Right now, my main goal is all about the house. I want to build a new one, not just for myself but for the safety of my grandchildren too. It's important to me that we have a secure place to call home where we can all feel protected and comfortable. Looking ahead, I've been thinking a lot about how to secure our future. Livestock keeping seems like a smart move. I plan to focus more on raising goats; they can help us out financially if we ever face any emergencies. Selling some goats when we need extra money could be a real lifesaver. So, between building a new home and expanding into livestock, I'm hopeful that the coming years will bring greater stability and security for me and my family.

My spouse and I, both reliant on the uncertainties of farming for our livelihood, have long grappled with the pressing need to improve our living conditions. With each passing day, the reality of our dilapidated home looming closer to collapse left us with a sense of urgency and fear, particularly considering the safety and well-being of our two grandchildren under our care. However, with the arrival of the monthly cash transfers, a glimmer of hope emerged. Determined to secure a better future for our family, I began strategically investing in building materials, knowing that the key to our stability lay in the gradual transformation of our living situation. Bit by bit, I purchased what was needed, envisioning a new home that would offer safety and security, a haven from the uncertainties of our agricultural livelihoods. I also allocated a portion of the cash towards ensuring food security for our family. Knowing that a reliable food source is essential for our well-being, I carefully budgeted to purchase nutritious staples that sustain us each day. These provisions not only ease our immediate worries but also lay the foundation for a more stable future. As we work towards rebuilding our home and securing our livelihoods, the monthly cash transfers have become a lifeline, offering us the opportunity to create a better life for ourselves and our grandchildren.

This year, my aim is to allocate a significant portion of my transfer funds towards acquiring goats. This investment in goats is a forward-looking decision. As they multiply, I will have the opportunity to sell some at a profit, enabling me to address my requirements. I am deeply appreciative of the financial transfers, which have enhanced my financial independence, allowing me to fulfill some of my needs without relying extensively on others.

During the past few months, my health has not been favorable, preventing me from engaging in physically demanding work. As a result, I have relied heavily on my husband, whose earnings as a watchman are modest. Despite my limited income, I allocated a considerable sum of $68 to procure food for the family. Fortunately, with the assistance of the transfers, we were able to avoid hunger and enjoy an abundance of food during the festive season. Additionally, I settled a $12 debt accrued from purchasing food on credit during a previous period of financial hardship. Furthermore, I incurred expenses of $6 for my grandson's medical treatment and $3 for purchasing medication after he fell during the holiday season. I am grateful for the financial support that significantly contributed to my grandson's improved health.

My primary objective is to establish a business that can provide me with a consistent and reliable income stream. To achieve this, I am considering venturing into the charcoal trade, purchasing it at a reasonable price and selling it at a profit in the market. Compared to the laborious process of producing and selling charcoal myself, this approach offers a more efficient and less time-consuming method. By directly acquiring charcoal from others, I can streamline the process and focus on maximizing profits through strategic selling. In addition to pursuing this business opportunity, I am also keen on acquiring some goats. These animals will serve as a contingency plan, offering a reliable source of funds in case of emergencies or unexpected financial needs. By selling the goats, I can quickly obtain the necessary resources to address any urgent situations that may arise. This provides me with a sense of security and peace of mind, knowing that I have a fallback option to rely on during challenging times. I am immensely grateful for the financial support provided through the transfers, as it has significantly improved our ability to put food on the table for my family members. In the past, this was a challenging task, but the assistance has alleviated that burden and ensured that our basic needs are met. This newfound stability has brought about a deep sense of happiness and contentment within me, knowing that my loved ones are being properly taken care of.

With the arrival of my daughter-in-law and her two children, our family expanded significantly, and my husband and I found ourselves grappling to make ends meet. Despite my husband's meager income as a watchman, it proved insufficient to cover the basic needs of our now larger household. In an effort to manage the situation, we resorted to purchasing food on credit from the local shop. Unfortunately, this arrangement resulted in a debt that has accumulated to $70 since April of this year. Fortunately, upon receiving the August transfers, my husband and I each contributed $15, allowing us to make a partial payment of $30 towards reducing the outstanding debt. While $40 still remains to be paid, I am optimistic that we will be able to settle the remaining balance next month. Additionally, I utilized a portion of the funds to purchase a new set of dresses for my daughter who attends Mnazimumwenga Primary School. These new dresses have replaced her worn-out uniform, and she now radiates joy and contentment in her fresh school attire. To ensure the well-being of my family, I allocated the remaining $4 towards the purchase of essential items such as soap, detergents, tea leaves, salt, and sugar. These provisions are vital for our everyday needs and contribute to the overall comfort and hygiene of our household.

Venturing into livestock rearing is a goal I am passionate about. It will not only allow me to raise animals but also open up opportunities for buying and selling livestock. With this new business, I am optimistic that I will be able to earn a good income to support my family. Currently, we are heavily reliant on a single source of income, which has been a struggle. I plan on dedicating myself fully to this new venture and test the waters. Hopefully, it will pay me back handsomely and provide the financial stability my family needs.

Charcoal selling is my primary source of income, as my farm is no longer productive due to unfavorable climatic conditions in our area. However, the income from charcoal sales is insufficient to meet all my family's needs. Thanks to the April transfers, I was able to pay my son's $6 school fee arrears, which enabled him to return to school and take his end-of-term exams after missing a week of classes. With $15, I bought a sack of maize that will feed my family for the next two weeks. Previously, we struggled to have three meals a day due to financial constraints. Additionally, I invested $8 in purchasing two hens that I consider a future investment since they will multiply and increase my wealth. Lastly, I spent $5 on medicine after falling ill and being unable to work. I am grateful that the medicine I purchased with the transfer money has helped me recover and return to my normal self.

Paying school fees for my first-grade child while also paying other household bills has been incredibly hard. I am thankful that, after receiving the transfers from GiveDirectly, I have been able to pay $10 each month to cover a portion of the required amount. Through this, I have reduced my school debt to $28 at the moment, which I believe I will have cleared before the end of the term in April. When I finish paying, I plan to start a business where I will buy groceries from Mariakani Market and sell them to the local community. This business will be useful not only for paying household bills, but also for ensuring that I pay my son's school fees on time.

When I received the transfer, my plan was to supplement the savings I accumulated over the past few months to buy a goat. So, I channeled $15 towards that course, obtained the goat, and increased my herd to seven. The goal is to let them reproduce, grow the herd and accumulate enough wealth to support the education of my niece, Riziki, who is currently in kindergarten. I started living with her one year ago after she refused to go back to her parent’s place. From then, I assumed the responsibilities as her guardian and enrolled her in school. However, covering her school expenses is difficult due to the mere earnings I make from charcoal burning, which are only enough for food. In fact, when I got the transfer, she had missed classes for two weeks owing to an outstanding fee debt of $25. To get her back to learning, I reduced the deficit by $7 and she happily resumed her studies. Lastly, since the household had run out of food the previous night, I spent the remaining amount on maize. At least, it has served my husband, two sons, Riziki, and me to date. I could never be happier! 

I used KES 1,000 from the transfer to buy an iron sheet for a new house. The current structure that has housed my spouse and me for the last ten years is in poor shape and might collapse in strong winds. One side of the mud house crumbled following recent strong winds because the tree poles used to reinforce the walls had decayed over time. So, the aim is to gather building materials to build a new two-room house for the two of us. In addition, I spent KES 1,000 on maize flour because my household was out of food on the day I got the cash transfer. At least, the food lasted my family of four to date. At the same time, my niece (in kindergarten) had an overdue school fee balance for the ongoing academic term. I cleared the amount using the remaining amount so that she would study without disruptions.

The unconditional transfers from Give Directly have given me hope I will build a new house for my family. Moving into the new house will guarantee our safety and also sleep soundly during the rainy season. I would like to recommend to the organization to increase the number of staff so that people do not miss out during registration.

I am a casual laborer who earns a living by selling charcoal, while my husband earns a living as a watchman. The earnings from both of us are too lol and we spend it all on buying food and buying clothes. Because of the low income, we cannot improve the condition of our dilapidated house. The iron sheets will use to build a house, have very many holes that leak when it rains. The Poles used in building the house have weakened and, as a result, the house is dipping on one side. To prevent the situation from worsening, I supported my house with 3 strong poles on one side to stop it from collapsing. Therefore, when I receive my transfer of KES 3000, I spent it all on buying three pieces of iron sheets I will use in building a new house. Success in building the new house will give me peace of mind since I fear that one day the house might collapse while I am sleeping during the night and thus compromising the safety of my family members.

The morning I received the transfer was undeniably the highlight of the day. I was dazzled by pure happiness. Specifically, I was excited about getting an opportunity to provide daily bread for my family and put an end to hunger.

The biggest difference in my life is the regular meal consumption. Before the transfer, I would struggle to find the money for food from the little earned after selling charcoal. There were days we ended up surviving with a single meal or worse, going to bed hungry. The situation gradually changed after transfers because we now enjoy meals at least twice per day.

With the prolonged drought, the weather is no longer favorable to support maize farming. As a result, I rely on splitting logs and making charcoal for a livelihood. This is a very difficult task that consumes a lot of physical energy and imposes a tiring effect on my physique. Furthermore, the highest earnings from the hustle are KES 1,000 per month after selling only two sacks of charcoal. With the inflating cost of living, this income barely puts food on the table such that we sometimes starve the entire day. When I received the transfer, I was propelled towards purchasing food worth KES 500. Additionally, I paid a hospital bill of KES 500 to have my aching legs treated. I am glad because the pain is slowly drifting away.