As a widow who has depended entirely on farming, life has become extremely difficult due to the severe drought in my region. I have envisioned raising more goats, believing they will be a crucial asset if I face future challenges. Currently, I have two goats, and my goal is to expand this number to ensure a better future for my children and future generations. I plan to save a small amount of money each month to support this goal, and I am confident that I will achieve it. I truly believe that this investment in goats is the key to overcoming the persistent poverty that has plagued my region for years.

Since my husband passed away, I've felt overwhelmed and have struggled with many difficulties, often questioning why this is happening to me. One major concern has been our house, as some walls were close to collapsing. After receiving the transfers, I used $34 to buy building poles to repair one of the walls before it fell. I plan to fix all four walls, but I'm tackling the repairs gradually due to financial constraints. It's been a relief to see this progress and to feel some joy again for myself and my family. In an effort to secure my future, I invested $20 in buying five chickens, which I am now keeping at home. I believe that these chickens will quickly multiply and provide a source of stability should I face financial difficulties down the line. Additionally, with the remaining $48 from the transfers, I purchased enough food to sustain my family through the severe drought we've been enduring. This has been crucial for us, as the drought has significantly impacted our resources and made it challenging to ensure our basic needs are met.

This month, I'm set to begin my journey into goat farming. My plan is to raise them in substantial numbers, envisioning a future where they become a solid asset for me and my family. As a widow, it's become all the more crucial for me to secure a prosperous future for my children and the generations to come after them. Investing in goat farming feels like the right step forward, offering not just a source of income but also a tangible asset that can withstand the test of time. With determination and hard work, I believe I can pave the way for a brighter tomorrow, one where my family's needs are met and their futures are secure.

Witnessing my son's determination to pursue a teaching course filled me with pride, but the financial strain weighed heavily on both of us. With $50 from the cash transfers, I could alleviate his worries about overdue rent and living expenses. The relief that washed over me was palpable as I watched him focus on his studies without the constant burden of financial stress. As a widow relying on meagre earnings from charcoal burning, seeing my son settled in school brought a sense of reassurance, knowing he could pursue his dreams without sacrificing his education for financial constraints. Eager to diversify our income, I ventured into poultry farming with the hopes of securing a stable source of revenue. Despite my efforts, setbacks were inevitable, and some of the chickens perished unexpectedly. Fearing further losses, I made the difficult decision to sell the remaining ones. Though disheartened, I refused to be deterred, recognizing the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. With the remaining funds, I prioritized providing for my family, ensuring that we had enough food to sustain us through the coming months. Though challenges persist, the support from the cash transfers has offered a glimmer of hope, fueling my determination to create a better future for my family.

Until recently, my primary livelihood depended on subsistence farming, primarily for household consumption. Struggling without a consistent source of income, I decided to venture into poultry farming. The objective behind this was to establish a reliable income stream that would contribute to covering my son's college fees. Through the sale of some chickens at $4 each recently, I successfully raised a substantial amount, enabling my son to enroll in college. My current focus is on expanding this poultry venture. I plan to invest in acquiring more chickens, improving the structures, and ensuring an adequate supply of feed for the poultry. This goal is driven by the belief that cultivating such a project will significantly transform my financial situation. The ability to sell chickens presents an opportunity to generate income consistently, contributing not only to the sustainability of the poultry project but also to the overall improvement of my livelihood.

My son's enrollment in college marked a significant milestone, and the financial support provided by GiveDirectly has been instrumental in meeting his tuition requirements. Recognizing the importance of education, I committed to a monthly contribution of $10 to reduce the outstanding fees. Witnessing my son pursue educational opportunities beyond our means brings immense joy. As a small-scale subsistence farmer grappling with financial challenges, my primary focus is on supporting my son's college journey. The timely monthly transfers from GiveDirectly have proven to be a lifeline, ensuring peace of mind regarding his educational pursuits. In response to financial constraints, I also ventured into poultry farming, allocating $40 from the recent transfers to procure essential chicken feed. Despite facing challenges such as poultry diseases, I successfully bred and sold over 40 chickens, each fetching $4. The profits generated significantly contributed to covering my son's college fees. I allocated the remaining transfer to buying essential food items, ensuring my family's nutritional needs were met. Furthermore, I also purchased some household items that were lacking in my home. I am grateful for the support that I received and remain committed to ensuring a brighter future for my son through education and sustainable livelihoods.

Looking ahead into this year and beyond, my most significant achievement is centered around a substantial investment in the acquisition of goats. This investment holds profound foresight, as goats possess the inherent ability to multiply, presenting a reliable fallback in case financial exigencies arise. Beyond my livestock ventures, there is a concrete plan to ensure my children's education through the consistent payment of their school fees. The invaluable financial assistance I've received through the transfers fills me with profound gratitude.

In utilizing my July transfers, I allocated funds to acquire a goat valued at $40. Achieving this required me to supplement the July transfers with my personal savings. Currently, my livelihood stems from agricultural pursuits, facilitated by substantial rainfall that rejuvenated my five-acre farm. Prior to these rains, I generated income by selling charcoal, a byproduct of burning tree stumps. However, the $20 monthly income from this endeavor fell short in adequately supporting my family's comprehensive necessities, encompassing essential groceries and my children's school fees. I find solace in the fact that my children, currently enrolled in Forms 3 and 4, face fewer instances of being sent back home due to the financial reinforcement from these transfers. This aid has been instrumental in promptly settling their school fees whenever such situations arise. The decision to invest in procuring the goat brings me contentment. Looking ahead, I recognize the goat's potential to serve as a valuable resource in unforeseen emergencies. Its potential resale holds the promise of offering a solution to urgent financial demands.

I was caught off guard when my house collapsed unexpectedly. Since then, I have been dedicating all of my financial resources towards building a new house as quickly as possible. To accomplish this, I will need to purchase new iron sheets, building poles, and pieces of timber. I am eagerly looking forward to having a new home where I feel secure and can safeguard my privacy. Rebuilding my home is my top priority, and I hope to achieve this goal by the end of the year.

Two months ago, heavy winds blew off the roof of my house, leaving me homeless. Thankfully, my son has been kind enough to let me stay with him. However, as the rainy season approaches, I am eager to have my own home again before the rains become too intense. Although I appreciate my son's hospitality, I feel that I am infringing on his privacy, and it's time for me to find a place of my own. When I received my April transfers, I immediately spent $20 on re-erecting the building pole and started planning to purchase other essential building materials such as new iron sheets, sisal twine ropes, additional building poles, and water for mixing the mud. I am excited about the prospect of having my own house again and look forward to moving in soon. I saved $10 of the remaining funds to buy new iron sheets to replace the old and worn-out ones that let rainwater seep in during the rainy season. Finally, I spent the remaining $4 to purchase two packets of maize flour. I am grateful that the transfers came just in time to help me quickly rebuild my house. It's a relief to know that I'll be able to have a roof over my head again very soon.

My main objective for this year is to increase our family's income. I currently support my family by farming for subsistence, but due to the severe drought, we hardly ever have enough farm output to last the entire year. In addition, I periodically burn charcoal for sale to enhance agricultural output, but there is little market for it because practically everyone in the village operates in the same way. My objective is to open a modest kiosk where I'll sell groceries. Due to its often great demand, it is more profitable.

Due to severe drought that we are experiencing back in the village, nourishment has been quite an ordeal for me and my family especially since I am a subsistence farmer who mostly relied on what I made from the harvest. That is why I was beyond happy when I received the transfers and immediately I went ahead to spend it on purchasing a bag of maize flour which contained a dozen packets. Later on I went to deposit the remaining balance of KES 1,000 into my savings committee because I was hoping that eventually when the money was enough I could finally build a better house since the one I live in at the moment is small, old and when it does rain the roof is always leaking.

My spouse passed on two years ago leaving behind four children who are under my care. He was the main income earner and adapting to his role has been a challenge. Farming is my main source of income but due to the frequent droughts in our area, we usually do not get enough farm produce to sustain my family. I have since then wanted to rear goats for business but raising the capital was a challenge. With the eighth and ninth transfers, I bought a goat for KES 4000 and used KES 2000 to purchase food for my family to add to the little that we had left. When I received the most recent transfer, my children had been sent back home due to the tuition fee arrears of KES 3000 which I cleared with the tenth transfer.

The transformation in our village evidenced by improved nutrition, better houses, and more possession of livestock are results of the cash transfers. The pieces of advice provided by the field officers during the enrollment process motivated people to wisely spend their transfers. Everyone in the village is talking positively about the organization and there are no complaints so far.

I purchased six chickens for rearing at KES 2000. I stay with three grandchildren but it has been a challenge to raise money for our needs. Most of the available income generating activities in our area are either farm activities or charcoal-burning for sale but my advanced age limits me. Once in a while, I engage in them but the KES 200 I make at the end of the day is barely enough to afford a whole day's meal. The plan is to sell the chicken in the future which shall be my main source of income. KES 1000 I spent on some foodstuffs to push my family for a while.

I was sitting outside my house enjoying the morning sun. My grandchild came running towards me holding my phone bearing good news that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I left my seat and screamed full joy at the top of my voice, as I could not believe it. I knelt down and thanked him for the miracle he had gifted me.

My health has deteriorated over the past year, making me feel unhappy and helpless. The many convulsions I am having prevent me from working in the farm and being independent. Since buying the medicine, my condition has improved by having a reduced number of convulsions per day. Therefore, buying the medicine which has improved my health is the biggest difference in my life I received the transfer.

For over a year now, I have been battling my epileptic condition. The situation has worsened in the past few months due to a lack of consistent medical checkups because of a lack of funds. I have up to 5 convulsions in a day affecting my normal living. I cannot work with my current condition and rely heavily on the help of my 5 children who work as casual laborers in town. They too are facing challenges due to of lack of jobs and this makes them unable to send me enough money to manage my health condition. Therefore, upon receiving my first transfer, I spent KES 1000 to buy medicine to suppress my medical condition. I spent an additional KES 200 to buy a packet of maize flour and 1 kg of sugar since I had none left in my house. .