and black nightshade, spending $10, and $46 was used to acquire generator oil, essential for irrigation purposes. We extend our gratitude to GiveDirectly for their support. It's not just about financial aid but about empowering us to create sustainable solutions for our family's future.

I had just returned home from work, taking a moment to relax at around 3 pm when I received the amount in my M-Pesa. A sense of great relief and joy filled my heart. This was particularly significant because my children had been sent home from school due to unpaid arrears. The timing of this financial support meant that my children could resume their studies the very next day, adding an extra layer of happiness to the moment.

Before the transfers, our lives were ruined by constant worry and disruption. The persistent visits from my children in secondary school seeking school fees arrears, disrupted our peace and financial stability. There were times when we had to endure hunger, making the daily grind even more challenging. With the arrival of the transfers, a palpable shift occurred. The burden of immediate financial obligations eased, granting us peace of mind and allowing for strategic planning. Currently, I am looking at cultivating an acre of land to grow vegetables. This venture is not a means of sustenance but a strategic move towards financial stability. I plan to supply the Marigat market and local shops, creating a steady income stream that contributes to a more secure and predictable future. The impact of this intervention extends beyond the immediate relief, fostering a sense of stability and hope in our lives. We are grateful to GiveDirectly for ushering in this positive transformation.

Upon receiving the funds, I was not just relieved but filled with a sense of accomplishment. I prioritized settling the school fees arrears for my two children, amounting to $150. This immediate relief meant a lot, especially since my children had been temporarily sent home due to the outstanding fees. Recognizing the urgency, I allocated $30 to buy essential items like shoes and clothes for my five children who are at home. The prolonged gap in providing them with new clothes made this a much-needed and heartwarming provision. Furthermore, I wisely directed $20 towards purchasing food, a step towards ensuring that the nutritional needs of my family were met. This financial flexibility has allowed me to diversify beyond our previous reliance on charcoal selling, offering a glimpse of a more stable and secure future for my family.