In our home compound, we formed a three-member savings group where each of us contributes $20, making the total contribution $60. This amount is then given to one member who uses it for significant development projects according to her needs. As a casual laborer making and selling charcoal, my earnings are very limited, preventing me from undertaking substantial investments. Thanks to the money from the transfers and our savings group, I can now raise enough to invest in livestock, which I have wanted to do for a long time. I contributed $60 from my transfers to the group, and when it was my turn, I spent $70 to purchase a goat. I am pleased with this investment; I currently have nine goats, all purchased with the help of the transfers. As the herd continues to grow, I anticipate selling some in the future to purchase a dairy goat, which is more valuable and profitable. Additionally, I spent $23 on food to help feed my family of four. I am grateful that this amount was sufficient for us. I am very thankful for the financial support, which has empowered me financially and enabled me to take care of my family without the struggles I faced when relying solely on my charcoal-selling business.

My goal this year and beyond is to invest heavily in purchasing livestock. Livestock investment is very profitable for me, especially because goats multiply over time, helping to grow the herd. Once this happens, I will have the opportunity to sell some and reinvest the money in purchasing a dairy cow or a bull to help with tilling my land. I am very happy and appreciate the financial support I have received so far, which has greatly improved the quality of life for me and my family.

Each month, I set aside $20 as savings within a local group comprised of three members. In a rotating fashion, one member receives a monthly contribution of $60 and determines its best use. Recently, I utilized my share from this group to purchase two goats. While one goat successfully gave birth, unfortunately, the kid did not survive. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic about the potential for my goat herd to expand through further breeding. Additionally, I allocated $42 towards purchasing food for myself and my four children. As my income from charcoal sales is minimal, I often find it challenging to meet my family's essential needs. Thus, I am profoundly grateful for the financial assistance provided by the transfers, which has significantly eased this burden.

In order to increase my earnings, I intend to use my upcoming transfers to invest in acquiring livestock. These animals represent a reliable means of generating wealth for the future. With four children who depend on financial assistance for their education, expanding my livestock holdings holds promise. As the herd expands, it will significantly aid me in supporting their schooling, as I plan to sell some of the animals to cover their school fees. I am truly grateful for the support provided by the transfers, which has played a crucial role in caring for my family's needs.

As a casual laborer, my livelihood depends on selling charcoal at various market centers. This demanding job provides me with minimal income, forcing my family and me to live hand-to-mouth. To improve our situation, I have decided to utilize my monthly transfers to enhance my charcoal business. This involves purchasing more charcoal from my colleagues and selling it at a higher price in the market. I am grateful that this strategy is yielding positive results, and I hope to continue this progress in the future. With the funds received, I invested $55 in purchasing a goat. This serves as a long-term investment that will provide a safety net beyond the duration of the transfers. Having two goats now, acquired through the support of the transfers, gives me peace of mind knowing that I have a backup plan and potential income source in case of emergencies. Additionally, I allocated $13 for medical expenses. I suffer from constant leg pain, which requires regular hospital checkups and medical attention. The financial support provided by the monthly transfers has been instrumental in ensuring I can seek the necessary medical care without fail. I am extremely grateful for the ongoing financial support offered by the transfers, as it has significantly helped me provide for my family and address our needs more effectively.

In addition to my hard work and running my business, I have a strong desire to further invest in livestock. This is a wise strategy for accumulating wealth over the long term. My goal is to build a substantial flock that will provide a safety net in case of emergencies. Moreover, I plan to sell some of the livestock to acquire dairy cows and a bull, which will aid me in cultivating my land during the rainy season. I am filled with happiness and gratitude for the financial support I have received thus far. It has played a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of my family.

Relying primarily on charcoal sales as my main source of income, I recently seized the opportunity presented by heavy rainfall to engage in farming on my 4-acre plot. To commence this venture, I invested $22 in purchasing seeds, which I subsequently planted on my farm. The financial support provided by Give Directly played a crucial role in enabling me to embark on this farming endeavor, as I previously lacked the necessary funds to procure the seeds. The prospect of a bountiful harvest fills me with great happiness, as it will ensure an abundant food supply for myself and my four children in the upcoming months. In addition to acquiring seeds, I also prioritize purchasing food for my family. The provisions I bought were sufficient to sustain us for an entire week, not only nourishing our bodies but also motivating my children to continue working diligently in school, fueled by the required energy.

Expanding my income streams is a priority for me, and to achieve this, I am considering investing my funds in livestock. Specifically, I am interested in acquiring hens and goats due to their relatively short gestation periods. By breeding them and allowing their population to multiply, I can gradually sell some of them and generate additional income. This newfound revenue will play a crucial role in meeting the essential needs of my family.

To provide for my wife and four children, I buy and sell charcoal for a living. However, it has been four months since I actively engaged in the business as my leg was injured during one of my trips. During this time, I have hugely relied on Give Dircetcly’s cash transfers to meet my basic needs, mainly food. When I received the money in November, my motorbike which I use to ferry charcoal to town had broken down and needed repair. So I spent $12 to repair it and spent the remaining on maize flour. In December, I spent $18 on medication for the injured leg and the remaining $16 on food as well. From the recent transfers, I bought a goat worth $20 to start rearing and slowly build an alternative stream of income for my children’s education. The remaining $12 went towards food. Am glad the cash transfers put meals on the table during a difficult moment in my life and ensured my family’s basic needs were catered to.  

Two years ago, my livestock was attacked by a disease, which prompted me to sell them at a throw price before I could run into a devastating loss. Ever since it had been challenging to replace the herd due to financial constraints like my children's school fees and food. Though these cash transfers are a perfect opportunity to buy these animals, it is still tough since I hugely rely on money for my basic needs. I pray for fast healing of my leg so that I can get back to work and start saving towards purchasing livestock. By next year, I wish to have bought at least four goats. 

I own a motorbike that I use to carry charcoal from my village to the market. Six months ago the motorbike broke down and with no money for repair, I opted to start another business selling herbal toothbrushes(In that region the sticks are used to brush teeth). I sell one at $1 which does not give me enough money but it's the only job I can afford to venture into. I have four children, and paying school fees has been difficult, I am trying to clear the arrears I currently owe the school so that my children won't be sent home. I spent the recent transfer on the purchase of one goat which cost me $20 and $10 on food. I will use the goat to provide milk for my family.

I am thankful for this money, it does support me, I do not have enough words to describe it but God bless you all.

The moment I realized that I had received the money, I immediately ran to the store to grab some things for nutrition because we had actually gone to bed hungry as a family. Therefore I went ahead and bought seven packets of maize flour for KEDlS 1,500 and and then I also settled a debt of KES 1,000 with the storekeeper since I had already taken some items on loan previously when we ran out of food. Eventually I used the remaining KES 500 to pay tuition fee for my four children since they had been kicked out of school two days earlier.

Honestly speaking, my biggest priority was to ensure that my kids were finally able to have a meal especially since I had already mentioned that we had already gone to bed hungry the previous night and were most likely goingg to go through the ordeal were it not for the Organization sending the donation.

I was actually looking out for a job in the next town when I suddenly realized that I had received the funds from the Organization and in my own opinion it couldn't have come at a better time because at the time I was stressed out that was barely nothing to ea,t and me receivingg the money that day felt almost like a miracle because we most likely so going to go to bed hungry yet again.