As a mother of 11 children, my greatest desire is to see all of them in school, receiving the education they deserve. At the moment, only three of my children are enrolled in school, while some who are of school-going age remain at home because I do not have the financial means to enroll them. This situation weighs heavily on my heart, but it also fuels my determination to find a solution. To address this, I have prioritized investing in goats using a portion of my transfers, while using another portion to pay school fees for those who are already in school. This strategy gives me hope. By nurturing and growing my herd of goats, I envision them multiplying, increasing in both number and value. Over time, I plan to sell some of them to generate the funds needed to enroll the other children and continue supporting those already in school. This approach is not just a plan; it is my pathway to giving all my children a chance at a brighter future. I am filled with optimism and confidence that it will work out, allowing me to fulfill my dream of seeing every one of my children educated and empowered. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for their unwavering support. Their assistance has provided me with the means to take these important steps toward securing my children’s future, and I remain hopeful and excited for what lies ahead.

Recently, I decided to venture into livestock farming because animals multiply rapidly, providing a sustainable path to securing my family's future. I therefore used $45 from my recent transfers to purchase two goats, adding to the few I already own. I hope that these goats will multiply and grow in value over time. In the future, I plan to sell some of them to support my children’s education, ensuring they have the opportunities they deserve like other children. Unfortunately, our region is faced with drought and hunger leaving us with no food. To shield my family from hunger, I used $33 of my transfers to purchase food. Knowing my children are well-fed during these difficult times fills my heart with relief and gratitude. Education has always been my top priority. I am determined to ensure my children continue with their schooling, no matter the obstacles. To make this possible, I spent $9 of the transfers to pay their school fees. Wanting them to feel confident and proud, I also used $5 to buy them new clothes, as their old ones were worn and tattered. Seeing their joy and confidence in their fresh outfits is a moment I will always cherish. Life, however, threw another challenge my way when I fell ill recently. I needed urgent medical care, and I spent the remaining $10 of my transfers to visit the hospital and receive the necessary treatment. I am grateful to report that I am now feeling much better and on the road to recovery. I cannot express enough gratitude to GiveDirectly for their unwavering support. Their assistance has been a beacon of hope during these trying times, allowing me to provide for my family, prioritize my children’s education, and take meaningful steps toward a brighter and more secure future. My heart is filled with hope and optimism as I continue on this journey.

My top priority is to ensure that each of my seven children receives a quality education. At the moment, only four of them are attending primary school, thanks to the financial assistance I've been receiving. Prior to this support, the income from charcoal production wasn't sufficient to cover the educational expenses for all our children. In order to address this obstacle, I've decided to invest in goat farming as a means of generating the necessary funds for their education. I've already purchased one goat to launch this initiative and intend to expand it to save up enough to enroll the remaining three children in school. Furthermore, I aspire to use the profits from this venture to eventually establish a small shop and provide a more stable financial future for my family

I have a total of seven children, four of whom are currently in school, while the remaining three are still too young for school and stay at home. Due to having children at very close intervals, there is only a one-year gap between them, which makes my responsibilities quite demanding. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support, which has significantly eased my financial burden. With my most recent transfer, I spent $20 to pay the school fees for my four children to ensure they are not sent home for unpaid balances. I also spent $13 on food for my family’s consumption. When I fell ill, I used $10 to seek medical attention. Lastly, I invested $79 in buying two goats for future financial security and used the remaining $6 to buy soap and body oil for my family.

My primary goal is to ensure the education of all ten of my children. Currently, only three of them are enrolled in primary school, and they began their education journey when I started receiving the cash transfers. Before this, the income generated from charcoal making by both their father and me was insufficient to support the educational needs of all our children. I am determined to utilize livestock keeping as a means to address the financial requirements of my children's education. To kickstart this initiative, I have already purchased one goat. I plan to expand this endeavor and save additional funds to enroll the remaining seven children in school so that none of them are left behind.

Both my husband and I rely on charcoal making to support our family of ten children. However, the income generated from this activity is so meager that we've struggled to enroll seven of our children in school. Sometimes, the earnings are barely sufficient to provide daily meals for our family, and there have been nights when we've gone to bed hungry. Despite these challenges, I'm grateful that the cash transfers have enabled us to keep three of our children in school. I used $15 to clear outstanding debts for my children's ongoing term to prevent them from missing classes. I also invested $34 in buying a goat for rearing, as I believe I can sell these animals in the future to cover my children's school fees. Moreover, I saved $10 through a savings club to support their education, ensuring that their studies are not interrupted. There was a time when I fell ill with the flu and had to spend $5 on medication, but I'm relieved to say that I'm now recovering well with proper treatment. Additionally, I spent $6 on purchasing a pair of khanga, replacing the worn-out one that had been torn from repetitive use. The remaining $32 was allocated towards household expenses such as food and toiletries to ensure the well-being of my children.

My goal is to establish a stable source of income, specifically through a vegetable-selling business. Due to my chest complications, which restrict strenuous activities, operating such a business is a viable option. The profits from this venture can help support my husband in providing for our eleven children, alleviating the burden on him. I envision setting up the business at the trade center to attract more customers, and I hope that the cash transfers will significantly contribute to financing this goal.

Previously, I used to engage in farm work and charcoal making to support my husband in providing for our eleven children. Unfortunately, I developed chest complications, and the doctors advised me against such strenuous activities. Consequently, my husband became the sole provider, relying on demanding casual jobs like house construction. The scarcity of these jobs made it challenging to fully meet our family's needs, leading to five of our children dropping out of school due to a lack of funds. The cash transfers brought a glimmer of hope, allowing me to actively contribute to the family's needs, although it hasn't extended to sending my children back to school. From the recent funds, I invested $54 to purchase three goats, marking the beginning of my venture into livestock rearing. I believe these animals will be invaluable when my husband faces challenges, as we can sell them to support the children's needs. Additionally, I spent $14 on second-hand clothes for three children, replacing their torn attire. Another $10 went towards buying a wooden box to store our clothes, as we usually hung them in the house. Through a savings group, I managed to save $10, foreseeing its usefulness in the future when faced with hardships. The remaining funds were allocated to supporting my husband in putting food on the table.

As a parent, my heart is heavy knowing that my four children have not yet been able to attend school. The visible disappointment on their faces as they watch their peers going to school speaks volumes about their unhappiness. My main objective is to rectify this situation by diligently saving money from my transfers, which I plan to utilize for enrolling my children in school. I firmly believe that education is an essential foundation for success, and witnessing my children acquire the necessary skills in school will bring me immense joy.

My husband and I are both peasant farmers, and during the rainy season, we work diligently on the farm to ensure an ample food supply. Besides farming, we also sell charcoal to make a living, but unfortunately, it doesn't bring in much money. These financial challenges have plunged our family into deep poverty. Recently, I managed to partially pay my eldest son's $10 school fees, as he is currently attending secondary school. Although there is still a remaining debt of $30, I am grateful that he hasn't been sent home and is still able to continue his education. However, I feel great sadness knowing that my four other children have not yet been able to enroll in school because we cannot afford their school fees. To sustain our family, I spent $14 on purchasing food, which should last us for a few days until we figure out a way to acquire more. Additionally, I allocated $10 to buy new clothes for myself since my wardrobe only had two torn pairs left. I am now content because these new clothes make me look presentable, a significant improvement from before.

Owing to the current situation in our area, obtaining food has been extremely hard. Despite the attempt by the entire community to do farming, our crops have been failing for the last four consecutive seasons. It leaves us with no option but to dig tree roots for charcoal burning. However, with the assurance of the monthly transfers, I have a goal to always focus on obtaining food for my family of ten members. I shall, therefore, be spending a large proportion of my transfers to acquire food every month probably for the rest of this year. It will play a key role in reducing my stress.

We live in extreme poverty, and every day we desire to work harder to break the cycle of poverty. As it has been our trend since we first received the initial transfer, I saved $ 10 in a merry-go-round. We are few, just a group of 10 members, and we can always borrow some money when financially constrained to meet core family needs; educational and nutritional needs. We could not be able to build our savings before GiveDirectly's program. Although I had other needs; clothing, food, and school fees, I prioritized spending $14 on maize flour and other foodstuff. I also spent $10 on paying school fees for my children, and I am relieved they are advancing well with their studies.

Giving people affected by poverty, such as myself, unconditional money is one of the greatest things Give Directly does. I am grateful for the transfers I have received so far, as they have pulled me from hardships I never imagined were possible to relieve. Give Directly has done nothing wrong in my opinion.

Life has put my husband and me through the wringer, especially with the ongoing drought and having ten children to support. It has not been an easy journey. We rely heavily on charcoal burning to meet our family's necessities, particularly food and school expenses. However, the earnings are not sufficient. The physical rigors of the practice hinder us from producing much charcoal. Also, imagine digging tree stumps on an empty stomach while pregnant; you won't go very far. The best we can make in two weeks is $10, which barely fits to feed all of us. Right now, we are unable to enroll nine of the children in school because we cannot pay the costs. When I started receiving transfers, I began buying and rearing chickens. At least, as they multiply and grow, I will be able to sell them to help fund my children's education. So I spent $6 on four more hens. $13 went toward food, and $5 went toward my fifth-grade daughter's school fees. I saved the remaining $10 through a self-help group to help me with my needs whenever am stuck. 

It was late in the evening, and I was just at home. The day had been tiresome since I was out in the forest digging tree roots for charcoal burning. When I received my transfer, I felt just good. At first, I did not believe it, and I had to confirm that was a Mpesa message. In my life, I had never received a transfer like that, and that excited me even more. Without delay, I hurriedly went to withdraw the cash and spent part of it on maize flour because what we had was insufficient. I am grateful to GiveDirectly.

I have experienced a positive change in my way of life ever since I received my most recent transfer. I have restarted poultry farming after losing a flock of hens. With a new beginning, I have high hopes for having more hens in the next year. Additionally, I invested in various outfits that help me look smart. Despite being second-hand, these are much better than the originals I had. I am quite appreciative of GiveDirectly for the financial support.

For some months, I had been longing to begin fraising domestic fowl. Previously I had a flock that died due to the outbreak of domestic fowl-related diseases. From then, I had no money even to buy a hen. Therefore when I received my latest transfer, I spent $5 on two chicks. I am hopeful that they will grow into a large flock that can help us raise some additional income for the family. Since I had insufficient foodstuff, I used $5 on maize flour, and I was glad that for two days, my family members ate to their satisfaction. Lastly, I used $1.7 on some second-hand clothes. The set of clothes I previously had was old and unpresentable.