To diversify and stabilize my income streams, my strategy involves directing my forthcoming transfers towards investing in livestock. This decision is driven by the recognition that livestock serve as a reliable backup source of income, offering a safety net in times of unforeseen emergencies. I envision a future where I can capitalize on selling some of the livestock to cover my children's school fees, thus securing their educational pursuits. The prospect of having this additional income stream fills me with immense satisfaction, particularly as it alleviates the financial strain I once faced. Unlike in the past, where my sole reliance on charcoal sales often led to struggles, I now find solace in the stability provided by this monthly income. This newfound financial security marks a significant improvement in my circumstances, instilling a sense of optimism for the future.

Last month, I made a pivotal decision to allocate an additional $34 from my transfers, bringing the total to $100. This allowed me to fulfill the outstanding school fees required for my son's enrollment at Tsangatsini Secondary School. Insufficient funds had initially posed a barrier to his education, but with the aid from the transfers, I successfully reached the target amount of $140, paving the way for my son to embark on his academic journey. Furthermore, I ensured my two younger children were fully equipped for their transition to junior secondary school by purchasing new school uniforms, an essential expenditure totaling $34. Witnessing their eagerness to attend school fills me with profound satisfaction and reassurance for their bright futures. In addition to investing in my children's education, I also took strides to bolster my charcoal business. With the same $34, I expanded my inventory by purchasing 5 more sacks of charcoal. Now, I eagerly await the subsiding of the rains, anticipating the opportunity to sell the charcoal and generate much-needed income for my family. I cannot overstate my gratitude for the invaluable financial assistance that has enabled me to enhance the well-being and prospects of my family.

I am grateful for the positive impact of cash transfers, allowing me to accumulate livestock. Currently, I possess seven goats and two sheep, something that was unattainable before the introduction of cash transfers when my income only covered the basic needs of my children. My ultimate goal is to further expand my livestock holdings, aiming to acquire four bulls. These bulls will serve as valuable assets for agricultural activities, such as land preparation, eliminating the need to hire costly tractors. I plan to continue growing my goat herd, enabling them to reproduce and eventually exchanging some of them for cattle.

As the primary provider for my wife and seven children, I sustain our family by engaging in the buying and selling of charcoal, generating up to $100 in profits in a good month. However, this income is barely sufficient for basic household needs like food. The introduction of cash transfers has been a welcome relief, enabling me to afford additional things, such as livestock. I recently spent $34 to purchase a goat, adding to the seven goats I already own. I believe that as the livestock reproduces and the herd grows, I will have the opportunity to sell them in the future, providing support for the educational needs of my children. In the aftermath of the short rains, I invested $30 in hiring a tractor to plow an acre of my land. Fortunately, the maize crops are now thriving, and I anticipate a successful harvest starting next month. During a challenging month for my charcoal business, the cash transfers played a crucial role in ensuring I could provide food for my family, with $38 allocated for this purpose.

With the assurance of abundant food from farming, my goal is to accumulate sufficient funds through monthly savings to invest in livestock. Raising livestock provides a reliable source of income, enabling me to support my family and supplement the earnings I make from selling charcoal. As the livestock population grows, I can sell some of them in the market, generating substantial profits. This, in turn, allows me to reinvest in more livestock, ultimately expanding my herd even further.

While on my way to Mariakani, I unfortunately lost my phone, leaving me in a difficult situation since my phone serves as my primary means of communication and a source for job offers. In need of a quick solution, I approached a friend for a $16 loan, which I used to purchase a new phone for $15 and also renewed my sim card for $10. As soon as I received my July transfers, I promptly repaid the loan, alleviating my worries and ensuring that I could be reached by anyone who needed to contact me. Additionally, during this time, my son, who is in primary school, had to stay at home for more than two days due to unpaid school fees. I managed to gather $7 to settle the arrears, enabling him to return to school and continue his education. With the remaining $10, I bought food to support my family. Running a charcoal selling business doesn't generate substantial income, leading to occasional struggles to provide enough food for my loved ones. Recognizing the need for a more sustainable solution, I made the decision at the beginning of this month to shift my focus entirely to farming. This strategic move aims to yield a bumper harvest, ensuring an abundant supply of food for my family in the upcoming months.

For a long time, I have wished to get a driving job but my lack of the necessary qualifications has hindered me. To be a qualified driver, I need to attend driving school and obtain a license at the end of the learning period. Right now, I do not have enough funds to enroll in driving school financial constraints have weighed too much on me. This is still my dream that I wish to accomplish in the coming few years. 

When I received the recent cash, most of my children and I were suffering from a flu infection and needed medical attention. Since the illness had made me not work on my charcoal-selling business I could not afford the medication by myself. Gladly, I was able to spend $10 on acquiring the medicine. Also, the household had run out of food, and I spent the remaining $24 on maize flour. Am grateful that we are recovering well from the flu and that my family still has enough meals to date. In February, every penny went towards food, and in  January, most of the transfer, $20, went towards purchasing school uniforms for my son who was set to join junior secondary school. 

The transfers from GiveDirectly have been very beneficial to my family. For the past year, I have been spending my transfers on food and supporting my children's education. In addition, I had initiated building a new house with part of the transfer. So I need three iron sheets to complete it. My primary goal is to prioritize completing building that house. That will help me to live in a better house unlike the previous one whose roofing was too old. In addition, because we are facing a serious famine, my other goal for this year is to continue using part of the transfer to help obtain food for my family of eight members since I only do charcoal selling business which is of low earning. I am grateful for the financial support from GiveDirectly.

As the breadwinner of my family of nine (my wife and seven children), I buy charcoal from the village and sell it in Mariakani town for an income. Though I can make a profit of up to $20 in a good week, these earnings are rarely guaranteed because of the low demand for the product. On tougher days when I come home with nothing, we either end up surviving with just a meal for the day (mostly supper) or going to bed on empty stomachs. Due to the inconsistency of my income, settling the school fees of my children also becomes challenging. So, I deducted $10 from the transfer to pay for the fees of five children, which had accrued from October to date. I am so relieved and happy that they are finally able to sit for their end-of-year tests courtesy of Give Directly. Also, my household had run out of food four days before the transfer, forcing us to take only one meal per day. This is why I used $19 to buy food that has lasted us to date. Am glad that we can now take three decent meals per day, with tea, something that is a luxury to us, accompanying every breakfast. I saved the rest of the money in case of any financial emergency.

I like how GiveDirectly disburses the funds on time. This makes it possible to plan accordingly for the funds having no inconveniences. I urge the organization to enroll other people from the poor villages so that they can get help.

I have four children who are in primary school. Lately, I have struggled to pay their school fees because I have no money. I do not have a permanent job and depend on short contract jobs such as building houses for other people. These jobs are scarce and hard to find caused by the poor state of the economy. Therefore, when I received my transfer, I paid KES 1000 school fees for all my four children. I am happy that they will stay in school like their classmates. Besides paying school fees, I bought food (five packets of 2kg maize flour, 1kg of beans, 1kg of sugar, and washing soap) using the remaining amount of KES 2000.

When I received the transfer confirmation, I was relaxing at home, planning my next move to find customers for the charcoal I had made. The level of happiness I felt cannot be expressed in words. In fact, I took the next day off from my regular responsibilities to plan how I would spend the transfer.

Before the transfers, sleeping hungry was the norm in my household. In addition, my children were constantly being sent from class to collect unpaid school fees. However, since the transfers, they have never been kicked out of class, nor has the household run out of food.

Making and selling charcoal is the primary source of income for me and my family. The earnings generated by this practice are barely enough to put food on the table and pay for my children's education. In fact, due to a lack of funds, my family had only eaten one meal the day before the transfer. Having starved throughout the night, I bought food worth KES 560 from the transfer. In addition, to keep my six children's studies from being suspended, I paid KES 400 to their school.