In the upcoming year, my objective is to acquire additional farming land to better support my extended family. Currently, we possess only four acres, which is not sufficient to meet the nutritional needs of all family members. Collaboratively with my siblings, we have committed to pooling our resources and efforts to achieve this shared goal. My strategy involves diligently saving future transfers, and I am pleased to report that I have already initiated this savings plan. Expanding our agricultural land will undeniably enhance our crop yields, ensuring an ample food supply for our families. Anticipating a prosperous new year, I am optimistic about the positive impact this endeavor will have on our collective well-being.

Digging out tree stumps and selling charcoal is how my wife and I provide for our family of ten, but it has been a challenging task. Despite our efforts, our earnings have not matched our expenditures, posing a significant difficulty in affording even basic necessities like food. I am glad that GiveDirectly has been a lifesaver, significantly improving our circumstances. Through the combined financial support, we have been able to invest in livestock and ensure an ample food supply for our family. From the total transfers received, I allocated $68 to acquire a goat, and I'm delighted to share that I now have a total of three goats, which I plan to raise and sell in the future. The remaining funds were prudently saved for the future, earmarked for the purchase of farmland for our family. I am grateful for the opportunity provided, as it has undeniably improved the quality of our lives.

My goal is to acquire a minimum of one or two cows specifically for ploughing purposes. which will serve as a means of generating income. Given that I own a 2-acre parcel of land that requires ploughing, these cows will play a big role in my farming activities. I intend to use the earnings generated from this to cover my children's school expenses, which I'm sure will bring financial freedom.

My most recent transfer was allocated towards essential expenses. I spent $18 on food, $5 on my children's school fees. I was the left with $11 which I kept as savings. During this period, I had experienced several days without securing any casual jobs, like tree-cutting and gathering building materials for house constructions. This earns me an income which helps with providing for my family of ten. The family includes my wife, seven children, and my mother. Five of my children are currently in school, and the $5 was directed towards settling their fees balance. In addition to the casual jobs, I engage in goat and poultry farming. The savings I accumulate assist me in purchasing poultry, which I sell to buy goats. As of now, I have acquired three goats, and I'm working towards expanding this number to eventually enable me to purchase cows.

My main goal is to start a livestock-rearing project. I have an experience in the field because I previously had the same project before, but due to some eventualities, all my livestock died and it is something that I would like to do again since it was of great help to my family. I plan to start with chicken and later venture into the rearing of goats. I would be buying chicken worth $15 monthly with the transfers that I would be receiving from GiveDirectly for a certain period and later sell part of them to buy goats. I believe that the project would be of great help in terms of the proceeds that I would be getting.

The transfers were perfect timing. I received the transfers at a time when I was in dire need of money; one of my sons had completed primary and was yet to join junior high school. Transitioning from one stage to another requires one to have a good amount of money due to so many requirements at school, but in my case, I had nothing. The transfers were of great help, because I managed to buy him a pair of school uniforms worth $12 and also bought him a pair of shoes that cost $7. I felt so happy because I finally admitted my son to school without much struggle. With the remaining amount of $15, I bought food for my family because getting food had also been a great challenge for me. I was very grateful to GiveDirecly for the support.

Last year, the money I received helped me a lot with the tuition costs for five of my children. Additionally, I'm hoping that I can utilize the funds this year to make sure that my kids stay in school and continue their education, which is crucial for their future. I rarely make enough money working part-time jobs to support my family's requirements, especially their nourishment. As a result, I also intend to use the donations to make sure that my family and I will have food. Moreover, getting a few hens and goats will make me happy.

My household had run out of food the previous three days to the cash transfers. At that time, my business of buying and selling charcoal had proved futile after selling out the entire stock to cover food needs. During this period, my wife and seven children survived on one meal daily and remained hungry for the rest of the hours. It was heartbreaking. The cash transfer came as a great relief for I utilized $27 to stock maize flour that lasted until I made a sale. Am happy that my family has been enjoying at least two meals a day to date. I used the remaining amount to buy more charcoal and revived my business. 

I have been doing poultry farming to diversify my source of income. My poultry farm was doing well, and at the time of the transfer, I had 20 fully grown cocks and hens. I spent KES 2,500 on additional five hens as soon as I confirmed the transfer of my transfer. From there, I intend to sell all of the birds to raise funds for personal projects aimed at supporting my family. For example, I am hopeful that they will assist me in the long run in raising school fees for my school-age children. I used the remaining KES 500 transfer to pay a portion of my children's current school fees.

I am thankful for the manner GiveDirectly does its work. It does so well in prioritizing the neediest in society and accords them with financial support. Through this, many have received support and there is a progressive change in people's ways of life. All in my village are contented with the way GiveDirectly works. However, no one faults the way GiveDirectly operates.

I used a portion of my transfer, KES 1,000 to buy food. My entire family members were hungry at the time because I did not have money to buy food then. I do not have a job and rely on making and selling charcoal to survive. I am only able to receive a small amount of money from this laborious work. I set aside the remaining funds with the purpose of purchasing a goat. I don't have any goats right now because the six I had died as a result of drought in November 2021. Goats are valuable, and I would like to keep a few of them as live assets.

It was an early morning and had planned to go to a nearby shop and buy some foodstuff on credit.As I was lazily walking to the shop my phone beeped and after reading the message I was excited and energetic at the same time.I rushed through the shamba to find my wife and she was happy to share the information with the rest of the members of the family who also got the transfers that same day.My family was bursting with joy for the rest of the day.

The difference in my daily life since I started receiving this transfers is my children are excited and looking forward to go back to school.I also believe that receiving this funds from GiveDirectly will enable me educate my children.In my current situation have always prayed and wished that my children do not go through the life I have gone through because part of my struggle is am not educated .It is my dream my children will never work like charcoal burners.

My main objective has always been to provide all that my children need at school.Due to financial constraints have not been able to have extra income to buy my children school attire. My children have been the laughing stock of the village because of the torn uniforms and sometimes they are forced to attend classes in their home clothes which makes them feel uncomfortable.I spent KES 1200 and bought two of them new uniform and saved KES 1000 as school fees for the younger one who joined school last year.The remaining KES 800 was my share to buy food because we are an extended family of twelve members.