In the coming year and beyond, I aim to expand my livestock by purchasing more goats. Currently, I have five goats, which have greatly benefited my family. Adding more goats will provide even greater support for our needs. To achieve this, I plan to save $10 monthly to accumulate the money to buy the goats. In the current market, a goat goes for around $50. With more goats, I will improve my family's livelihood, whether through selling them or utilizing their produce. This investment will secure our future and provide us with greater stability.

As a widow of five, I rely entirely on the transfers I receive each month, although my son, who does casual jobs, sometimes helps us. For a long time, I struggled to sleep on a sisal-rope bed, using a tone mat that was hard and uncomfortable. Every morning, I woke up feeling tired and sore, making it difficult to start the day. With the recent three transfers, I invested $42 in a mattress to improve my sleep and now, I can sleep comfortably. The change has been refreshing, and I woke up much more rested. After buying the mattress, I turned my attention to something else that had been a constant challenge: the lack of proper lighting in my home. Initially, we relied on paraffin lamps, which gave off very little light and were not ideal. With my transfers, I bought a solar panel system on hire-purchase. The marked price was $200, but I was able to pay a deposit of $60 and agreed to pay $15 monthly installments. This solar panel now brings bright, reliable light into my home, which has made a big difference. My family now enjoys ample lighting, and I feel much more comfortable in my home. These purchases have brought improvements to our daily lives.

In the coming months and beyond, I dream of buying a wooden bed and a high-density mattress. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been sleeping on traditional rope beds, which have been very uncomfortable. I often wake up with backaches and feel more tired than when I went to sleep. To change this, I plan to start saving from my monthly transfers over the next few months. Achieving this goal would mean no more back pain and a reduced risk of developing bed sores.

As I grow older, I’ve been without a job for a while, and as a widow, I’ve had to rely on my elder son for support. However, I’ve long dreamed of rearing livestock because my son doesn’t have a stable job, and I knew that having goats would give me something to sell during tough financial times. The arrival of GiveDirectly has made this dream a reality. With the cash I received over the last three months, I was able to buy three goats for $102. I chose goats because they would provide a steady source of income. Goats reproduce twice a year, which means my investment will grow, easing my financial burden since I’ve never owned any assets in my life. For the first time, I feel a positive change in my life. Even when this support eventually ends, I’ll have something to depend on, and by then, I’ll have more goats. This will significantly ease my financial burden, especially since I’ve never owned any assets before. Now, I can look forward to a more secure future.

I am committed to continuing to raise livestock, particularly goats. I am grateful to have begun this endeavor by acquiring four goats from previous cash transfers. As they reproduce and the herd grows in the future, I will have the option to sell them to meet any needs that may arise including medical expenses. This will consequently alleviate my dependence on my son in the future.

Every time I receive cash transfers, my priority is to invest in goats. I aim to let them reproduce and expand the herd so that in the future, I can sell them to support my needs, such as medical expenses and food. Currently, I rely on my son, who lacks a stable source of income. He primarily tends to his livestock and engages in casual work as needed to raise funds. So recently, I purchased two goats for $68 for the purpose of rearing. Also, I saved $20 through a savings group. I anticipate receiving a lumpsum when toward the end of the year to buy more goats as well as to grow my investment. There was a time when I fell ill with a serious fever. I allocated $14 to seek medical attention, and I am relieved that I am now in good health.

I want to keep getting goats; right now, I have three that I bought using the cash transfers I received in the previous months. Since I don't have a stable source of income, well, apart from cash transfers, rearing goats is the main way I can support my family. This will also allow me to relieve the burden on my son, who works as a herdsman to provide for us. Having goats means I can sell them later to generate funds for urgent needs like food. They'll also be something I can rely on for income even after the cash transfers end.

I do not engage in any work to support my family, and my son provides for us by raising livestock. I believe that raising goats is something I can do, and I'm happy that the funds I get help me do that. I mostly use the transfers to buy goats, which cost $30 each. Right now, I have three goats. I plan to raise them and let them reproduce. In the future, when they grow up, I can sell them to get more goats and help my family. Also, sometimes when I receive the funds, I decide what to do with the money based on what I need urgently. Recently, I spent $14 on clothes for myself because I didn't have enough. The rest of the money went to buy utensils for the house, like water storage jerrycans, plates, and cups. This was to upgrade and replace the old ones, most of which had broken from repetitive use.

For the past few years, I've been sleeping on a sisal twine bed, which has proven to be incredibly uncomfortable, leading to the development of severe back pain. To address this issue, my plan is to use my subsequent transfers to purchase a new bed and mattress. By doing so, I am confident that I will finally achieve a comfortable and restful sleep, putting an end to the prolonged back pain I have endured.

As a casual laborer, I manage to make enough money to meet my needs. Fortunately, my son, who also works as a casual laborer, often comes to my aid during difficult times. Given the challenging financial situations I've faced in the past, I decided to venture into livestock farming. To begin this new endeavor, I used my July transfers to purchase a goat valued at $30. With the recent rainfall, I am optimistic about the success of my livestock investment as there is an abundance of grass for the animals to feed on, leading to a promising multiplication rate. Alongside buying the goat, I allocated the remaining $4 to buy food, ensuring that I don't go hungry. The support I received through these transfers has been incredibly valuable and I am truly grateful for it.

There are many things that I wish to accomplish in my life. However, of relevance at this time is owning goats. According to me, rearing goats is the best way I can contribute to the needs of the family, eventually reducing the weight carried by my son. This is because, as the goats multiply, I could sell them to generate money to cover some of the household's costs. By the end of the year, I wish to have bought four goats. After that, I want to buy a more decent bed and a mattress in place of the sisal-twined one that I have used for a long time. I need to upgrade my sleeping space and enjoy more comfortable night sleeps than the ones am experiencing right now.

My ear had been aching for a week by the time I received the transfer. The pain was so much that I could not do any type of work. My son who mostly provides for the family had not earned any money from his casual jobs to take me to the hospital. Receiving the transfer was a relief because I could finally afford medication. I went to the hospital the same day where I spent $20 on treatment. Although there is still some faint pain, am happy that it is not as severe as before. Unlike before, at least I can do some house chores. Then, I bought food with the remaining $14 to boost what was left in the household. Ever since we have enjoyed regular meals.

Before I started receiving the transfers, it was hard for me to put food on the table. My two children were frequently sent home for lack of fees because I couldn't pay on time. My eldest son whom I depend on is employed by a neighbour to look after animals. However, his work does not pay much to cover the household expenses like food. The transfers came as a huge relief to me, since I can now plan for food as well as fees for my children. My goal currently is to ensure that I pay for them and that they continue with their studies without interruptions on fees. This will ensure that they achieve their academic goals despite the financial hardships.

My two children were frequently sent home to pick up their outstanding school fee balances as the term came to an end. I used to rely on farming, but the drought forced me to find another source of income, which is selling charcoal. Selling charcoal doesn't bring in much money, so it's challenging for me to provide for my family. I paid $10, including exam fees and school fee arrears, to make that my children took the end-of-term exams. I then bought food, including two packets of maize flour, to supplement the stock I had purchased a few days earlier. The last $20 I had went toward purchasing a goat. Due to the severe effects of the drought, I lost all of my goats. I see this as a perfect chance to start over and build wealth once the goat population increases.

The unconditional transfers I get from Give Directly are of great importance during this time of economic hardship. I bought food for the family, and we did not starve with hunger. I recommend to that the organization fasten the registration process for the other villages who were left out.

I Spent KES 2000 on paying school fees for my grandchildren. The school head teacher demanded that they pay all the school fees arrears for them to be readmitted in school. My daughter, who is the mother of my grandchildren, did not have money because she has no job. He earns a living through the sale of charcoal. For the last two weeks, she could not sell charcoal because of the low demand as customers opt to use cheaper fuel. I am glad they are back in school after clearing their school fees balances and continuing with their education. Besides paying school fees, I bought food with the remaining KES 1000. The food I bough,t ensured that my family (daughter, 2 grandchildren and I) do not sleep on empty stomachs.

After walking around for a long time trying to sell the charcoal I had, I woke up exhausted in the morning. I checked my phone and read the text message I received 5 minutes ago. I could not believe my eyes when I realized I had received my first transfer. It filled my heart with joy as I knelt beside my bed and murmured a short thanksgiving prayer.

I tried my best to get money and pay school fees for my children, but I have been unsuccessful. I sold all the poultry and livestock, but that was not enough. Paying school fees for my daughter through the funds made a big difference in my life because I would not have paid.

I have three school-going children who entirely depend on. My husband passed away eight years ago. Ever since, my life changed for the worst. I have struggled to cater to my family’s needs (buying food, paying school fees, and buying clothes). I am a casual laborer selling charcoal and firewood in the village. The business is not doing well due to the low consumption of charcoal by the customers who prefer to use alternative fuel. My eldest daughter, who is in class three, was sent home due to school fees arrears had to stay home because I had no money. Upon receiving money from my transfer, I paid the KES 1000 fee arrears so that she would go to school and resume her studies. I bought food with the remaining KES 200 because I had very little left in the house for my consumption.