In the coming year and beyond, my biggest hope is to embark on a journey towards self-sufficiency and independence. Despite the challenges I face with my health, I've made a firm decision to take control of my future. One step I'm passionately committed to is saving $10 every month. With each dollar saved, I'm inching closer to a dream I hold dear which is owning goats. The goats will not only provide me with a sustainable source of income but also a sense of purpose and pride. And with poultry alongside, I hope to create a small but thriving ecosystem that sustains me and offers a glimpse of a brighter tomorrow.

As a single mother of one yet abled-differently, every dollar from GiveDirectly is a lifeline, a beacon of hope in an often harsh reality. With my most recent transfers totaling $102, I carefully considered how to allocate every cent to benefit my family. Knowing that stability is key, I decided to invest $27 in purchasing three chickens and one duck. This small poultry venture holds the promise of sustainable income. It's not just about feeding mouths today but ensuring there's food on the table tomorrow and beyond. Another $21 went towards clothing for my child and me. Our tattered garments were more than just threads; they were a reflection of our struggles. Now, adorned in new attire, we stand a little taller, our spirits lifted by the simple luxury of looking good. With the remaining $54, I made a decision that weighed heavily on my heart but was necessary for survival. Living with my three siblings and mother, I know the burden my elder sister carries as the breadwinner, selling palm wine to put food on our table. Yet, when sales are scarce, the weight of responsibility falls heavier on her shoulders. So, I used the remainder of the funds to buy food staples for our family. Thanks to the monthly transfers, we can face each day with a little less worry and a little more hope, knowing that, even in our toughest moments, we're not alone.

My current residence is not spacious and has a grass thatched roof. During heavy rain, my husband and I have to seek shelter from a neighbor due to leaks. With the monthly financial support, I'm now able to plan for the future. I intend to save a portion each month to buy iron sheets and eventually construct a larger house with a stable iron roof. This way, I can look forward to a worry-free life during rains, knowing my family will have a decent and secure home.

Meeting our fundamental needs, particularly food, shelter, and clothing, has been a significant struggle for my husband and me. The monthly support we receive has greatly improved the well-being of our family. Previously, we had to skip meals despite having a young child. I'm grateful that I've been able to purchase enough food to sustain us, ensuring that my family eats well with recent transfer. I also allocated some money to buy new clothes for myself and my son. Despite the absence of a steady income, I can now comfortably plan each month I receive a transfer to enhance our livelihood. Additionally, I also invested in a goat for $45, and now own four goats which are valuable assets that I can readily sell to generate cash. Despite my challenging financial situation, I find reassurance in knowing that I can rely on selling the goats when faced with financial difficulties, especially as they continue to multiply.

My current home is very small and not as spacious as I would like it to be. Furthermore, it has been in poor condition, and I am now planning to build a larger house. I will save some money each month and buy at least two pieces of iron sheet in bits until I have enough building materials to start building. This is what I hope to achieve in the coming year and beyond; a decent house to live in with my family. I am confident that I will meet this goal because I am guaranteed to receive the transfer every month.

For a long time, I have struggled with insufficient food in my home. This is primarily due to a lack of financial means to put food on the table. I practised subsistence farming, which ensured that food was always available until the drought struck. For a long time, farming was out of the question, so I had to dig deeper into my pockets. I am grateful because if I had not received the transfers, my situation would have become difficult and unbearable, including forcing me to skip meals. I thus bought enough food upon receiving the transfer, such as maize flour, to ensure that my family ate three meals a day. I also bought a goat for $25 with recent transfers. I did not have any, and I could not even consider getting one because of financial constraints. I am grateful because I was finally able to obtain and keep this goat, and I hope to have many more in the future. In the event of a financial emergency, I can easily sell the goats to cover my costs.

Giving money to people in our village directly into their mobile phone accounts is one of the most fulfilling aspects of GiveDirectly. This is a clever strategy to help your message get to the target audience. I applaud them and encourage them to keep helping more people who are suffering from poverty. The organization is doing everything perfectly, so I can't criticize them at this time, though if issues do develop later on, I might.

The main source of income for my family is my husband. He works as a casual laborer, selling charcoal . My life has improved significantly ever since I started receiving transfers. Due to the meager income that my husband's job provided, we used to get by on just one meal a day. We now eat two meals per day, which is better than what we did in the past. When I got my December transfers, I was overjoyed because I spent $19 on food for the holiday season. I spent the remaining portion to purchase three hens. I intend to raise these hens and eventually start a business in poultry farming. I bought the hens for a total of $15. I will be able to support my struggling husband by helping him take care of the growing family's needs once the poultry project is up and running.

It was around 4 p.m., and I was at home doing household chores. My phone had been taken to be charged, so it was no longer within my immediate reach. When I went for it from the charging station, I discovered I had a Mpesa message. I quickly checked the message out of curiosity. I was happy to have received the transfer. Because I was with my two siblings, Baraka and Furaha, I chose to inform them, and they rejoiced with me. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for considering such assistance.

In general, life has been difficult since many water sources dried up, and 20 liters of jerrican water costs $0.5. This is expensive for a vulnerable community with no single source of income. Since I received my transfer, there have been noticeable changes in our lives. Because of famine in our area, the transfer allowed us to purchase water, maize flour, and vegetables. On that day, we managed to obtain food after missing morning and afternoon meals.

For close to three years, we have been facing an extremely unfavorable condition. As a result of continuous drought propagated by climate change, we have not been able to engage in crop farming. We heavily rely on rainfed agriculture, and with changes in rain patterns, we cannot realize any harvest. As a result, we currently struggle to obtain food. Immediately after I received my transfer, I prioritized buying food worth $30 for our family of six members. I do not have a job, and I fully rely on my widowed mother, she does a casual job.