I have already bought six goats two have already given birthWith five children all attending school, the weight of responsibility feels heavier than ever. That's why I've been pondering a plan that might just lift some of that burden off our shoulders. I'm thinking of starting to raise goats soon. It might sound simple, but I believe it could be our ticket to a less stressful life. If I have goats, I'll have a safety net; I can sell them in case of emergencies, whether it's covering bills or paying for my children's school fees. It's about creating a cushion for my family and ensuring I am not constantly teetering on the edge of financial strain. With this plan, I hope to bring a sense of stability and security to my household, allowing me to focus on nurturing my children's futures without the constant worry of making ends meet.for fee and supporting my chilren-remembrance to my cash-sell some and a cow for land cultivation

My spouse is a driver, and I am a small-scale farmer. We work hand in hand to support our six children. Before receiving financial support from GiveDirectly, I depended entirely on my spouse for our family's needs, as I had no income of my own. Now, I am happy that I can also contribute to supporting our family, such as paying for our children's school fees. This has strengthened our relationship, making it more cooperative and friendly. With my most recent transfer, I spent $68 to pay fees for our three children who are in school, dividing the amount among them to prevent them from being sent home for unpaid balances. Additionally, I spent $34 to buy a goat. I am investing in goat rearing because it will provide future financial security. I can sell the goats in case of financial crises, such as needing to pay school fees. These goats will also serve as a lasting reminder of the support I received from GiveDirectly.

With five children all attending school, the weight of responsibility feels heavier than ever. That's why I've been pondering a plan that might just lift some of that burden off our shoulders. I'm thinking of starting to raise goats soon. It might sound simple, but I believe it could be our ticket to a less stressful life. If I have goats, I'll have a safety net; I can sell them in case of emergencies, whether it's covering bills or paying for my children's school fees. It's about creating a cushion for my family and ensuring I am not constantly teetering on the edge of financial strain. With this plan, I hope to bring a sense of stability and security to my household, allowing me to focus on nurturing my children's futures without the constant worry of making ends meet.

The weight of financial strain had been bearing down on me, especially when it came to securing my children's education. With arrears looming, I knew I had to act fast to ensure my sons could continue their studies uninterrupted. Allocating $34 towards clearing their school fees was a non-negotiable priority. Seeing them back in school with their friends, free from the anxiety of missed exams, filled me with immense relief. However, the challenges didn't end there. My eldest son's pursuit of higher education added another layer of financial pressure. The relief I felt upon being able to pay his college fees was immeasurable. The cash transfer acted as a lifeline, alleviating the uncertainty of where such a substantial sum would come from. It was a testament to the transformative power of support in times of need. In addition, I seized the opportunity to invest in our future by purchasing a goat. With hopes of its numbers multiplying over time, it stood as a symbol of resilience and a potential safety net for unforeseen emergencies. As joblessness loomed over me, and with my husband's income from his low-wage job as a matatu driver being our sole financial lifeline, every decision carried the weight of our family's well-being. With the remaining funds, I prioritized putting food on the table, recognizing that sustenance was fundamental to weathering our current hardships.

My main source of income is selling Chapati and Swahili dresses in our village. I recently closed this business so that I would concentrate on farming and take advantage of the rains that we've been experiencing lately. My husband is a matatu driver and the pay is not lucrative. With our five children in school, he has been straining financially hence I am planning to start investing in livestock keeping. Currently, I am aiming to start buying goats in bits and my target is to buy at least one goat after every two or three months. With this, I'll be able to help him with some of our bills when need be.

My son sat for his KCPE examinations recently and I am glad that he passed well and I believe that he will be joining a good secondary school. In preparation for what was a head of me, I had started saving part of my transfer so that I will later use it to pay for his school fees. Due to this, from my transfer for the last three months, $ 60 went to the savings kitty. In addition, I used $ 28 to pay for his school fees and that of his siblings and in the purchase of some reading materials. using the remaining $ 14, I sourced for laborers to help me in tending for my crops at the farm. I am forever grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me to achieve what I would not have achieved so far since I depend on my small business of selling chapati in our neighborhood.

At present, my primary objective is to continue financing the education of my five children, all of whom are currently enrolled in school. I am committed to sharing the financial responsibilities with my husband to ensure our children's needs are met. With his income from his job as a driver and my earnings from making and selling donuts, we have been able to primarily cover our family's food expenses. Paying school fees had been a challenge before the cash aid program began. I am grateful that the cash transfers have enabled me to participate in a local savings club, assisting in covering some of our children's school fees. Additionally, I have been able to secure loans from these clubs to meet the tuition expenses. I am filled with hope and optimism that the cash transfers will continue to bring about positive transformations in my family's life.

My son completed primary school last year and subsequently enrolled in college this year, as his academic performance did not secure him a spot in high school. Therefore, my primary focus has been on supporting his college education, along with the educational needs of his four younger siblings who are in lower grades. Two of them are set to join high school and junior high school next year, which presents us with increased financial demands. Despite the challenges, my husband, who works as a driver, has been contributing to the family's food requirements, even if it means having only one meal a day due to his limited income. My goal is to supplement our finances so that we can ensure our five children receive an education without interruptions. To this end, I have been saving the past three cash transfers, totaling $102, to settle a loan I had taken from our savings club to cover my children's tuition fees, which allowed my eldest son to be admitted to college.

My main goal is to see my children have a smooth learning process without being sent home for school fees. I have two children who are yet to join high school; one is currently in class eight and one is in class seven, and I want to ensure that I have the money to take them to secondary school by the time they will be done with primary education. And to achieve this, I want to save part of my monthly transfers and also set aside part of the proceeds from the business so that I do not get overwhelmed. In addition, I have also started livestock rearing(goats) that I would sell in the future to help me with school fees payment.

The transfers that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly had been of great help in terms of paying for my children’s school fees. I have 6 children who are currently going to school and getting enough money to pay for their school fees had been quite a challenge for my husband and I. My eldest son completed primary school last year but with the lack of money, he did not manage to join high school. I have been saving part of the transfers and also getting some little income from my food-selling business to enable me to take him to acquire some skills in electrical wiring where I added the entire amount of the recent transfers that I received of $34 and I was more than happy to get him enrolled and was so grateful to GiveDirectly for the much support.

After completing his primary school education, my son Simon, unfortunately, did not earn an entry into high school given his low performance. He alternatively decided to pursue a driving course. As a parent, there is no greater relief than seeing the happiness and contentment of my children. Therefore, my plan right now is to support Simon’s quest by sourcing and paying for his college fees.

When I received the money, my son was about to take his eighth-grade national exam. His school required him to pay $3 which would cover his lunch for the three days he would take the test. Because his father did not have enough money at the moment, I stepped in and covered the cost. My husband works as a driver and most of the time the salary he earns is enough to meet food needs. In case urgent needs arise, like my son's lunch fees, I try to support them. I am happy because my business selling detergents, which I started using the transfers, is doing well, allowing me to meet small needs. Also, I bought a goat for $30 to expand a goat-rearing project I initiated with previous transfers; now the herd has grown to four. My goal is to rear these animals, so that as they breed, so does my wealth accumulates. I am so grateful that Give Directly made my dream of livestock keeping a reality.

Schools had just recently resumed from a short holiday but unfortunately a day after resuming classes my children were sent back home, that is why as soon as I noticed the transfers had come through, I went ahead and paid KES 2,500 for five of my children and then used the rest of the money that remained which was KES 500 and left it in my savings account in case of a rainy day.

The transfers received have literally changed lives in a positive way, as people are now able to sustain their families by providing basic needs and more to that, live comfortably by investing in different projects.

Receiving the KES 3000 from GiveDirectly has been a major boost and a great source of happiness for everyone. I am a small scale business lady who sells fish and vegetables. My husband is a public service driver and our breadwinner. With his job not being constant, and offering a fluctuating income, the amount we receive at times is not enough to sustain us through the month as we also live with my father-in-law under the same roof. We have five kids together whom are all in school and for them to be able to attend classes, fees arrears have to be cleared which I set aside KES 2500 from the amount I received; KES 400 to clear the amount of four children and KES 2100 to clear that of one child in PP1 class. The remaining amount of KES 500 was used for some funeral expenses directed to my brother-in-law who had passed on.

On this very day, I was at home going about my normal duties. When I saw the message confirming that I had received funds from give directly, I felt contented. My desire to self-employ myself through poultry farming was finally coming to pass. I would now be contributing toward meeting the family's expenses. I shared the news with my brother-in-law who was also happy for me. Little did I know my joy was going to be short-lived because he passed away the next day. So, I instead used the funds to cover some funeral expenses.

Even though I never got to fulfill the desire I had to use the money to start a poultry business, these funds have really helped me out. If I hadn't received it then, we would have gotten stranded to ensure that my brother-in-law's funeral runs smoothly. I was able to buy some food for the visitors. I still believe that with my next transfer, I will get the opportunity to fulfill my wish. Even in my mourning state, I can attest that there is a great difference in my life.

I recently started a small business where I sell fish(omena) by the roadside. I used a capital of KES 200. This I did after I had put my poultry farming business plan on hold. I had intended to use the money I received from give directly to buy 4 chickens. With the objective of supporting my husband with some of the bills. Especially, our five children's school fees. Unfortunately, the following day, my celebratory mood changed to a somber one. I had lost my brother-in-law. So, with visitors streaming in to bid him goodbye, there was a need to purchase some food. I, therefore, decided to make my contributions using the funds I got.