My goal is to add another room to my house. The one I currently live in has only one bedroom, which is no longer sufficient for my family, including my three grandchildren who live with me. At times, I’ve had to sleep on the floor because the room is too small to fit another bed. Additionally, during the winter, my furniture and clothes have been damaged due to the cramped conditions. I’ve been considering saving a little money from the cash transfers and asking for support from my sons to help build another room. I’m confident that once the room is complete, I will no longer feel the frustration and stress I’ve experienced before, and I will be able to live comfortably and happily.

Five years ago, I was battling heart issues that were affecting me both physically and psychologically. I could no longer work, and I had to rely entirely on my children for my daily needs. This situation weighed heavily on my mind, often leading to sleepless nights. However, since I started receiving cash transfers, I've been using the $34 to purchase the medication I need to take daily. While I haven't completely healed, I feel relieved that I can now manage to do household chores. It was once difficult for me to obtain the medication I needed each day, but now, thanks to GiveDirectly, I am assured of getting my medication regularly. As a widow who had lost hope in life, I am not sure how I would have coped without this support. Although I haven't fully recovered, I am happy to have access to my medication and, at times, even food. This has brought me a sense of stability and hope that I didn't have before.

In the coming year and beyond, I hope to buy more goats and make a lasting mark of GiveDirectly's impact on my home. I plan to save $15 monthly to make this dream come true. Each month, as I set aside that money, I imagine my herd growing, giving me a stronger sense of security and stability. With more goats, I can provide better for my family and ensure a steady source of income. This goal motivates me every day, and I am determined to see it through. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the opportunity to improve our lives, and I am committed to making the most of it by building a thriving goat farm.

For a while, I have had a chest problem that was on and off. Since I solely depended on my two sons, who work as casual laborers, and their wages were insufficient to cater to the family's needs, I could not get proper medication. In the past quarter, it bothered me. The pain was intense and difficult to explain, often leaving me gasping for breath and sleepless at night. It was a constant worry, a shadow over my days. Thankfully, the three recent transfers have been instrumental in addressing my health situation. I spent $90 on medication, and I am happy to say that I am now doing well. The relief is immense; I can breathe easier and sleep peacefully. The remaining $12 I spent on some personal effects, small comforts that make daily life a bit easier. These transfers have been a lifeline, allowing me to focus on recovery and slowly regain my strength. I am deeply grateful, and the improvement in my health has given me renewed hope for the future.

My current priority revolves around my aim to acquire a cow, recognizing it as a valuable and enduring investment that extends beyond the period of receiving transfers. The cow's potential to generate income will be instrumental in addressing my needs. Upon successfully attaining this goal, my next endeavor will involve the restoration of my house to its former condition. I appreciate having a well-equipped cooking space now and express gratitude for the support received through the transfers.

Last week, I experienced the loss of a relative, and in ensuring a dignified burial, I contributed $19. The completion of the funeral proceedings brought me a sense of closure, and I am grateful for the financial support from the transfers that allowed me to pay my final respects. Driven by my aspiration to own a cow, I have commenced saving money for this purpose, accumulating a total of $45. Although I am yet to decide whether to purchase a dairy cow or a bull, I am optimistic that either choice will prove beneficial, generating income to meet my needs. During the recent festive holiday, I allocated $15 for the purchase of food, facilitating a joyous celebration and strengthening familial bonds. The ongoing financial assistance from Give Directly fills me with contentment, and I hold a positive outlook on achieving my established goals with the continued support of the transfers.

I am delighted to share that the financial support I have received has propelled me towards achieving greater financial independence. I am now able to meet my daily needs, such as purchasing food and water, without relying on external assistance. My aspirations extend further, as I aim to enhance my financial situation through investments in livestock. By acquiring livestock, I anticipate their multiplication, which will provide me with additional resources to address any future challenges that may arise. The support I have received has had a profound impact on my life, and I am filled with happiness and gratitude for the opportunities it has provided. It has enabled me to take significant steps towards securing a better future for myself, and I am excited to continue this journey of progress and self-sufficiency.

A significant portion of my funds was dedicated to constructing a new cooking area, which also functions as a granary for storing the recently harvested maize from our farm. The construction of this structure amounted to an impressive $73. Although it was a costly endeavor, I am delighted that it is now complete, providing me with both a secure storage space for maize and a well-equipped cooking area. To sustain myself and my family during the period leading up to the maize harvest, I allocated $26 to the purchase of food. Unfortunately, I am currently unable to work due to severe chest problems. However, I find solace in the fact that I now have an ample supply of food to feed my family. Additionally, I used a portion of the funds to settle a $3 debt for my grandchild, who had been sent home from school due to outstanding fees. Education holds immense value to me, and I remain optimistic that with a solid education, my grandchild will contribute greatly to society in the future. I am incredibly pleased with the positive developments that have taken place in my life thus far, and I attribute much of this transformation to the financial support provided by Give Directly. Their assistance has truly made a substantial difference in improving my quality of life.

My current objective is to construct a kitchen. This is because I also utilize my house as a store and a kitchen. By doing this, I will not have to stay outside the house until very late at night to wait for the smoke to clear before going to sleep, which is how it is now, and I won't be disturbed by smoke after cooking. In addition, I will prevent the inner roof of my house from absorbing soot, which detracts from the house's aesthetic appeal.

Upon getting the most recent transfer, I opted to continue with my saving plan since I aim to build a kitchen. In the previous transfers, I used to save $15 on a merry-go-round and this transfer was not an exception. Thereafter, I did shopping for some foodstuff for $16 after giving my elementary school grandchild a $3 examination fee. My family is contented because nowadays we get food even though it is not three meals a day but we are better off than how we used to be before GiveDirectly came into our village.

My objective currently is to buy a goat every month and keep them in my homestead, and allow them to reproduce and increase in number. Owning the goats is a saving for me because I do not have a source of income that I can rely on. I can readily sell the goats when they reproduce and increase in number to meet my future financial needs. I am also planning to buy 14 pieces of iron sheets in months to come and building poles in order to renovate my kitchen which is nearly collapsing. I want create enough space for my items and a good place to cook since my current house is not spacious enough.

Not only do we live in a hardship area but experience irregular income. As a result, meeting the family's needs remains a struggle, and we occasionally survive on inadequate food, skipping some basic meals in a day. With the recent transfer, I prioritized spending $24 on buying maize flour and other food for the family since it was the Christmas festive season. The transfer helped me because I always find it difficult to cater to the needs of seven family members. I have been suffering from some chronic illness, which hinders me from engaging in strenuous work. I also desired to raise poultry farming, therefore, I spent $10 on buying two chickens. I am hopeful that when they increase in number, I will be able to sell them to begin keeping goats because goats are beneficial and valuable in our community.

Personally I want to applaud organization with a financial aid that we have been receiving which has proven to be quite life changing for us back in the village. Through the finances we have been able to support ourselves and our needs unlike before when were living in extreme poverty.

After receiving the transfers from the Organization I decided to deposit KES 2000 into my savings account. The reason behind this is the fact that I have the intention to save up some money so that I could eventually buy iron sheets to finally renovate the roofing of my house which at the moment it is grass thatched who is always in need of repairing making it costly. Later on I was left with a balance of KES 1,000 and saw it fit to spend on nourishment due to the predicament in hunger. I purchased five packets of maize flour, sardines and drinking water as well because it was scarce.

I was taking a nap at around 4 p.m. when my phone rang with a message alert. Since I cannot read, I requested my son to confirm what it was all about and he confirmed that Give Directly had sent money. I breathed a sigh of relief at the great news. I had been anxiously waiting for my first transfer to help alleviate the hardships, especially hunger, in my household.

Since last year, it has been challenging for me to raise money to pay for the treatment of my stomach pains. Also, the condition hindered me from taking strenuous tasks to generate money for the medication. Little had I begun to lose hope than Give Directly sent me the first cash transfer. I am grateful because the money enabled me to buy the medicine. My health is gradually getting better courtesy of the transfers.

For years, I have been experiencing acute pains in my abdomen, which have over the period resisted ordinary pain-relieving medicine. In June 2021, I saw a doctor who found a suitable cure for the condition and required me to pay KES 1,000 for medication, but I could not afford the amount. Due to financial constraints, raising such a sum of money has been hard for the last year. Besides, the little earnings my son makes from house construction casual tasks cannot provide beyond the basics, particularly food. So, the cash transfer presented a perfect opportunity for me to obtain the abdominal pain medication. I paid KES 500 and received half the prescription. I spent the rest amount of the money on food to help relieve the pressure off my son. At least, this would grant him a brief recess from the strenuous activities he does to provide for the family.