The goal that is running through my mind right now is to renovate my house, as it seems it might collapse, especially when the heavy rains come. I recently joined a merry-go-round initiative so that I can save $10 from my monthly cash transfers and start this project. I believe that by early next year, I will be able to kickstart this project, as I am certain that I will have accumulated the necessary resources. Once this project is completed, I will no longer have to worry about infrastructure issues or the coming rains. Additionally, this will provide a stable place for my family, so we won't have to seek shelter elsewhere, especially during the winter seasons.

I joined a chama a few days ago intending to accumulate transfers so that I can have enough cash to renovate my house and buy a wooden door to fix in my house. Currently, I have $30 in my savings, and my goal is to save at least $150 to start this initiative. My house is on the verge of collapsing, and I need to create a good foundation on the floor and walls. The walls are also quite weak and need to be strengthened. The new door will serve as added security since my property is currently not safe without a stable door. I also used $72 to buy sufficient food for my household, as this has been a continuous challenge. It has been a while since we harvested from our farms due to the prolonged drought. I have sometimes run out of food, and to prevent this from happening again, I decided to stock up my kitchen with enough food to last for months, as I live with my small family.

My goal in the coming year and beyond is to repair and install a door on my house. The mud walls have large openings, and the lack of a door is a significant safety concern, especially at night. Fixing the house will ensure my safety and provide peace of mind. I am very grateful for the financial support I have received from Give Directly, which has made my life better.

I have a recurring mental condition that has plagued me for several years, leaving me unable to take care of myself. I rely entirely on my eldest son, who is a subsistence farmer and does manual labor jobs to support our family. This dependence has become increasingly difficult due to his limited income, which must cover my medical expenses and our immediate needs. With the help of my daughter-in-law, I decided to join a savings group consisting of six members. The money I save with the group will be used to purchase livestock, which I see as a strategic investment for generating income in the future, even after the unconditional transfers end. Currently, I have two goats that I bought with money from the transfers, and I aim to grow this number. I spent the remaining $42 to purchase food, ensuring that I never lacked something to eat despite my inability to work due to my health condition. I am very happy that this financial support will help me secure my future by investing in livestock, which will increase in value and multiply.

Having acquired a bed and mattress, my subsequent objective is to increase my investment in purchasing livestock. As an elderly woman, investing in livestock is the most viable option as it does not demand excessive time or energy. The goats, in particular, offer a potential source of income if needed in the future. Additionally, my house has developed significant cracks, prompting the need to fortify it by constructing sturdy, permanent pillars. I am extremely pleased and grateful for the financial support I have received from Give Directly, which has notably enhanced the quality of my life.

It was my turn to receive my savings, and I couldn't contain my joy upon receiving $100. Without hesitation, I invested the money in purchasing two goats at $50 each. I am pleased because as the goats multiply in the near future, they will not only increase my initial investment but also provide tangible assets that can be sold if the need for money arises. For some time, I slept on a mat on the bare ground due to the absence of a mattress or a bed. However, after saving my two months' transfers, I was able to purchase a new mattress and a wooden bed, totaling $80. I am delighted with the progress I have made, as I now sleep in comfort and no longer experience the back pains I endured previously. I am grateful for the transfers and extend my thanks to Give Directly for their impactful support to those of us living in poverty.

My primary goal and greatest achievement lie in investing in livestock, particularly goats. The reason behind this choice is that once the goats start reproducing, they will not only double my initial investment but also increase in value over time. This provides me with a sustainable source of income, especially during the dry seasons when selling the goats becomes feasible. The financial support I have received thus far has proven invaluable, particularly during the challenging period when my son, who serves as the main provider for our family, fell ill. This support has helped alleviate the financial burden and provided me with a means to sustain myself and my family during this difficult time.

In July and August of this year, my son faced the challenges of arthritis, which greatly affected our family. As he is the primary breadwinner, his illness had a significant impact on our financial stability. Unfortunately, his condition required him to be hospitalized for two months, adding to our burdens. Due to our impoverished circumstances, we struggled to gather the necessary funds to settle the hospital bill and bring him back home. To alleviate this situation, I utilized $30 from my August transfer to contribute towards financing and clearing the substantial medical expenses. Thankfully, he has now returned home and is currently recovering. With the remaining $4, I purchased two packets of maize flour to address our food shortage, as we were unfortunate not to have a successful maize harvest. This compelled us to rely on purchasing food from local shops. I am grateful that the funds provided crucial assistance in covering my son's medical treatment, allowing him to be treated and recover in the comfort of our own home. The financial support proved to be a lifeline during this challenging time for our family.

In the coming years, I want to have bought more goats. I am grateful that the transfers from March and February this year allowed me to obtain two goats which have thankfully survived to date. I am more inclined towards rearing goats because they can survive extreme weather conditions like drought compared to other kinds of livestock. Since am advanced in age and cannot work to fend for my family’s needs, establishing wealth through livestock keeping is the best alternative I could contribute towards the household expenses. I hope to spend the cash transfers to realize this goal.

For a long time, I was not comfortable sleeping on my sisal-twined bed since there was no comfort associated with it. I had always wished to own a decent wooden bed and mattress but I could not afford the cost. Also, I could not have requested my sons to upgrade my furniture as they bore huge responsibilities of taking care of their seven and eight children respectively. Receiving the cash transfers meant that I would finally buy the bed I had longed for. That is how I spent the entire $34 from the recent transfer. I am very excited to get the next transfer to obtain a fitting mattress and start enjoying a cozy night's sleep.

In all honesty I really commend the organization for the great work it has been doing so far because the donations have been quite a great help to my day-to-day life especially considering that I'm quite old. The money is so far enabled me to get up for my nutrition, my health, my clothes and soon enough I'll finally get a bed. Therefore, I am grateful.

After I received my last transaction I went ahead to save KES 1,000 because I plan on buying a bed after I have been sleeping on a traditional bed made from sisal for the longest time now. I proceeded to spend KES 1,900 on nutrition so I went ahead to buy a bag of maize flour containing a dozen packets since nourishment was a challenge in itself. Lastly I spent the remaining balance of KES 500 by buying a lantern so that it could help me with proper lighting when it became dark.

I was at home talking to my grandchildren while enjoying the late-afternoon sun outside my home. My daughter-in-law came up to me and joyfully announced that I had received my first transfer. I was overcome with emotions, and tears of joy streamed down my cheeks uninterrupted. We both grinned and thanked God for the miracle as I gave my daughter-in-law a tight embrace.

My deteriorating health condition, which necessitates frequent trips to the hospital for checkups and treatment, has been the biggest challenge I've been dealing with lately. I'm glad the transfer has helped me visit the hospital to get the right medication and buy food that is necessary to help me improve my health.

I am an old person who relies heavily on my carpenter son for financial support. My health has recently seriously declined, forcing me to use home remedies because I don't have the money to go to the hospital. I spent $1 on some prescription medications (pain relievers) when I got my transfer to help with the fever. I spent a significant amount of the $23.5 transfer, in addition to purchasing medicine, on food. I had to buy food in large quantities to ensure that I would have enough to eat for the upcoming weeks. I sometimes have to skip meals or accrue debt by buying food on credit because my son can't always send me money. Finally, I bought new clothes with the remaining $5.5. I had two shabby outfits that I had been wearing since the beginning of the year. I'm glad that wearing the new clothes will make me appear more put together and self-assured.