My only goal at the moment is to get a driver's license. I enrolled in a driving school awhile back but did not complete the course since I had no money to pay for the license. Being a long-haul truck driver is what I aspire to be, as I believe it will make me enough money to sustain my young family. I intend to sell my goats once they are mature enough in order to raise money to accomplish this goal.

Give Directly has changed my whole perspective towards life. Ever since I started receiving the transfers, my life has changed and my mind has been open to new ideas and possibilities. I am very grateful to have been a part of this life-changing project.

For many years now,my area has been afflicted by severe drought and water shortage, which has led to loss of livestock and crops. For this reason,I bought five goats at a cost of 16,000 kshs, which do very well in our area and I can easily resell when the need arises. I also bought a small water tank at 1,500 kshs to store water in severe water shortages. I then spent 14,000 kshs to buy two sacks of maize and rice for my family’s daily food consumption. With the previous transfers, I had built a small shop by the road with the purpose of renting it out but it was not complete yet. With the remaining amount, I finished roofing the shop and I hope it will start bringing in income soon. I was delighted to receive the second transfer, as it helped me achieve most of my goals.

It was around 4pm and I was asleep at home when my wife woke me up and informed me that I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I was so happy when I got the money because I knew that my things will open up and I was able to actually able address them. These things included building a new and bigger house, buying enough food for my family, got some livestock as well as got to buy some clothes and medication for my children that had been unwell. I couldn't afford to have these addressed because my job as a carwash attendant used to earn me an income so little that was not even enough to enable me to meet my family's daily immediate needs and at times I was forced to turn to charcoal burning and selling so as to get food for my family. Therefore, I was so relieved when I got this money because it gave me the ability to address the challenges that I could not afford to address before.

The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that I believe this house I got was only through GiveDirectly. I was able to a bed and mattress, as well as enough food for my family which was not as possible and easy before because it was expensive and my job as a carwash attendant could not enable me afford that. I also got some livestock which were goats and chickens that I believe will continue to take care of us long after the program is gone, all thanks to GiveDirectly.

I spent most of the transfer which was KES 29000 on building a new and bigger house because I chose that over spending the money on any other things then I be forced to continue living in the old and worn out house that appeared like it was going to collapse anytime. I decided to build a new and bigger house because I wanted to change and quit living in the old house whose materials were worn-out and barely shielded us especially when it rains, we would spend the whole night awake because it would literally rain inside the house. I feel so good now more than before when I used to suffer especially with the unreliable job as a carwash attendant. I have a better and bigger house, and I will live in it for a very long time because it is in a good condition. I am so happy that I now live in a good place to sleep, all thanks to GiveDirectly.