My vision for my life is to become a dedicated livestock farmer, one who can truly rely on livestock as a steady source of income and security. For the coming year, I plan to use my transfers from GiveDirectly to expand my herd by purchasing more goats, adding to the ones I already have. My hope is that these goats will multiply, grow in value, and set the foundation for something lasting. Once I have six goats, I can trade them for a cow and I intend to have many goats so that I can trade some of them for several cows. I am working towards this goal with so much anticipation. The bulls will be invaluable for plowing my farm, which will allow me to save on the high costs of hiring tractors each season. Meanwhile, the cows will keep multiplying, providing milk for my family and an additional income stream from milk sales. I am deeply grateful for this support, as it is helping me bring my dreams to life. This opportunity gives me such hope for the future, hoping that I can create a stable and sustainable life for myself and my family.

I currently run a small kiosk and take on some manual work to make ends meet, and thanks to the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, I am able to make strides toward a better life. I have made it a priority to invest in livestock, especially goats, because I believe that with time, they will multiply and give me a solid foundation. My hope is that one day I will have enough to trade some of the goats for cows, which would be incredibly valuable as I could use them to plow my farm. Therefore, with my most recent transfer, I put $68 toward buying a goat, and I saved $34 with the goal of adding to it so I can buy another one soon. I am determined to become a livestock farmer, with a vision of owning both goats and cows to build a reliable, sustainable source of income. This way, I will have something to rely on even after this program ends. This journey has given me so much hope, and I'm excited about building a future where my family can thrive.

I aim to expand my livestock, focusing on chickens and goats. These animals can be sold to cover essential needs like food and school fees for my children. Rearing livestock is ideal for me as I lack a reliable source of income, and they have the potential to multiply and grow over time. A livestock venture will not only support my family but also assist my husband in providing for our household. With the acquisition of three goats from the transfers, I plan to diversify by adding chickens to the mix. This is what I hope to accomplish in the coming year and beyond.

Initially, I worked in a hotel for a meager income. When I started receiving these transfers, I transitioned to opening my vegetable business. Now, I am happy that life is better because I earn a better income, allowing me to comfortably meet our daily needs and those of my children. With my most recent transfer, I spent $23 to boost my business, as it is my major source of livelihood. I also bought food worth $9 for family consumption. Since I have school-going children, I spent $14 on school fees for my two children and bought them uniforms worth $11, as they previously only had one pair. With the remaining amount, I invested in buying one goat for $25 and nine chickens. These animals will act as my future financial security, as they will multiply, and I can sell some to address my family's financial needs. These transfers have been of great help to me.

In the future, I aspire to expand my livestock, focusing on chickens and goats. These animals can be sold to cover basic needs like food and school fees for my children. Rearing livestock is an ideal option for me as I lack a reliable source of income, and they have the potential to multiply and grow over time. Having a livestock venture will not only support my family but also assist my husband in providing for our household. With the acquisition of three goats from the transfers, I now plan to diversify my herd by adding chickens to the mix.

My husband is the sole provider for our family, he operates a motorbike taxi business that he obtained on credit. Repaying the debt with his earnings has placed financial constraints on him. I am grateful that the cash transfers have enabled me to contribute to our family’s needs and alleviate some of the burden on him. There was a time when I was admitted to the hospital to deliver a baby, and the transfers came at the perfect time to cover the medical expenses. I spent $34 on the hospital bills, and I am happy that both the baby and I have been doing well since then. With two children in school, I still had outstanding tuition fees from the previous term and the ongoing one. Therefore, I used $30 to settle these debts, and I am relieved that I no longer owe anything to the school. I also used $30 to purchase a goat, increasing my herd to three goats. I plan to rear these animals to establish a sustainable source of income for future needs, especially for my children's school fees. Lastly, I used the remaining amount to purchase sugar and soap for household consumption.

In the upcoming year, my goal is to use these funds to open a retail shop and sell fast-moving items. I've identified a need in my village for easily accessible everyday goods, and I believe this venture can provide a reliable source of income for my family. This initiative will also contribute positively to the local economy. I intend to save the next two transfers and invest in that retail shop, since school are closing and I won't have to pay school fees for the next two months. I'm excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and how these cash transfers are opening doors to a more prosperous future for me and my loved ones.

Life before receiving the Givedirectly transfers was filled with financial instability and challenges. My husband and I worked as casual laborers, but our income was never enough to cover all our household needs, let alone the school fees for our two children. This meant our children often had to miss school because we couldn't afford their fees, and it was a constant source of worry for us. The unconditional monthly cash transfers have been a game-changer for our family. With the $70 from the transfers, I was able to purchase two goats, which I'm specifically rearing for emergencies. This gives us a safety net we didn't have before. Additionally, I used $25 to pay for my children's school fees, ensuring they can continue with their education without interruptions. The transfers have brought much-needed stability to our lives, and I'm grateful for the support that has made things better for our family.

My goal is to expand my business. I started a roadside food place around my home which makes me some earnings. I make food enjoyed by the locals which is mainly have their roots in Indian and Arabian delicacies. I started the business and even got chairs that people can sit on. I hope to expand this business and push it to a place of self sufficiency. I want to also buy some goats that I will sell so ass to take my children through school especially when I do not have enough finances.

Thanks to Givedirectly I am in good health and happy. In the month of March I fell ill and needed to have an X-ray to get a diagnosis. I didn't have any money on me and I was solely reliant on Givedirectly transfers to facilitate this. On receiving my April transfers I used $25 to have an X-ray taken. I also bought for the kids with the remaining money $9. I started a business last month and I have been stocking it up with Givedirectly transfers. In April I got chairs that would be used in my hotel shop. I also used my May transfers to pay school fees $20 and also got uniform for my Kindergarten 2 at $7 and I got food worth $5.

Currently, my focus is on starting my food-point business. I have been preparing for this venture by buying the necessary furniture and utensils through previous cash transfers. My hope is that I obtain my business license in the following two months so that I can officially begin operations. I wish for the spot to have expanded and garnered customers by the end of the year. After that, I intend to start keeping livestock, particularly goats, so that as they multiply, they can accumulate wealth that will support the education of my children who are still in primary school. 

For the last three months, I have been buying items to start a food-point business in Mariakani, that will hopefully generate more income to provide for my two children back in the village. Depending on casual tasks like doing people’s laundry is very challenging because such tasks rarely come by, which makes the earnings unreliable. At least, I can expect some profits from the business, no matter how small, to sustain my children. In November, I spent the entire $34 on furniture like benches and tables for the space. I spent $14 from the December transfer to buy cups and the remaining $20 on food, for the household had run out of maize flour and I had not made any money. From the recent cash, I used $12 to settle a school fee debt for my grade-two son that had remained unpaid since he was in kindergarten. I spent $11 on more utensils like plates for the business and the remaining $11 on food. Am excited to start operating the business once I have bought all the essentials and obtained a business permit from the local authorities. 

Receiving calls from GiveDirectly asking me how I have spent my transfers is what I like most. I always feel great being advised on how best to utilize the funds for my benefit. Besides, the unconditionality of the transfers enables me to make my own decisions hence owning the projects I use the transfers on.

I am a single mother of two working in a hotel as a waitress for livelihood. Paying school fees for my children has been my greatest challenge because my income is unsustainable. Using my transfers, I paid KES 1200 school fees for my two kids to settle the debt I owed the school. Paying school fees helped reduce my financial burdens making me enjoy great peace of mind. In addition, I saved the September transfer that I intend to use to start a hotel business for income generation to be able to provide for my family and pay their school fees.

I was very excited when I first received the transfer, as it brought hope of clearing my daughter's school fee that had accumulated for two terms. I was out running errands ready to close the day when I received the message. I had no one to share the news with, so I celebrated it myself.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the ease of payment of the school fees, especially the vast sum that I cleared for my daughter, who is in primary school. This would not have been easier without the support from GiveDirectly, which has given me relief after paying with ease. I am a single parent staying with my parents after we parted ways with my spouse a year ago. I rely on casual work, mostly doing laundry for people. Having recently moved to a new location makes it challenging because I do have many customers and the few have not yet gained trust in me.

I used KES 1000 to clear the school arrears I owed the school. I had not paid the school fees for two consecutive terms hence the huge balance. We parted ways with my spouse a year ago leaving me as the sole breadwinner. I am a domestic worker earning 200 KES daily whenever I come across any job but it is not enough to sustain our needs as a family. Currently, I stay with my parents, but they are also casual laborers and do not make much out of them. I still have the remaining 200 KES to be used in case of urgent need.