In the coming year and beyond, my goal is to grow my livestock by purchasing more goats through my monthly savings. Right now, I have one goat and one cow, but expanding my herd will secure a better future for my family. I’ve already started saving $10 per month through a merry-go-round group, and I’m committed to continuing this until I can afford to buy more goats. With a larger herd, I’ll have more resources to provide for my family’s needs and create long-term stability for us. This plan gives me hope and a clear path forward.

I am a mother of six, and while I rely on charcoal burning, my husband does casual jobs to help provide for our family. With the last three transfers we received amounting to $102, I used the money wisely. First, I saved $30, as I always make it a point to put aside $10 from each transfer. This savings gives me peace of mind, knowing I have something to rely on during emergencies, especially since our income from charcoal and casual work is not always stable. Saving for the future is important, and it gives me a sense of security for my children. The remaining $72 went toward meeting our immediate needs. I spent $48 on food because, unfortunately, we didn’t harvest anything last season due to the lack of rainfall. Buying enough food was crucial to keep my family well-fed. Additionally, I used $24 to buy detergents and personal effects to keep our home clean and ensure everyone’s hygiene is well taken care of. These transfers have been a lifeline for us, helping us manage through tough times and ensuring our basic needs are met while still allowing me to save for unexpected situations.

My house is in a very poor state where the roofing is made of nylon covers, and this is really depressing. I want to improve the roofing from nylon to iron sheets. My plan is therefore to keep saving my transfers in a merry-go-round savings group where we pool funds together so that when it is my turn, I may use the pooled funds to buy the iron sheets and give my house better roofing. Having a better-roofed house will make me very happy, and I am hopeful that this will come true. In addition to improving my home's roofing, I also plan to keep using part of my transfers to buy more chickens and, if possible, goats with hopes that they will multiply and increase in number, and I can then sell them and use the proceeds to buy small cows. These cows will be a great source of income in the future, as once they grow and increase in size and value, I can sell them and use the money to provide for my family.

My house is in a very poor state where the roofing is made of nylon covers, and this is really depressing. I have had it in my plans to buy iron sheets and have good roofing for my house. Buying the iron sheets all at once is quite expensive and unaffordable, and therefore I decided to save in a merry-go-round group where we pool funds together as a group. I therefore saved $30 of my transfers with the aim of waiting for my turn and doing something constructive with the pooled funds. Additionally, I spent $30 to buy chicken with hopes of them multiplying and increasing in number, and then trade them for goats, which will multiply as well, and trade them for cows. These cows in the future will be very valuable, and selling them will be lucrative. The proceeds can be used to support our family when faced with pressing needs that require a lot of money. I then paid $18 in school fees for my three children so that they would not be returned home but continue with their studies. Finally, I used the remaining $24 of the transfers to buy food for my family, ensuring that we would not go hungry.

Before the cash transfers come to an end, I wish to have repaired the roof of my house. It is made of polythene paper, which is not only inconvenient for habitation but also allows water to leak through its holes. I hope to obtain at least 10 iron sheets to replace the roof, and I am glad to have already obtained 2 pieces from the transfers. Alongside, I hope to rear livestock, particularly goats, as they are like a form of banking to me, securing my future financial needs. So far, I have bought three goats from the transfers, two of which have delivered two kids.

I have always wanted to rear goats, but the lack of funds to acquire them was a major hindrance. Even after I began receiving transfers, I desired to buy goats, but the money was constrained by food expenses. I am happy that farming was successful last year, somewhat alleviating the food concern. So, it was an ideal opportunity to buy the goats. I spent $68 to purchase two goats. Additionally, I contributed $10 to a savings club, hoping to accumulate enough funds to buy more goats. To me, owning livestock is a form of banking that I can utilize in the future to generate funds for needs such as food and emergency medical expenses. It is a perfect supplement to my casual jobs in making charcoal. I used another $20 to purchase two iron sheets to replace the roof of my house. Currently, it is covered with polythene paper and despite it being an unconducive roofing material, it has pores that allow water to leak in when it rains.

My objective is to initiate a poultry rearing venture with a primary focus on chickens. I am pleased to share that I have already begun acquiring chickens, currently totaling seven in number. I envision that as this venture expands, it will pave the way for me to acquire goats, known for their higher profitability. Additionally, I have set the goal of replacing my current grass-thatched roof, which does not provide sufficient security. To realize this, I plan to allocate future transfers towards procuring iron roofing sheets. The prospect of establishing an additional source of income and ensuring a safer living space for my family brings me immense joy and satisfaction.

To sustain my family, I engage in the business of selling vegetables, fish (sardines), and other essential items within my village. Previously, making ends meet and securing food for my family of eight proved challenging due to a prolonged drought in our village. Gratefully, my venture into the vegetable-selling business has transformed our circumstances. With the income generated, I not only provide for my family's needs but have also acquired goats and established a consistent monthly savings routine. Out of the received transfers, I allocated $48 to purchase much-needed food for my family. Another $24 was invested in purchasing chickens with the intention of raising and eventually selling them for a profit. The remaining $30 was wisely saved in our savings club, serving as a financial safety net for any unforeseen emergencies. Witnessing the progress in my life from the challenging circumstances before fills me with happiness and gratitude.

My primary goal is to replace the polythene paper roof of my house with a more decent and durable tin roof. Since my husband and I both rely on casual jobs that barely cover basic needs like food for the family, I decided to leverage the opportunity presented by the cash transfers to accomplish this goal. I have been saving $10 each month through a savings group. I aim to accumulate enough funds to purchase at least 28 iron sheets for the roof repair. Once the roofing is taken care of, I hope to continue investing in livestock, particularly goats, as they are considered valuable assets in the Giriama community. Currently, I already have three goats, which were obtained through previous transfers, and I plan to continue expanding the herd.

After I receive my monthly transfers, I usually contribute $10 to a merry-go-round club, intending to purchase iron sheets to replace the current polythene bag roof of my house. I aim to acquire at least 28 pieces of iron sheets for this purpose. After I saved this amount from the recent funds, I used $20 to secure a goat, which increased my herd to three. I am grateful that all these goats were obtained through the cash transfers. The remaining funds were used to supplement the little food in the house. My main source of income is charcoal burning, but recent safety issues with elephants in the fields have made it difficult to continue this activity. Similarly, my husband, who cuts building trees, has also faced obstacles due to the same issue, limiting his ability to work. I am happy that the cash transfers are being a great support to our four children and ourselves during these hard times. The money has also empowered me to work towards livestock keeping, for which I will eternally remain grateful.

Ever since my husband and I built our house, we have not been able to put up a decent roof because of a lack of money. Alternatively, we sealed it with polythene paper as we worked on raising funds to install the iron sheets. Thanks to Give Directly, the cash transfers will allow me to contribute to the renovation exercise as I have been saving for the same over the last few months. I hope this project comes to fruition by the end of the year. After that, I wish to buy goats for rearing. In the Giriama community, owning livestock is like personal banking, as one can easily sell these animals in the future to fulfill a financial emergency. 

Through the cash transfers, I have been actively contributing towards the basic needs of my family and supporting my husband. He struggles to provide for our six children and me through his charcoal-making jobs, which barely makes him enough to cover food costs. From each of the three recent transfers, I have spent $14 on food, saved $10 through a merry-go-round club, and boosted my small business of selling dried sardines. Though there are times we miss important meals, am happy that the first days post-transfers are the merriest; we eat regularly. Also, the sardine-selling business has been progressing well over the period as I realize more profits every month, which helps with the family's needs. Lastly, the savings am accumulating through the club will help me repair the roof of my house, which is sealed with polythene bags as we speak. 

My goals for this year are to raise livestock and improve the condition of my home. My two-room house is made of coconut tree leaves (Makuti), and the roof has seriously leaked over the past two years. Due to my inability to make enough money from my job selling charcoal, I am unable to replace the entire roof. In order to stop leaks, I'm going to replace the roof entirely and buy iron sheets, which will last longer than "makuti." I also want to get into raising livestock and chickens. When I sell the hens and goats that would have grown over time, I will be able to achieve my ultimate goal of owning dairy cows.

$30 saved on an informal savings group where we save monthly the eleven of us, paid $3 in school for my daughter and the rest on food. When I earned my shares I bought 2 goats at $70 for rearing and gave my two children $2 for school fees. The rest on food. When i earn my next transfer i will use it to construct a house

Before receiving the funds, my family and I had actually gone to bed on an empty stomach since my husband abd I had no money. So the next morning when I woke up and received the money I was ecstatic because this meant that my children and I would not have to go hungry again. So I used KES 1,140 and bought half a dozen packets of maize flour. Afterwards I took KES 300 and paid tuition fee for my child since it had been a week since he was out of school due to failure of settling the fees. I also used KES 1,000 and added it to my business where I sold sardines from the comfort of my home which helped me make some money and used the rest of the balance of 560 and purchased three hens.

I am out of words in expressing my sincere gratitude to GiveDirectly for the unconditional transfer that is helping me elevate my life of poverty. However, I would recommend an increment of the monthly transfer so that we can keep pace with the rising prices of important items.

I spent half of the money from my transfer to start a small business selling “Omena”. Before starting the business, I worked as a casual laborer selling charcoal. Making the charcoal is very long and tedious however, the income I earn is little. My husband earns a living by selling building poles. Since the emergence of the drought, his business is on a decline due to the scarcity of trees. The lack of a stable source of income is a challenge in providing the essential needs (food, clothing, and school fees) for my family (husband and 6 children). Starting this business will provide an alternative source of income and therefore ensure that I can help my struggling husband pay the bills. Besides starting the business, I spent the remaining amount of KES 1500 in buying food for my family. This was to prevent them from starving after spending two days without eating and surviving on water and wild fruits.

I was very happy to receive money from GiveDirectly. The transfer gave me a relief and hope that our household would rarely run out of food. Knowing that my children would remain in school, following the transfer, filled my heart with peace.

The greatest difference in my daily life since receiving the transfers is the faith I have built in GiveDirectly. The money boasted my confidence and trust in the organization to a point I no longer worry about meals or education for my children. I feel a weigh has been lifted off my shoulders and catered for in the hands of GiveDirectly.

Most of the transfer I received went towards paying school fees and procuring food for the family. I paid KES 500 to the primary school where my 2 children go to, bought 4 packets of maize flour with KES 480, and a kilo of beans at KES 100. I used the remaining amount of KES 40 to buy bar soap for cleaning purposes.