I was a charcoal seller but I have not sold charcoal for a while now, I have some land in the bush where I would collect stamps and burn them for charcoal but recently Elephants came from the forest in search of water and I was forced to abandon my work and move back to the village. I still need to make an income as my family is still young and my child will need to one day go to school. My plan is to get into the business of chicken rearing and grow the numbers of this chicken to large flocks that I can sell and buy goats which I can later sell and buy cows or even land.

Our are is not in the national electricity grid, most of us here use kerosene lamps and torches to light our house at night. It was such a challenge since the cost of fuel was going up and navigating around with this lamp was bound to have it go off. When the sales people for the solar lights came our way I was confident to take up the solar lights that cost $107 on loan as I knew I would receive my monthly transfers from Givedirectly which would help me pay off the loan. I used $4 from my October and November transfers to pay off that loan. I used $30 in October to prepare the land for planting and $30 in November to till the land after planting. In the month of December I used the amounts on festivities which was mainly food and clothes at $19 and $15 respectively.

My primary goal is to establish a sustainable livestock-rearing project that will significantly benefit my family in the long term. I aim to raise a minimum of 10 goats and commit a portion of my income towards the development and maintenance of this endeavor. By doing so, I aspire to not only ensure a stable source of income to my family but also contribute to the growth of our household and also creating a financial security in the years to come.

With the generous support from GiveDirectly, I was able to transform a long-standing discomfort into a newfound source of joy. For years, I endured restless nights on a tattered mattress that took a toll on my back. The dream of a comfortable sleeping place felt dim due to financial constraints. However, thanks to GiveDirectly's recent assistance, I was able to purchase a quality mattress for $34. Now, I finally rest in the comfort I had yearned for, and each night's sleep is a testament to the positive impact of GiveDirectly's support on my well-being. I am immensely grateful to GiveDirectly for making this transformation possible.

I planted some maize and green grams in April which I am looking forward to harvesting. My hope is that this maize and green grams will be sufficient after harvesting to feed the family so that I can redirect the money for food in purchasing livestock. I would like to keep livestock due to their being very easy to multiply and once they are in sufficient numbers I can sell and make a profit. Some of this money will be used to build my house. My roof has been falling apart as it is an old corrugated iron roof which needs repair as its almost falling off. I am saving from my earnings to ensure I have a sufficient amount to build the house.

We have had such a long drought and have not farmed for a very long time. When the rain began to rain I decided to farm to ensure I produced food for the family. I used $25 in March to prepare the land for planting and did the planting in April using $20 of my transfers. We have also still been buying food since we are yet to harvest our crop. In March I spent $9 on food while in April I spent $10, in May I bought a whole dozen of maize flour bags at $24. I spent $4 in April and $10 in May for toiletries to ensure the family was presentable.

Due to my failure to pay her bride price, my wife was seized by her parents. Because of my health issues, which have made me jobless, I still do not have any money, so I was unable to save her. I miss her and my son the most at this moment since I'm feeling lonely. Thus, my objective is to get funds so that I can pay the $200 her parents need as her bride's price. Thank God, my health is getting better, and I intend to resume my regular work next month in order to raise that amount. Although I may need some time to complete the task, I am optimistic that I will do so this year so that I can reunite with my family.

We have not had enough rain for our crops during the last three years. There has been a food shortage as a result of the drought, which is now in its fourth year. The majority of people in our area relied on farming because there are few other economic opportunities. I appreciate the help, and GiveDirectly saved the day when we needed it. I essentially bought food for my household's consumption with the transfers from the previous three months. I used to burn charcoal for sale, but the smoke and the demanding labor required in the process caused me to become ill. Hence, until I feel better, the doctor advised that I stop doing such activities. Since the middle of last year, I have been without a source of income since I need to take care of my health. I can not express my gratitude to the organization enough since, without them, life would have been intolerably difficult.

My family of three has been reliant on charcoal burning and selling as the primary source of family income. Because I could not afford to buy the entire tree, I always traveled far into the forest to dig out the tree trunks and later burn them to charcoal. Traveling to the site on a motorcycle has been extremely expensive, and the process of getting the job done has been extremely exhausting. After receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly, my family decided to invest some of the funds in purchasing a bicycle, but only in parts to be assembled later. I spent $15 from the second transfer on bicycle frames and hope to continue purchasing other parts with the subsequent transfer. I also spent $12 on groceries for my three-person family and the remaining $3 on transportation to the forest where I obtained the charcoal. I am thankful that the plan we devised with my family has been successful, and I hope to have an easier time in the future when I finally get a bicycle.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly does so well in alleviating poverty through direct cash transfers. Consequently, it has contributed to improving the living standard of the community around. Since GiveDirectly began sending transfers, we have been able to buy food as well as pay school fee for our school-going children. This is a great relief that we had not anticipated. Although GiveDirectly offers support to many, it gives different amounts. In my opinion, I think it should give equal financial support to all its recipients.

Following the failure of our crops in the last season, I had no option but to venture into the laborious work of burning and selling charcoal. This has not been a good experience but I had had to brave it to continue offering support to my family. So, as soon as I confirmed my transfer, I opted to spend KES 2,400 on buying maize flour as well as buying beans and other cereals. I am super excited that as a family, we have been having some food of late. Thanks to GiveDirectly for its financial aid.

It was around 10pm and I was at home tired from being away for two weeks in such of wood.As I was almost building my castles in the air ,I was alerted and woken up from my dream by the message tone of my phone.I tried to read the message half asleep and as I read through my body was fascinated and now I was full awake with so much enthusiasm .I went and shared the good news with my mother who equally celebrated with me.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that the funds will help me achieve my long term goals .I plan to continue working as a charcoal burner and with the monthly cash transfers am able to invest on goats.Goat farming is one of the profitable business because goats are hardy and can be kept even in dry areas. Due to the high demand am aspiring to make great revenue once the goats have reproduced and the number has increased. My goal is to use the income from the sale to secure a plot and build a two roomed house with a verandah in order to rebuild my life once again.

I work as a charcoal burner and my work entails cutting of wood which sometimes forces me to be in the wilderness for two weeks or more.Separation from my wife who was expecting my child forced me to live a solitude life and my mother is the only close family I live with.On receiving the cash transfer I was at home and it was one of my tough times because had come back without anything. The money had made from my previous job was depleted on my basic needs and I was yet to plan my trip in search of wood.I spent my whole transfer of KES 1150 to buy food which would last me for the next two weeks before am back to my normal routine.