Currently, my job selling charcoal brings in very little income, making it difficult to meet all of my family’s needs. To address this, I plan to use my future transfers to invest in livestock. The goal is to rear the animals and, once they multiply, sell some to generate additional income. This will enable me to better support my family. I will continue saving with my savings group to build up enough funds to purchase the livestock. I am really thankful for the financial support, as it’s helping me work toward a brighter future for my family.

For a long time, I slept on a sack laid on the cold, dusty floor. The conditions were not only uncomfortable but also took a toll on my health. The cold aggravated my chest problems, and the hard surface caused serious back pain. Determined to improve my situation, I decided to save money from the financial transfers and invest in a bed and mattress. I spent $45 on the bed and $35 on the mattress. Now, I’m sleeping much more comfortably, and I hope that with time, my back pain and chest issues will ease. I also spent $15 to pay off school fees for my two children, who had been sent home due to an outstanding balance. Thankfully, they were allowed back to continue their education after the payment. In addition, I used $8 to buy food for my family, ensuring that we had enough to eat. As the sole breadwinner for my children, I’m truly grateful for the financial support I receive through these transfers, as it has helped improve our lives.

As a recipient of GiveDirectly, I am filled with hope and determination for the coming year and beyond. Currently, I have two goats, but I dream of expanding my small herd. With each transfer I receive, I plan to save diligently, setting aside a portion to buy more goats. This isn’t just about increasing numbers; it’s about securing a stable future for my family. Goats are not only a source of meat but also a potential income stream. By next year, I envision having a thriving herd that will help us in tough times, pay for my children's education, and improve our overall quality of life.

I am a widow with four children, and I depend heavily on my eldest son, who works casual jobs to support us. With the last three transfers I received totaling $102, I spent $56 to buy a new bed. Before this, I had been sleeping on a small traditional bed that was very uncomfortable. Every morning, I woke up feeling tired and sore. But now, with the new bed, I wake up refreshed and ready to face the day. This change has made a significant difference in my life, allowing me to take better care of my children. With the remaining $46, I focused on my children's needs. I used $10 to pay school fees for my two primary school children. Education is crucial for their future, and this payment ensured they could continue their studies without interruption. The last $36 went towards buying food for my family. This purchase was particularly important as it helped relieve my son from the exhausting burden of constantly providing for his siblings through his casual labor. Now, with a steady supply of food, we are more secure, and my son can focus on his work without worrying as much about our daily sustenance.

What I wish for is for my four children to study up to their desired level of education. However, since I lack a reliable source of income, am worried that if I do not establish an investment out of the transfer, I may not be able to finance their education. Through future cash transfers, I have been able to acquire goat this quarter and hoping to buy more through the transfer. Am confident that when these animals increase in number it will increase wealth. In the future, I can sell them to support my children.

I used $45 to pay their school fees and buy books, ensuring they could settle comfortably into their studies. Sadly, my attempt at starting a small chicken business with $9 failed when the chickens fell ill and died. Undeterred, I invested another $45 in a goat, believing it would serve as a valuable asset in times of need and eventually provide for my family when it multiplies. As a single mother working casually, I hold onto hope that when my children finish school and secure jobs, they'll be there to support me.

In the coming year and beyond, I plan to continue investing in livestock. While I initially considered buying chickens, their vulnerability to diseases caused by the cold weather has led me to prioritize goats. My goal is to acquire three female goats that can reproduce. Over time, I plan to sell the offspring to meet my family's needs and support the education of my two children. In the future, even after the cash transfers have ceased, I will not have to go back to making charcoal as the goats will be part of my income sources.

I bought a goat using $15 from the previous transfers and $20 from the recent transfer. I intend to rear the goat as part of an investment for the future when the cash transfers eventually cease. By building a sustainable source of income through livestock, I aim to continue contributing to my family's needs. Allocating $14 to compensate for labor, I ensured the weeding of my maize crops, which have grown well due to the ongoing rains. Additionally, I used $10 to clear a tuition debt for my two children, preventing them from being sent out of school. They were able to stay in school, take their examinations, and perform well enough to progress to the next classes. I had previously taken food on credit from the shop and I spent $34 to settle the outstanding amount, and the remaining funds were used to purchase vegetables. As the sole provider for my family since my husband's passing, I rely on charcoal making for income. The cash transfers have significantly alleviated hardships in my household, and I acknowledge that things would not be the same without this support.

My goal is to rear goats and I believe that as they reproduce, the herd will grow, and this will contribute to building wealth and financial stability for my family in the future. The inspiration for this venture came from taking care of other people's goats on my homestead, and now I am eager to begin raising my own. I plan to start with two goats and let them multiply to expand the herd. I know for sure that the little I make from my casual charcoal-making practice is not enough to afford a goat. But am relieved and confident that the cash transfers will be instrumental in providing me with the means to pursue this goal.

Receiving the cash transfer came as a much-needed relief for my family. When the funds arrived, we were facing a challenging time as our food had run out, and we had suffered for almost a week. With $14 of the cash transfers, I immediately purchased food, which sustained us until our maize crops matured on the farm, and we could start harvesting. Another concern was the tuition debts of my three children at their schools. Using $20 from the transfers, I was able to reduce their debts, ensuring they could continue with their studies without interruptions. Being their primary provider, the responsibility for their education mostly falls on me. As a mother of three children and part of a larger family with two wives and six children, it is crucial for me to contribute to the household income. My husband's earnings are not enough to cover all the needs of both families, which is why I engage in charcoal burning to support him. I am happy that the cash transfers have been a valuable support, helping me through challenging times and providing an opportunity to provide for the family.

What I wish for is for my four children to study up to their desired level of education. However, since I lack a reliable source of income, am worried that if I do not establish an investment out of the transfer, I may not be able to finance their education. Through future cash transfers, I wish to acquire goats and chickens. Am confident that as these animals breed and increase in number, so as my wealth increases. In the future, I can sell them to support my children. 

The money has helped me put food on the table and keep my three children in school over the period. The charcoal-making job that I mostly rely on could never fulfill all these wants as it generates a very low income. By the time I received the cash, two of my children were in debt for tuition fees at their school. So, I spent $10 to clear the amount as a precaution so that they may never miss classes. Also, I used $10 to enroll my daughter in a tailoring college. Am happy that all my children are comfortable taking their studies without interruptions to pick school fees. Also, my household had run out of food from the previous night, and I spent the remaining $14 on maize flour. Am happy that the food has served my family to date. 

Our area has been adversely affected by extreme drought in the past year. All we could think of was securing foodstuffs. For our sustainability, I plan on starting a poultry project as I rear goats. To accomplish this dream, I plan on saving at least $10 monthly from my cash support. This would help meet my children's school fees and I'll also have something to show for once my project is done.

My primary source of income is from burning charcoal. It takes a lot of energy to dig the wood logs used to make charcoal. I'm getting older, therefore this is getting harder for me. We cannot meet all of our needs with the $6 I make from it each week. Due to my inability to pay their fees, two of my children did not continue their studies after taking the primary exams. I still have four more children in elementary school, and I hope to see them all the way through to college. Since my spouse passed away ten years ago, it is solely my job to see to it that they receive their basic needs. When we began receiving the monthly payment, we got together in a group of thirty persons and decided to save $10 each month and divide it into two equal portions. As a result, I have saved $30 for the past three months. Last month, when I received my shares of $150, I invested $60 in two goats for breeding. After they have multiplied, I intend to sell them to make money for my kids' school expenses. I paid the remaining tuition balance of $35 at the school, and I spent the remaining $55 to buy 14 kg of corn flour and other groceries for my family. I'm grateful for the assistance and the money because it has been helpful.

GiveDirectly has worked hard to ensure that community members are well informed. This ensures successful enrollment of a large number of recipients from our area. It does not make the promise of unconditional cash transfers to our community but rather fulfills it. Furthermore, it ensures that all transfers are sent via Mpesa, which protects recipients from people with malicious intent. This approach allows only the beneficiaries to access their transfers.

I am a widow and a mother of five children who meeting their basic needs, food, and education has been very hard. This is because I do not have a reliable job and only resort to charcoal making. So with the transfer, I spent KES 2,200 on buying food for my family. I am so excited that courtesy of the transfer, my family has been able to feed well, and we have some food that can comfortably support us in the next two weeks.

I was heading home from fetching water when my phone vibrated with a message alert. I rushed home because I was uncertain of its contents and needed my helper to confirm it for me. The joy that filled my heart when I received confirmation of the receipt is indescribable. Because we had not eaten the previous night, I quickly withdrew the money and went out to buy food for my family.

Prior to the transfer, my household would frequently run out of food, causing us to skip meals and sleep hungry. My family, on the other hand, has eaten every day since I received the transfer and has never skipped a meal. May God continue to bless Give Directly's work so that they can continue to make a difference in people's lives.

My transfer was largely spent on school fees and food. At that time, my three children had been sent home from school to collect unpaid fees and would not be permitted to return unless they paid. I was concerned about the situation since one of them is scheduled to take national exams this year, and being absent from class might have a negative impact on her performance. Moreover, my charcoal-selling business only brought me KES 1,500 per month, scarcely enough to cover the fees. To reduce the debt, I deducted KES 730 from the transfer. I spent the rest of the money on food because we had gone to bed hungry the night before and my children were starving.