Indeed, the multiplication of goats holds great promise for my family's financial future. As my children grow, their educational needs will become more demanding, especially when they reach high school. By allowing the goat herd to multiply, I'm ensuring that there's a valuable financial resource that can be tapped into when those educational expenses arise. Furthermore, I have plans to expand our farming activities. The extra income generated from farming can contribute significantly to our financial stability. I believe that diversifying our income sources is a wise strategy for securing a brighter future. In this way, the goats and the income from farming will act as a safety net, providing us with the means to meet various financial responsibilities and ensuring that my children can access the education they need to build better lives. The support from GiveDirectly has set us on this path towards financial security and greater opportunities for our family.

Before the transfers, I was living in a challenging situation, with no proper home and limited resources to support my family. With the funds from GiveDirectly, I was able to invest in building a decent home, which not only provides shelter but also enhances our overall well-being. Additionally, I used a portion of the money to acquire goats, which have the potential to multiply and serve as a valuable source of income in the future. This assistance has brought about a positive transformation in my life, providing a sense of security and hope for a better future. I am deeply grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, which has enabled me to take significant steps toward financial independence and improved living conditions.

I decided to allocate $330 of the transfers towards building a new house for my family. Our previous living conditions were far from ideal. We resided in a cramped, one-roomed house constructed from mud and grass thatched walls. It was inadequate for our family of five, and the constant leaks and discomfort made us yearn for a better living space. The transfers came as a ray of hope. We started constructing a new house, one that would provide us with the comfort, space, and security we had always wished for. The new house, with proper roofing and spacious rooms, has been a significant improvement in our lives. It's a place where we can all sleep soundly, free from the worries of rain or discomfort. In addition to improving our living conditions, I also used $200 of the transfers to invest in goats. Goats, known for their ability to multiply, seemed a wise choice. My goal is to allow this small herd to grow in numbers over time. When the time comes to pay school fees for my children, I can sell some of these goats to cover the educational expenses. This strategy not only ensures that my children have access to education but also provides a reliable source of income for other financial responsibilities. Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, we are gradually moving towards a more stable and secure future.

I had gone to the water pan to fetch water when I got a message on my phone. When I checked the contents to confirm receipt, I was overwhelmed with joy when I learned that it was a Mpesa message. I had received my first transfer as promised! I thanked God for bringing GiveDirectly to uplift our lives through the transfers.

I am grateful to GiveDirectly because I am now building a spacious house in order to accommodate my children. They were seeking shelter from neighbors at night, which even affected their studies. I managed to buy enough building materials to build the new, spacious house. Once I move to my new house, I will give the old house to my children, and save them the trouble of seeking shelter elsewhere. Also, to curb food shortages in my household, I invested the transfer in ploughing my four-acre farm and hired labourers for timely planting. I am assured of getting a good harvest which will ensure food security in my household since my farm is fully utilised.

I spent my first transfer on buying 18 pieces of iron sheets and building poles, and I paid for the labor cost. I am in the process of building a new house that is spacious enough to also accommodate my children. My current house is very small, which makes it impossible to live with my children under one roof. Apart from the building materials, I also purchased a mattress for Ksh. 5000 and replaced the old bedding that I had been using for years. I can now afford to sleep well on my new beddings unlike when I was using old and worn-out bedding. Apart from this, I also spent Ksh. 7,000 and hired laborers to work on my 4-acre farm. I am doing subsistence farming, and since my priority is to ensure food security in my household, I ploughed my farm on time so as to catch up with the rains. I spent the remaining amount of the transfer on buying foodstuffs, which include maize flour and daily vegetables for my family. This ensured that my family does not lack food, since it was enough to last for a month.