My main goal for the upcoming year and beyond is to focus on raising goats. Currently, I have three, and I plan to expand my herd because I see great potential in them. My ultimate aim is to gather enough goats to exchange them for a pair of oxen. With the oxen, I can cultivate my land more efficiently, which I believe will be a significant step towards lifting myself out of poverty. Additionally, I could hire the oxen out to earn extra income, which would help cover the school fees for my seven children. I’m confident that through these transfers, I'll reach this goal, even if it takes some time.

I am a divorcee with seven children, and caring for them over the past two years has been incredibly challenging. I have been relying on selling traditional chewing sticks, which also serve as herbal medicine in my community, but it hasn't been very profitable. The biggest stressor has been my house. It's too small for all eight of us, and some of my children have had to stay at their grandmother's house. To address this, I've started buying building materials in pieces from my transfers. I spent about $68 initially and currently have six iron sheets, aiming to gather 18 in total to build a larger home. Once the house is complete, I won't have to worry about my children's safety and can find some peace of mind. I also paid $25 in school fees for my seven children, so they are now settled in class without disruptions. With the remaining $9, I bought some good food for my children to enjoy and help them stay motivated in school.

My main goal for the upcoming year and beyond is to stick with raising goats. Right now, I've got three of them, and I aim to expand my herd because I see big potential in these animals. My ultimate plan is to gather enough goats so that I can trade them for a pair of oxen down the line. Having oxen will be a game-changer for me when it comes to farming. With their help, I can cultivate my land more efficiently and effectively, which I believe will play a significant role in lifting me out of poverty. It's a simple plan, but I believe it's a solid one. With hard work and determination, I'm confident I can make it happen.

Receiving the cash transfer ignited a spark of hope within me a chance to pave the way for a brighter future. With $34 in hand, my first step was to invest in goats. Purchasing one marked the beginning of what I envisioned as a thriving livestock venture. The prospect of owning several goats soon filled me with confidence, knowing they would provide both stability and a safety net in times of need. Alongside this investment, I prioritized the education of my six children, allocating another $34 towards their school fees. The assurance that they could continue their studies filled me with immense pride, knowing that this support would lay the foundation for their success in life. With the remaining funds, I seized the opportunity to improve our agricultural prospects. Hiring someone to plough my farm was a crucial step towards achieving bountiful yields. As the crops grow, so does my optimism for a more prosperous future. Additionally, the purchase of food provided immediate relief, easing the strain of daily expenses. As I continue to sustain myself by selling chewing sticks in the neighbouring town, the newfound profitability underscores the positive impact of this financial assistance. Each decision made with the cash transfer resonates with a sense of empowerment and optimism for the future.

My income from cutting and selling chewing sticks is limited, and the cash transfers have been a relief in easing the financial stress. I've always desired to own goats, but financial constraints, such as the school fees for my six children, have held me back. Before the cash transfers, I had no livestock, but now I've been able to start with three hens. Despite the financial constraints, my goal is to have at least six goats before the transfers end in the next few years. I believe that through livestock keeping, I can create wealth to support my children's education.

As the breadwinner for my family, I usually cut and sell chewing sticks to meet the needs of my six children. However, due to the ongoing heavy rains, I temporarily paused this work to focus on farming. I recently used $9 from the cash transfers to have a quarter acre of my land plowed. While it wasn't enough for the entire farm, it gave me a break from manual plowing. Over the past three months, I spent $45 to pay school fees for my children. With the assurance of monthly cash transfers, I had promised the school to settle the tuition once the money arrived, ensuring that my children never missed a day of school. I also invested $15 in buying three hens for rearing, with the hope that they will provide for my family in the future. The remaining $33 was used to buy food for my children. While there are still times when we miss meals, it's not as frequent or challenging as it was before the cash transfers.

I currently reside in a small house with my two children. Unfortunately, due to the limited space available, three of my children are living with their grandmother. To support my family and work towards a brighter future, I have taken up selling chewing sticks at Mariakani. By diligently saving from my earnings, I aim to accumulate enough funds to initiate my own project. Additionally, I intend to invest in chicken farming as another avenue for income generation. With careful planning and perseverance, I am determined to improve our living conditions, bring my family back together, and create a more secure and prosperous future for all of us.

As a father of five beautiful children, I find myself forced to assume both parental roles after my wife left to live with her parents. Determined to provide for my family's needs, I carefully manage my finances. Upon receiving my transfer, I immediately spent $10 on my children's school fees and also spent $10 in buying food for them. I promised myself that my children will lack nothing as long as I'm strong and able to provide for them. Their happiness means the world to me. Additionally, I decided to venture into chicken investment, so I allocated $14 to acquire three chickens. Although this is my first experience with chicken investment, I believe it holds the potential to provide sustenance and generate income in the future. With unwavering love and determination, I am committed to overcoming the challenges that lie ahead and creating a stable environment for my children to flourish.

I'd like to transition from raising poultry to raising livestock in the future. I hope to begin tiny savings with my occasional work so that I can satisfy my animal's urge to rare. As six hens are equal to one goat in our local calculations, the poultry will also help with this. As I continue with the poultry keeping, once they multiply I will convert them too to get the goats.

I was having a difficult time with hunger when the transfer came through. We hardly find any food because of the drought that has afflicted our region. I was able to see some relief after receiving the funds. I choose to set aside $19 to spend on my six children's daily food because I am dependent on temporary employment for survival. After that, I took $10 and made a partial payment toward my primary school-aged children's incurred school fee arrears. I spent the $5 that was left over to start my dream of beginning a chicken farm by buying two hens.

Give directly did well to provide my family with the funds because before being enrolled in the program, my life was a struggle and it was difficult to make plans with the earnings of less than $3 with a family of seven children. Giving directly has given me hope and through the funds, I have the plan to change my life and focus on achieving my long-term goals.

I have seven children and work as a hawker selling local toothbrushes (sourced from twigs) which earn me as little as $2. My wife is unemployed, and it has been a struggle to support my family by myself. When I received my cash transfer, I used $5 to pay part of the outstanding school fees and used $7 to buy three chicks and started chicken rearing. The other $10 was spent on buying food and the remaining cash was used to pay an outstanding debt of foodstuff bought in a nearby shop. The fund was so helpful because at the time I received them, my business was on the low, with no food and outstanding debt which would not allow us to borrow any more food from our nearby shop. I am grateful to the Give directly support program.

Immediately after I confirmed my transfer, my joy multiplied. I got a conviction that although I had been suffering, in God's appointed time I will feel my time of exaltation. Receiving the transfer at such a time was a blessing because it enabled me to buy food for my family. It eased my situation since I could be able to pay school fees for my children. I am really glad to have been a beneficiary. Thanks to GiveDirectly for the such timely help.

I was able to buy food for my children with part of the transfer I received. My family was always struggling because I did not have enough money to buy food. I am glad the transfer was extremely beneficial in meeting this necessity. As a result, that marks the most significant difference in my life. It has abated my fears, and I feel honored when I see my children doing well. This has enabled them to concentrate on their studies, which would not have been possible had GiveDirectly not sent me money.

My family's life has become unbearable due to my lack of a formal job and an increase in food prices. I resorted to charcoal production, which has also been disappointing. As a result, when I received my transfer, there was no food in the house. Since we could easily get vegetables from our kitchen garden, I made it a priority to spend KES 500 on maize flour. I am glad I did not have a lot of stress for three days. Furthermore, because I had no savings and my children's tuition fees were already paid, I used KES 600 to reduce pending fee arrears of KES 1,000. As a result, my four children have had no problems at school for the past two weeks. May GiveDirectly continue to have a positive impact on many people's lives.