I sell sugar and small fish from home, as I don’t have a shop. I currently own twelve goats, which I view as a valuable investment because they can multiply and be sold to help me reach my goals. I plan to use the proceeds to purchase a piece of land and start building rental houses. Alternatively, I might exchange some goats for a cow, which could also be a good investment. Once the cow matures, I can sell it to raise enough money to begin construction on my house. This will improve our living standards and provide my family with a stable income from renting out the property.

I currently have twelve goats. With the transfers, I spent $34 to purchase an additional goat, believing that goats are a good investment because they can multiply and be sold to help cover my children’s school fees. As a mother of four, their education is very important to me. I used $4 from the transfers to pay my child's school fees, ensuring he will not be sent home from school. My father was recently ill and hospitalized, which caused me a lot of distress. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to use some of the transfers to cover his medical treatment. I spent $34 on his care, and he has fully recovered. Additionally, I spent $10 on new clothes, as my old ones were worn out. The remaining $20 was used to buy food for my family.

In the coming year and beyond, I have a clear and ambitious plan to transform my life and secure a stable future for my family. I currently own eight goats, and I am confident that their numbers will soon multiply significantly. With the growing herd, I will be in a position to sell some of these goats and use the proceeds to buy a plot of land. This plot is not just an investment in property, but the foundation for a larger dream. Once I acquire the land, my next step will be to build a rental house on it. This rental property will serve as a steady source of income, ensuring long-term financial stability and independence. This plan is deeply meaningful to me because it represents not only a way to escape the uncertainty of my current situation but also a way to remember and honor the program that helped me start my journey.

I invested the recent cash in buying a goat and four ducks for a total of $54. These will be the assets that will help me, especially in my children's education, because as time goes by, they will increase in number, and I will be in a position to sell some and pay their fees. The goats and ducks are more than just livestock; they represent a sustainable future for my family, providing a steady source of income and security. Additionally, I was able to buy new school uniforms for my children. Their old uniforms were in such poor condition that they felt embarrassed and demotivated. Seeing the joy and pride on their faces when they wore their new uniforms to school was worth every penny. With the remaining cash, I treated myself to new clothes. My old ones were worn and torn, and wearing something new has lifted my spirits. Now, even as I sit in my small shop, I feel a deep sense of contentment. Knowing that my children's education is more secure and that we have a small but growing source of income fills me with hope. I am a happy soul, assured that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that our future is looking brighter thanks to these investments.

My objective is to expand my livestock holdings, particularly by acquiring additional goats. Presently, I possess seven goats, all obtained through cash transfers. Upon their reproduction, my intention is to sell some and acquire cows. Subsequently, as the cattle multiply, I will liquidate a portion and utilize the proceeds to procure land. This land will serve as the foundation for constructing a home where I can reside with my children. I am deeply content and grateful for the financial assistance provided by these transfers thus far.

In November, I allocated my entire $34 transfer to enlist the help of friends and neighbors in weeding the three-acre maize farm. I am pleased to report a bountiful harvest, sufficient to sustain us until June, alleviating the need to purchase maize flour at exorbitant prices. During the festive season, I utilized another $34 to purchase new clothing for my four children, bringing immense joy to their hearts. Additionally, I procured new attire for myself, supplementing my modest wardrobe and boosting my confidence in appearance. Furthermore, I enrolled my four-year-old daughter in nursery school, investing $14 in her education. As a contented parent, I anticipate the invaluable knowledge she will acquire, paving the way for a brighter future. My heartfelt gratitude extends to the transfers, which have significantly improved my quality of life.

My family is very huge, but the piece of land that we own is very little. As it is, there is 7 acres to be divide among 7 sons which means each will receive only an acre or less. Considering that each of the sons also have many children, my family not exempted, it is important that we acquire extra portions of land on our own if our children to have plots to construct their homes and farm in future. Fortunately, land is still very affordable in this locality with an acre going for as low as $400, meaning with proper planning, I can acquire a parcel through the transfers. To achieve this, I must invest wisely hence the reason I am currently purchasing goats using my transfers with an aim of later selling them to purchase cows as they are easy to manage especially during drought. With single cow fetching up to $200, all I need to have is at least 2 large cows to be able to purchase my first acre after which I will start the process all over again. It would make me very proud to have such an investment by the time this project comes to an end as it will be a lifetime proof of the project's impact in our lives.

Part of my transfers have helped me in taking care of the basic household requirements, purchasing foodstuff and also paying the little amounts my children are required to pay in school. Most of them have however been invested in goats as part of a long term plan that I have. With each month's transfer, I have been purchasing a goat that is within the transfer amount or sometimes even less and I am happy to report that I currently have 6 goats courtesy of the transfers. The bigger plan is to purchase a piece of land as the family land is very little and once subdivided, my family will only have an acre which will not be enough for my children when they grow up. As I am not able to raise the money, I have decided to invest in livestock that I can later sell to raise the full amount required. The monthly transfer is not enough to purchase a cow, which would have been my preferred type of livestock, but it is enough to purchase a goat, which I have been purchasing and once the number becomes unmanageable, I will sell them and purchase a cow the start the process all over again until I achieve my goal.

I've been considering adding new sources of income for our family, and I currently have two plans in the works. One is to buy an ox to employ on the farm, primarily for tilling. I'll be charging my neighbors to use this ox for tilling. I also have plans to launch a clothing business. All of these are meant to increase the financial security of our family.

Most of us are currently planting in order to make the most of the recent rains. I spent about $20 getting my land ready for planting. Due to the current high cost of food, it would have been difficult for us to meet our daily food needs without these transfers. Having food from our farm would reduce the cost. I spent $10 on meals for my family and some needs for my two small kids with the rest of the transfers.

First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude for the transfer and my conviction that I will gain more as a result. My daughter finished her basic education last year and will start secondary school in one month. We would not have been able to send her to secondary school if it weren't for the organization, and we had no plans to do so. In exchange for a tiny charge, my husband, who is the primary breadwinner, assists others by carrying their baggage. He works in the city, therefore the rent on his home is covered by part of the same income.To increase our revenue, I burn charcoal on the other side. Most of the time, our earnings is insufficient to cover a full day's worth of meals. Going ahead, I will utilize all of my upcoming transfers to pay for our daughter's educational fees while using other funds to cover everyday living needs. One of the biggest things a parent can give their child is education, and we will be pleased parents to see our child follow her dreams

My family had made it a culture to buy new sets of clothes during every Christmas festive season. At first, I only bought a pair of trousers for my only son, Anderson, while my girls had none because I had insufficient cash. As soon I received my transfer, I spent $15 on buying new set of clothes for my three daughters; Shamim, Stella, and Loice. They were very excited to have received the Christmas gift. The rest I spent on maize flour, wheat flour, and chicken for the festive celebration. I am indebted to GiveDirectly because, courtesy of the transfers, we had a good Christmas celebration. It helped me a lot since I did not have money. I heavily rely on charcoal making to earn a living, a venture that has low returns, while my husband has no source of income. He only looks for casual jobs that have become rare and hard to get. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for its charity work.

Personally I applaud the project and the programs that the organization has died so far back in the village and this is because they have given us a sense of hope. For instance my children are constantly getting kicked out of school and nutrition was definitely a big challenge. Luckily life has been made much more easier with the money because I can always send my kids back to school and we barely miss meals as much as we did before.

It had actually been a week since my two children had actually attended school because I had failed to settle their tuition debt for the term. Therefore upon realising that I had actually received the transfers I ended up using KES 1,000 on paying school fees for them both. Afterwards I decided to buy two hens which also cost me KES 1,000 because I was planning to invest in poultry farming. I also used KES 400 in seeking medical attention because at the time I was ailing. Lastly I used the remaining KES 600 by purchasing six packets maize flour because there was barely any food in the house.

At 3 pm, my daughter handed me my phone which had been charging all day long. Immediately after I powered on my phone, I received a text message. I was taken aback when I realized I had received my first transfer after reading the message. For a moment I stopped cooking the late lunch and started ululating at the top of my voice. I called my husband and shared the good news with him. He was very happy too.

The money from the transfer made an enormous impact on the eldest life by helping her go back to school. I was struggling to get money to pay and get her back to school. I am glad she is back in school and learning well, with no interruptions.

Both my husband and I are casual laborers and earn a living through the sale of charcoal. I sell charcoal locally, whereas my husband sells charcoal in Mombasa. We have both struggled to sell charcoal to our customers in the past few months because they opt to use cheaper fuel, e.g. firewood. Tough rules against cutting trees from the forest have collapsed the business too. Because of this, we have earned no income to pay our bills (buying food and paying school fees). Therefore, when I received my first transfer of KES 1200, I paid school fees arrears of KES 500 for my elder daughter who is in primary school to go back to school after spending an entire week at home without going to school. In addition, I bought two hens at KES 500 for future investment. Once they multiply, I will sell some and use the money to take care of my most pressing needs.