My goal in the coming year and beyond is to purchase a dairy cow. I currently have three goats, all bought with the help of the financial transfers. My main objective is to save money from future transfers and use it to buy more goats. As the goats multiply, I plan to sell some and use the proceeds to purchase the dairy cow I desire. Having a dairy cow will be highly beneficial, as I can earn income by selling milk. This investment will not only provide a steady income but also contribute to my family's financial stability. I am very happy and grateful for the financial assistance, which is helping me invest wisely and secure a better future.

I run a small kiosk business, while my husband takes on odd casual jobs, which are difficult to come by. The income from the kiosk is vital in helping me meet our family's needs. Recently, my daughter, who is in secondary school, was sent home due to a significant school fees debt. Fortunately, I had received funds from the transfers, and I used $34 to clear the debt. This allowed her to return to school and sit for her end-of-term exams. I also saved $20 to pay school fees for my children, who are about to start their third term next week. This will ensure they continue their education without interruptions. Additionally, I purchased a goat for $50, topping up the extra $16 from my savings. This goat is a strategic investment for the future, and I am optimistic that it will multiply, increasing the value of my initial investment. I also spent $14 on food, ensuring that my family had enough to eat. I'm glad we never lacked anything to eat, thanks to the financial support. I am very happy and deeply appreciative of the financial assistance, which has made my life easier and helped me become more financially stable in taking care of my family.

In the coming year and beyond, my biggest hope is to buy a cow. I am excited about this goal because I already have a growing herd of goats, and I know they will keep multiplying. Having a cow would take my small farm to the next level. To make this dream come true, I've decided to save at least $20 every month starting now. It's not going to be easy, but I'm determined. With patience and hard work, I believe I can reach my target. A cow would not only provide milk for my family but also give us another source of income, making our lives more secure and comfortable. This vision keeps me motivated every day, and I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for helping me get this far.

In the past three months, I faced a significant challenge with my house. The loose soil inside attracted termites and lice, which posed a threat to both the structure and my family's health. Determined to tackle the issue, I decided to use $68 from my recent transfers to renovate the house by cementing the floor. This renovation proved to be incredibly effective. The solid cement floor eliminated the problem of lice and safeguarded the wooden poles from termite damage, creating a safer and more comfortable living environment for my family. With the remaining $34, I saw an opportunity to improve our livelihood further. I topped up an additional $26 to purchase a high-breed goat for $60. This investment was strategic; it not only increased my herd to six goats but also promised future benefits. High-breed goats provide more milk and better meat, which I could sell for extra income. Additionally, the offspring from these goats would contribute to the growth of my herd. This decision was driven by a desire to ensure a stable and sustainable source of income, combining immediate needs with long-term planning.

The monthly contributions I contribute to the savings group have proven to be beneficial for me. I utilized the accumulated funds to enhance my living conditions by installing a robust and durable metallic door for my house. Anticipating my upcoming turn to receive the transfers, I am eager to allocate the funds towards acquiring a mattress, a purchase that would significantly contribute to ensuring a comfortable sleeping environment for myself. The financial support I am receiving through these transfers is immensely appreciated, and I am grateful for the positive impact it has had on my living situation.

Clearing a $20 debt that my son owed to his school from the previous year became a priority upon receiving my transfers. This action ensured his uninterrupted continuation of studies. In another instance, my daughter, who is in secondary school, contacted me in need of pocket money. I promptly sent her $5 to address her immediate needs while away at school. Additionally, I contributed $4 to cover my grandchild's school fees when the mother faced difficulties in making a timely payment. This step was crucial in enabling the child to return to school and resume her education. Expanding my livestock holdings, I acquired a goat for $34, bringing the total to six in my herd. I am delighted to witness the growth of my herd, anticipating future income when some of them are sold. Allocating $38, I purchased food for the family, ensuring that our nutritional needs were met without any lapses. Additionally, I saved $5 within a savings group comprised of seven members. The funds acquired from this group will be earmarked for purchasing a mattress in the upcoming months. I express deep appreciation for the financial support provided through the transfers, which has proven instrumental in addressing various needs and aspirations.

My aspiration is to become the proud owner of a small herd of goats. These goats will be more than just livestock; they will serve as a financial safety net in times of need. I envision them as a source of stability and a resilient asset that can help me overcome any unexpected financial constraints that life may throw my way. With dedication and careful planning, I aim to build a sustainable goat-raising venture that not only supports me but also provides valuable resources for my family's well-being.

Receiving the unconditional cash transfer was nothing short of a blessing for my family. With it, I immediately prioritized securing the future of my two children, both in secondary school. I spent around $20 to pay their tuition fees, a burden that had weighed heavily on me for months. With this financial support, I no longer had to constantly worry about how to make ends meet, and this newfound stability translated into a more conducive learning environment for my kids. The stress of tuition was replaced by the joy of watching them focus on their studies, knowing that I had invested in their education. I also set aside $10 for our merry-go-round back in the village, a financial support system that's been a lifeline for me during tough times. With the remaining $4.7, I made sure to buy vegetables and cereals for my family of four. My husband's income as a casual laborer had never been enough to make ends meet, and as a substantial farmer, my earnings were modest. We had been living a life of constant financial struggle. However, with this cash infusion, I felt a glimmer of hope that our family could finally breathe a bit easier.

I have been operating a small shop in the village which has been my major source of income. With my son having being retrenched at work, this has been our only source of income. We would depend on it for household needs and school fees. Since then the shop business has not been doing well. and mostly affected by inadequate stock. I'm planning to restock the shop and continue farming which I believe will go well. Since with a bumper harvest we will not experience food shortage in my household. If all goes well, spending on food will be a thing of the past. I am also planning to buy more goats in the near future.

I have two of my children enrolled in high school. I'm so glad that I spent my most recent transfers on paying their school fees. Raising school fees has not been easy for us, as my husband is a casual laborer. We would mostly depend on my eldest son to assist, but he was recently retrenched at work. We are happy that for the first time, the two are comfortable in school after having their fees paid on time. More often, they would be home due to a lack of school fees. Fending for my family has not been easy, even providing for the most basic needs has been a problem. The transfer has been helpful, we bought enough food for my household as well. This will last us for some time, some of these were bags of maize. We are grateful that, despite this difficult situation, the transfers have also enabled us to live comfortably. In addition to all this, I also purchased a goat at Kshs.2800 I now own five goats, which I have acquired by saving the transfer every month. I am keeping them in my homestead as an investment. I expect to generate income through subsistence farming since I'm not in any form of employment. I'm sure this will give me financial freedom.

Since goats make the best long-term investments, I have always been passionate about raising them, but I've never had the money to do it. Every year, they give birth, and as the year progresses, so do their offspring. I want to buy three for upbringing now that I receive a monthly payout. If everything goes according to plan, I will have more of them in two years, which I intend to sell later to help pay for my kids' school expenses.

My spouse, who was the main breadwinner, recently lost his job, and since then, my small business of selling snacks and the money I receive on a monthly basis have been supporting us. Although finances has been tight, I am happy about the transfers. I spent $54 of the last three months' disbursements on my kids' school costs and $48 on groceries for my family. Without the support, it would not have been simple, therefore we appreciate it.

In my view, GiveDirectly has mastered the art of alleviating poverty through direct cash transfer. Since I was enrolled in the program, I have an assurance of receiving a monthly transfer for five years. It is a unique model employed by GiveDirectly and it has a long-term positive impact on all the recipients who will be using them to meet their immediate needs, ranging from food to fee payments. It does well in giving unconditional cash transfers because it has helped me to pay part of my children's school fees. In contrast, I think that GiveDirectly does not do well in not making a comeback to the same locality it had previously.

My husband's primary source of income is house construction. I decided to do mixed farming because I lack the necessary skills to work in a formal job sector. As a result, I rely on both subsistence farming and livestock raising. Although this investment has provided me with some income on occasion, it has not been sufficient to support my family. As a result, when I received my transfer, my children were behind on their fees, and I was concerned about how to pay them. However, with the transfer, I set aside KES 2,000 for that fee payment. We used the remaining KES 1,000 to buy 10kg of maize flour for my family because we didn't have enough food. I am relieved because I still have food in my house.

The funds were sent out quite late in the evening and I called my grandchild to help me read the message since I couldn't do it myself and I was elated to find out that it was the transfers reason being I really needed the money and I had already not eaten for a couple of days.

I was really grateful for the mere fact that I could manage to send my children back to school because I believe that education is very important when it comes to shaping up their future and for them to have a better future than the one they have right now is by investing in education so that they could prosper.

Unfortunately two days prior to receiving the funds my kids have been kicked out of school due to the failure of settling the debt I owed the school, but luckily GiveDirectly came through for me and I ended up using a KES 1,000 out of the transfers I had received to pay tuitio for two of my children. Afterwards I decided to deal with issues concerned with nourishment so I ended up using KES 1,600 in purchasing six packets of maize flour due to the fact that it was two days since we had a meal. I used the remaining balance of KES 400 and decided to buy two hens as an investment in poultry farming.