In the coming year, I plan to purchase a cow as a long-term investment. I see this as a crucial step towards ensuring a stable source of income and food for my family. To achieve this goal, I have already started saving the recent transfers I've received, and I intend to continue setting aside every transfer that comes my way in the future. Each time I save, I get closer to the day when I can visit a farm and select the cow that will not only provide milk for my family but also become a lasting source of financial growth. My vision is clear, and with discipline and patience, I believe I will soon accomplish this goal.

I am a widow with six children, and my eldest son is the main provider as a primary school teacher. Despite the challenges, I have always had a strong passion for livestock farming. I have been saving diligently over the past few months to purchase a cow, which I believe will provide a valuable source of milk for my family and potentially generate some income. With the last three transfers I received, totaling $102, I spent only $12 on personal items and saved the remaining $90 toward buying the cow. My determination comes from the hope that owning livestock will help improve our financial situation and alleviate some of the pressure on my son. Every time I receive a transfer, I remind myself that every dollar saved is a step closer to making my dream a reality. It has been difficult to resist the temptation to spend on other things. I remain committed because I know that once I have the cow, it will provide my family with a sustainable source of nourishment and some stability. I hope to save enough money to finally achieve this important milestone.

My greatest goal for the coming year and beyond is to purchase more livestock and poultry. Currently, I have six hens after losing many to Newcastle disease. Livestock are a valuable asset that increase in value over time. Once my herd grows large enough, I will sell some to meet my needs.To achieve this goal, I joined a savings group with 15 members where I save $10 monthly. Each month, three members of the group receive $50, which they can use to invest as they choose. The money I receive will help me purchase goats and work towards my goal.

After my brother passed away, I was left in charge of caring for his four children. I primarily rely on farming to earn a living, but unpredictable weather patterns have made it difficult to sustain this. Several years ago, I sold palm wine to raise and educate my four children, but the business collapsed, and I struggled to meet my immediate needs. With an additional four children to care for, it became increasingly challenging. Thanks to the financial support from Give Directly, it has become easier for me to take care of my family's needs. I spent $30 on school fees for my three nephews and niece, ensuring they can continue their education. I also spent $30 to plow my two-acre land in preparation for planting, but unfortunately, the rains stopped two weeks later, wasting my efforts and investment. I plan to purchase hens for $15. Once they multiply, I can sell some and use the money to buy a goat, which is more valuable. I saved $10 in a savings group comprising 15 members, with the intention of purchasing goats in the future. Finally, I bought food worth $17, ensuring my family had plenty to eat. I am very happy and appreciate the financial support from the transfers, which has significantly improved our lives.

Looking ahead, my goal is to invest in keeping livestock, specifically goats and chickens. Given my current situation of looking after my young nieces and nephews, whose parents recently passed away, and considering my advancing age, taking on a regular job seems challenging. Therefore, owning livestock appears to be the most viable way for me to generate wealth to support the needs of the four children under my care. With the children currently in primary school and a long educational journey ahead of them, I aspire to provide them with the best education possible within my capacity. I believe that investing in livestock will not only contribute to their well-being but also serve as a sustainable source of income for the family's needs.

Most of my recent cash transfers have been allocated towards paying school fees for my four nephews, whom I took custody of after both their parents passed away. Despite being a bit advanced in age and lacking a steady source of income, I find joy in being able to provide for them with the help of cash transfers. From the recent three cash transfers, I used $34 to cover their school fees, ensuring they can continue their education and make progress in their studies. To further support their well-being, I spent $43 on purchasing food, with a significant portion allocated for the Christmas celebrations. Following a yearly tradition, I used $20 to buy new clothes for the children, bringing them joy on Christmas day. Additionally, I invested $5 in buying a hen for rearing. This is important to me as, without a job, I can sell the chickens to provide for the various needs of the children. Overall, the cash transfers have been a lifeline for our family, particularly during this challenging time when I have taken on the responsibility of caring for my nephews and nieces. The support has made a significant positive impact on their education and overall well-being.

Looking ahead to the coming year and beyond, my primary objective is to expand my investment in hens by acquiring more of them and increasing their population. By allowing them to multiply, I can sell a portion of them and utilize the proceeds to meet the needs of my family. This sustainable source of income will provide us with greater stability and alleviate some of the financial burdens we currently face. Another important aspect of my plan is to prioritize the education of my nieces and nephews, ensuring that they receive a high-quality education that they rightfully deserve. I am committed to providing them with the necessary resources and support to excel in their studies, opening doors to brighter opportunities and a promising future. The support received from Give Directly has been beyond words. It has significantly alleviated the burden of caring for my family, allowing me to pursue my goals and aspirations with greater confidence. I am immensely grateful for the financial assistance, as it has brought newfound hope and stability to our lives. The impact of this support is immeasurable, and it fills me with joy to witness the positive changes it has brought to my family's well-being.

A significant responsibility has fallen upon me as both my brother and his wife have passed away, leaving behind four children, three of whom are currently attending school and rely entirely on me for support. This responsibility weighs heavily on me, especially considering that I am unemployed and heavily dependent on subsistence farming. To ensure that my niece and nephews can continue their education uninterrupted, I allocated a total of $72 towards paying their school fees. This financial commitment ensures that they can attend school without the worry of missing important classes due to outstanding fees. I take great satisfaction and contentment in knowing that the education they are receiving today will equip them for a brighter future and help them secure a better life. In addition to the school fees, I also invested $30 in purchasing hens. These hens serve as both a valuable investment and an additional source of income to support my family. I am grateful that the transfers are providing the means to manage all the expenses associated with my family's well-being. Without this financial support, it would be extremely challenging for me to meet these needs.

My objective for the upcoming year and beyond is to make significant investments in livestock. To begin, I plan to purchase livestock, particularly goats. After a certain period, I will sell a portion of the goats once they have reproduced and multiplied. Then, I intend to acquire bulls and dairy cows. The bulls will be utilized for plowing my farm during the planting season, and I can also generate income by offering their services to plow other farmers' lands. Furthermore, the dairy cows will serve as an additional source of revenue through the sale of milk to the local community. All of these endeavors are aimed at ensuring my financial independence and providing for the needs of my family.

Following the unfortunate loss of my nephews' and nieces' parents, they found themselves without anyone to look after them, resulting in their status as orphans. As a result, I have taken on the responsibility of caring for them. I play a vital role in meeting their necessities, including paying for their education, providing food, and buying clothing. However, as a peasant farmer, I often struggle to make ends meet due to the limited income generated from my agricultural endeavors. Fortunately, my son, who works as a teacher, provides valuable financial support by sending me money regularly. This assistance is crucial to ensuring the well-being of our family. Despite facing financial difficulties, I managed to gather all my savings, along with the funds received from my son, to purchase a goat worth $40. My main focus is to invest in livestock, specifically goats, as they have proven to withstand the challenging climatic conditions we have previously encountered. By growing the herd, I plan to sell some of the goats in the future, using the proceeds to address the evolving needs of our family. I am deeply grateful for the consistent financial support I receive, as it enables me to fulfill my responsibilities towards my young relatives, who tragically lost their parents at a tender age.

I'm hoping and praying that the weather will eventually improve so that I can return to farming. I'll buy seedlings with the money and get the ground ready for planting. I'd like to spend more money on purchasing livestock in addition to planting. I am motivated to pursue this goal due to the ready and accessible market for buying and selling livestock, raising livestock is a surefire way to build wealth and generate a significant amount of income.

For 40 years, farming has been my primary source of income. I am struggling to make ends meet because of the unfavorable drought conditions in our region. I have received a ton of assistance from my eldest son, who works as a teacher in a nearby elementary school. He always shows up when I need him and offers to help me with some of my needs. These financial difficulties have compelled me to use my transfer money to purchase livestock and venture into livestock farming.. I'll have a sizable herd of cattle in a few months that I can sell to make some money. This will relieve my son of a lot of the responsibility of caring for both his family and mine. I am grateful for the financial assistance I am receiving from the unconditional transfer to help me escape the clutches of poverty.

I genuinely commend GiveDirectly for the good job that it is doing so far because the funds they send us have been quite impactful in the most positive ways in regards to our day to day life. People are building better homes, kids are going to school and just overall improvement which makes us jovial.

Upon receiving the transfers I decided that I wanted to invest in poultry farming with the aim of financial profit later on and so I went ahead and bought two hens for KES 1,000. Afterwards I went ahead and deposited KES 1,000 my savings account because I was looking forward to letting the money accumulate so that I could eventually buy some goats. Lastly I remained with a balance of KES 1,000 which I ended up using 280 by buying two packets of maize flour and then the rest of the money I bought laundry detergent and body oil.

I was relaxing in the corridor of my house at around 4 p.m. when my phone rang with a message alert. Because I am unable to read, I requested one of my grandchildren to check what the message was all about. I could not hide my happiness when they confirmed that Give Directly had sent me funds; I skipped delightfully.

Before the transfer, I would fully depend on my son to provide for my basic needs such as food, clothing, and sanitary supplies. The tale altered after the transfer. At least I was able to fulfill my demands such as paying hospital expenses and affording to buy chickens without requesting a penny from my son.

I depend on my son, a primary school teacher, for the provision of basic needs like food. To reduce over-reliance on him, I have always wished to invest in poultry rearing as a source of income. Due to financial constraints, saving money for this course is challenging. However, the cash transfer provided just enough initial funding to start my rearing journey. I saved KES 870 which I will use next week to buy at least two chickens. When they multiply and grow the flock, I will sell them to generate money for personal needs. Also, I used KES 300 for the treatment of my leg which had been aching for the past two weeks.