With my son having completed his college education, I feel a tremendous sense of relief, particularly regarding our finances. Now, I have the freedom to use my future transfers to achieve other important goals. In the coming year and beyond, I aim to purchase a new bed and mattress. Currently, I sleep on a makeshift bed, which is quite uncomfortable. Having a proper bed and mattress will ensure I get a good night's rest. Additionally, I plan to buy a water tank to store water. This will solve the recurring issue of walking long distances to fetch water for household use. I am incredibly grateful for the financial support I've received so far, which has significantly improved my quality of life.

My son recently completed his college education in electrical engineering, which was his chosen career path. This milestone was not easy for him to achieve due to the financial challenges we faced, especially after my husband, who was our family's breadwinner, sadly passed away after an illness. Witnessing my son complete his education as he awaits employment fills me with immense pride and relief. To ensure he could sit for his final exams, I managed to pay $34 towards a $120 school fee debt. Additionally, I purchased a goat for $28, bringing my herd to 20 goats. I am excited to see the herd grow, as they are a significant investment for my financial stability. Selling some goats in the future will provide a source of income. I also saved $20 in a savings group, intending to use the money to buy more goats in the future. Furthermore, I spent $16 on food for my family, ensuring we have plenty to eat. I am incredibly grateful for the financial support, which has empowered me to meet my immediate needs and work towards a more stable future.

In the upcoming months, my main focus is on expanding my livelihood through a simple yet strategic plan. I aim to purchase goats, knowing that their numbers will multiply over time. Once they increase, I'll be able to exchange some of them for a pair of oxen, a valuable asset for farm work. With oxen, I can significantly enhance my farming activities, making them more efficient and productive. Moreover, I plan to utilize these oxen not only for my own farming needs but also to offer them for hire to friends and neighbors, generating an additional stream of income for me and my family. This step forward represents more than just a transaction; it's a long-term investment in the sustainability and growth of my livelihood. With careful planning and hard work, I'm confident that this venture will pave the way for a brighter future for myself and those around me.

As a widow raising three children, the burden of providing for their needs felt like an insurmountable weight on my shoulders. Reliant on the meagre income from charcoal burning and selling, I often questioned if our circumstances would ever improve. Yet, the arrival of GiveDirectly brought a ray of hope into our lives. With the cash transfer, I wasted no time in prioritizing my son's future by allocating $60 for his college fees in his electrical course. The investment in his education filled me with a profound sense of pride, knowing it would pave the way for a brighter tomorrow. Moreover, I set aside $20 in a merry-go-round, envisioning a future where we could afford better bedding and essential utilities like a water tank. This act of saving for the future ignited a feeling of empowerment within me, reaffirming that even amidst adversity, there is room for hope and progress. Additionally, I am planning to invest in a goat, securing our future against potential financial constraints. With the remaining funds, I ensured our immediate needs were met by purchasing food for my family, providing a much-needed sense of stability and comfort amidst our financial struggles. While challenges may persist, the support from GiveDirectly has illuminated a path towards a more secure and hopeful future for us.

In the upcoming year, my goal is to acquire goats with the intention of selling them as they multiply. The proceeds from this endeavor will enable me to invest in cows in the future. I plan to use subsequent transfers to facilitate the realization of this goal. Establishing a sustainable source of income through livestock holds the promise of significantly improving my circumstances, a prospect for which I am profoundly grateful.

Since my husband's passing two years ago, I have shouldered the responsibility of providing for my three children. The income generated from selling charcoal was inadequate to meet our various needs. Receiving these transfers has been pivotal in allowing me to plan and provide for my family effectively. Notably, I have managed to cover my son's college tuition as he pursues an electrical course, bringing me great satisfaction. The financial flexibility these funds give me has translated into the ability to pay school fees, invest in poultry, and even acquire goats for future sales. A portion of the funds, amounting to $68, was directed towards settling a pending school debt and funding essential examinations at the beginning of the term. The remainder was wisely saved to cover upcoming school fees as the academic year began. I find immense joy in being part of this positive change, and I eagerly anticipate brighter prospects in the future.

My primary goal is to acquire a dairy cow as it will provide me with a consistent source of income through milk sales, enabling me to support my family. To accomplish this, I plan to start by purchasing some goats and raising them. Once they multiply, I can sell some of them and use the proceeds to buy the dairy cow. Additionally, I recognize the need to address the worn-out and rusty iron sheets that currently cover my house. To prepare for the upcoming rainy season, I intend to invest in new iron sheets and replace the old ones. The support I am receiving is truly uplifting, as it is helping me make significant progress towards achieving my goals, despite the challenges of being a single parent.

Last year in June, my son enrolled in college to pursue a course in electrical engineering. However, by the end of the last semester, he had accumulated a school debt amounting to $60. To ensure his uninterrupted education, I allocated $20 from my August transfers to partially clear the debt. This allowed him to return to school and continue his studies. With the remaining amount, I made a strategic investment by purchasing some hens for $14. I am optimistic about the future as I anticipate the hens to multiply in the coming months. This will not only double my initial investment but also provide a potential source of income in case of emergencies. Being a single parent with a modest income from selling charcoal, I am truly grateful for the financial support that has assisted me in caring for my family.

Having relied on making charcoal as a means of livelihood for the better part of my life, am happy that I can manage to take breaks from it due to the cash transfers. Also, before it was not easy for me to own livestock or poultry for a long time as I constantly sold them to pay school fees for my son Chengo and buy food. My family has never gone a day without food nor has my son missed a day of school, courtesy of the cash aid. My aim is to continue supporting his studies until he graduates next year. After that, I wish to start saving money to replace my tin roof, which has been damaged over the years. 

The rainy season just started, which presents an opportunity to plant food crops like maize. Although many planting seasons have passed, where I planted but did not harvest any yields, I never shy away from sowing whenever I see the rains. Immediately after I received the funds, I paid people to clear half an acre of my farm in preparation for planting, and I paid them $10. At least this ensured that I grew my crops early enough before the rainfall ceases. Besides, it was an ideal way to spend the transfer as my son, Chengo, had closed school and would never require school fees until the following month. I used $4 to buy food and saved the remaining $20. I plan to spend these savings to secure a goat, before the end of the week, to rear and expand my sources of income.  

This year, I want to buy goats and chicks to raise. They are the best type of investment since they can endure the drought in our region, which is what encourages me to invest in them. My target for the year is to achieve a total of six . The money I will get from them, along with the money I make from my charcoal business, will make it very simple for me to support my family. Once I've accomplished this, I'll work on repairing my huose's roof so that we can have a good place to live. I am grateful for the help because it has given me the chance to better myself, and I am sure that by the end of the year, I will have accomplished my objectives.

I am grateful for GiveDirectly's help since  it has been quite helpful in covering my child's college expenses. Two of my three children are adults, while the third is a college student. I spent $40 on his college during the last three months. I'm relieved that he does not currently owe the institution a substantial chunk in arrears. I'm delighted the money was sent when I needed it most because I was ill when I recently received my transfers. Consequently, I spent $12 on my medication and $42 on groceries for my family.

My spouse has more than one wife, and he rarely provides for us because he does not have a reliable source of income leaving me with the role of both father and mother. I sell charcoal which is the main economic activity in our area but it does not pay well because its market is flooded. Still, I have always provided for my family however little. I am glad the transfers came in handy when my son was joining college. I added part of the money I had saved to KES 5300 of the transfers and paid for his admission fee. Besides that, I was unwell when I recently received the transfers and used KES 200 to purchase the medicines that had been prescribed by the doctor. KES 2000 I spent on some of the foodstuffs for my family while KES 1500 I used to purchase two ducks for rearing hoping to sell some of them in the future after they will have reproduced.

GiveDirectly has continued to uplift lives and help people in the lesser communities without discriminating. All the help they give is surely a welcome relief and we appreciate a lot.

Getting by the days has been a major challenge as jobs are scarce and finances rare to come by. I am married to one husband who has no job at the moment and together we are blessed with three children. On regular days, I burn and sell charcoal to at least sustain the whole family as I assume the roles of a breadwinner. Receiving the KES 3000 brought a major difference to our lives and really helped a lot. I was able to buy school uniform at KES 1000 for my daughter who is joining Form One this new term. I also bought food worth KES 1000 for our home, since what was left was over that we had to sleep on empty stomachs the previous night but now have adequate food for some time. The remaining KES 1000 I bought three chicken, as with the hope that they will lay eggs and hatch to multiple chicks improving my poultry farming skills.

I was at home relaxing with my children and my son was using my phone. I heard him call me with excitement as he came running towards me. "You have received the transfers" he shouted. I was overjoyed as well because I was assured of that days food and days that followed.

The biggest difference is that I never struggle to put food on the table as I used to before and I'm so grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support.

Being a second wife in a polygamous family, I had to take full responsibility of raising my three children since my husband who is at his 70's now is unproductive. I have been selling charcoal to provide for my family a business which has been faced by so many uncertainties due to prolonged drought and deforestation. It's been hard to put food on the table and sometimes we end up sleeping hungry. I have been wishing to have livestock which I can sell to provide for my family when life hits the rock bottom but I couldn't afford to buy them. When I was enrolled in the program, my goal was to buy as many livestock that I can so that I can sell them and pay bills. I spend KES 500 to buy a chicken and KES 650 to buy six 2kg packets of maize which can take us for at least three weeks.