During the rainy seasons, I normally do not have peace of mind as my children and I are often soaked by the rain. This is due to the condition of my house, where part of the roof is damaged, making it unsafe for us. To address this issue, I have decided to save $15 from my monthly cash transfers so that I can start working towards renovating the house later in the year. I am tired of living in fear and worrying that the old roof might collapse and cause harm to my children. Therefore, I am optimistic that once I can achieve this goal, it will bring us much joy, and we will no longer have to live in fear when the rains come.

My children’s education has been a priority, and seeing them receive a good education has been my greatest joy and hope in life. As soon as I received the transfers, I used around $72 to pay the fees for my four children: three in primary school and one in college pursuing an electrical technician course. The one in college had even lost hope of continuing her studies, considering I have been the family breadwinner since my husband is very sick and can no longer work. It has been challenging to cope with the fact that the charcoal business I relied on is now seasonal and no longer lucrative. I’m grateful that GiveDirectly has brought new hope to my children, who had almost given up on their education. I am confident that once they complete their education, they will be able to improve our household’s situation. Additionally, I bought a goat for $30, which I am now keeping at home. This goat will serve as a future resource; as it breeds, I will be able to sell some of the offspring and address financial issues that arise.

In the coming year and beyond, I hope to accomplish my dream of starting a livestock farm. I plan to save $20 every month starting now. This goal is really important to me because I believe that livestock farming will be a great investment for my future security. With each month that I save, I am one step closer to buying the animals and building the necessary facilities for a successful farm. With the support from GiveDirectly, I am confident that my efforts will pay off, and my farm will flourish, securing a better future for me and my loved ones.

Life has not been easy on my side. We depend on our firstborn daughter, who works tirelessly as a housemaid to support our family of 9. This situation arose after my husband fell ill and became paralyzed, rendering him unable to work. As a result, our financial burdens have increased, and every penny counts. Out of the last three transfers amounting to $102, I prioritized our needs carefully. I spent $90 on college fees for my daughter, who is pursuing an Electrical course. Ensuring she didn’t miss her exams was crucial because her education is our hope for a better future. With the remaining money, I used $6 to pay the examination fees for my four primary school children. Education is important, and I didn't want them to miss their exams either. The last $6 went towards buying personal effects for my children to make them more comfortable. Due to my husband's condition, I do casual jobs like charcoal burning to supplement our income and ease the burden on my daughter. Despite the hardships, I remain hopeful and committed to providing the best for my family, knowing that every sacrifice brings us one step closer to a brighter tomorrow.

Presently, I manage a small enterprise specializing in the sale of silver cyprinids, leafy vegetables, and fruits. My primary objective for this year involves expanding my business operations. To realize this ambition, I intend to allocate a significant portion of my forthcoming transfers towards augmenting my inventory, which in turn will attract a larger customer base. The influx of customers is pivotal as it directly correlates to the potential for increased earnings, thereby providing crucial support for my family. Expressing my profound gratitude for the invaluable financial assistance from Give Directly, I am at a loss for adequate words to convey the extent of my appreciation. The positive impact of this support has truly transformed my life for the better.

I allocated $55 towards the purchase of two goats and two hens, recognizing the long-term value of livestock as their worth appreciates over time. With the potential for multiplication, I anticipate the opportunity to sell some of the offspring, thereby generating additional income. Moreover, the decision to invest in livestock is rooted in the desire to establish a sustainable fallback option even after the conclusion of the cash program. In securing the continuity of my children's education, I directed $23 towards their school fees, ensuring minimal disruptions to their learning. Additionally, I allocated $24 to procure food for my family. As the sole provider for my family due to my husband's paralysis, I have found immense satisfaction in the financial assistance received from the transfers, enabling me to attend to the essential needs of my family.

My primary goal is to construct a more comfortable and secure two-roomed house for my family of five, consisting of my husband, three children, and myself, by May of next year. Our current dwelling is in a deteriorating state, and every time it rains, we endure discomfort and inconvenience. To achieve this goal, I am committed to allocating a portion of my monthly salary towards a dedicated savings fund for the construction project.

I used the GiveDirectly money wisely to invest in a sustainable future for my family. With a strong desire to secure our long-term well-being, I decided to embark on a livestock-keeping endeavor. With the recent transfer, I purchased a goat valued at $25, marking the beginning of my project. Additionally, I utilized the remaining $9.70 to clear the overdue school fees for three of my children who had been forced to stay home due to our financial constraints. This support lifted a significant burden off my shoulders. I am immensely grateful for the financial assistance I received, which has allowed me to take meaningful steps towards securing a better future for my family.

During the years I have been married, I have primarily relied on my husband for everything as a housewife. His income is insufficient to adequately support the family and pay for the children's expenses due to the growing number of household needs. I intend to open a small shop, make use of the transfers, increase my meagre savings, and start selling flour, vegetables, and fruits. Because I think the shop will make some money, this will at least make sure that my husband is not overwhelmed.

Two chickens and a goat are among the livestock I purchased with recent transfers, among other things. Owning some livestock is the only savings I have to my name thus far because I do not possess any other reliable assets on which I could fall back in the event of a financial emergency. I'm glad I've been adding livestock; right now, I have three goats and six chickens. I anticipate being able to easily sell them as they procreate and grow in number to meet my financial needs. The livestock savings will be used to fund my young children's education in the future. I do not have a source of income, but I am confident that the livestock will eventually be able to provide some income if necessary. Aside from the livestock, I also paid the fees and cleared the arrears for my three children, and thanks to the transfer, they are now happily enrolled in school. They haven't been expelled for failing to pay fees in a while, so I'm relieved that their education hasn't been hindered. In order to ensure that there is always food in my home, I also went grocery shopping, purchasing a bale of maize flour as well as some cereals.

Currently, I run a small business selling various food items. Although it does not perform very well, I am always able to realize a daily profit of $2 from it. To realize an increased income, I have developed a goal of expanding my business this year. With the continuous monthly transfers, I will re-invest some money to boost it in anticipation of realizing an increased profit. Second, I want to raise livestock, specifically goats and cows. They can be useful, especially during an emergency, because I can sell some to raise cash.

I had hoped to start a development project at home because I am getting older, but I need a business that will benefit me after my GiveDirectly's transfers. So I used $25 of my November transfer to buy a goat. The December transfer enabled me to purchase two hens for $10. I used the rest of the money to purchase food for the December holiday season. However, with the January transfers, I bought food worth $14 as well as offsetting school fees arrears of $20 for my two school-going children. I bear more burden of supporting my family since my husband has a chronic condition and he cannot do any work.

In my view, GiveDirectly is the only non-governmental organization that aims at improving the living standard of the community where it works. It does so well in ensuring that we receive our transfers directly through the Mpesa platform. This a situation that enhances our safety since no one knows when recipients receive their transfers unless we opt to share with them. Many community members have been able to return their children to school as a result of the financial assistance. In addition, people's purchase power has risen. There is nothing that I have observed that GiveDiercetly does not do well.

I am a mother of seven children. At home, we are staying eight members since my husband stays away in Mombasa town where he does casual jobs. Although he does a casual job to earn a living, he is medically unstable since he had previously suffered from a stroke. His left hand is not functional. Immediately after I received, the transfer, I spent $9 on buying two hens. Currently, I have four hens. I spent $10.1 on paying school fees for my five school-going children. They are progressing well with their studies. Since I did not have food, I spent $10 on food.

It was late in the evening and I was in the house resting before my eldest son came in. On his face, there was an expression of joy because he had accessed my phone. He immediately informed me that I had received my transfer. Upon checking the Mpesa messages, I could not hold my joy. As soon as I learned of the transfer, I felt so excited because that was historical in my life. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for such a timely support.

Throughout my life, I have been relying on charcoal making to earn a living. It subjects my family to a hard situation due to the low level of my family income. With the transfer, I was able to pay school fees for my children. I am glad that my children have found it easier to concentrate on their studies with minimal distractions.

To pursue my dream of raising domestic fowl, I spent KES 300 on two chickens as soon as I received my transfer. I am optimistic that this will be a profitable venture for my family, as I do not have a steady source of income. In addition, I spent KES 500 on school fees for my children who attend school. The final transfer batch enabled me to purchase food for my seven-member family. Although the food never kept us going for longer, I am grateful because it made our lives easier.