In the upcoming year, my primary goal is to launch a grocery store to generate a stable income and support my family. I intend to gradually save part of the money I receive, setting aside a small amount each month until I have accumulated enough to purchase the initial inventory and establish the store. I understand it will not be easy, but I believe I can achieve this dream with patience and determination. Starting small, I aim to offer fresh vegetables, fruits, and essential household items to my community, meeting their needs while also establishing a dependable source of income for myself.

I am a widow with three sons, and I work hard through casual jobs to provide for my family. With the recent three transfers totaling $102, I knew I had to make some important changes for us. First, I used $43 to buy a mattress. Before this, I was sleeping on an empty sack on the cold, cemented floor, which was both uncomfortable and exhausting. The new mattress has brought me so much relief, allowing me to rest better and wake up with the energy I need to care for my family. After that, I used $20 to pay school fees for my two sons who are still in school. Their education is my priority because I believe it will lead them to a better future. With the remaining $39, I bought food to ensure we had enough to eat. This eased the constant worry about our next meal and allowed me to focus on finding more work to continue supporting my sons. These transfers have made a real difference in our lives, giving us comfort, security, and hope for the days ahead.

My focus now is to renovate my house, which is on the verge of collapsing. This has become my urgent focus because the safety of my family depends on it. To make this happen as soon as possible, I've committed to saving $30 every month. It's a big challenge, but knowing that each dollar brings me closer to a safe and secure home gives me the motivation to keep going. With the help of GiveDirectly, I believe I can accomplish this. Fixing my house will not only provide immediate safety but also a stable foundation for a better future for my family. This renovation is more than just a project; it's a promise of security and comfort for those I love.

Out of the $102 from the recent transfers, I decided it was time to change the status of my poor living condition. For years, I had been sleeping on a small traditional bed covered with empty sacks, which left me tired and achy every morning. With $45, I bought a nice medium-sized bed that feels sturdy and comfortable. Then, I spent $50 on a mattress that’s soft yet supportive. The first night I slept on my new bed, I felt like I was floating on a cloud, and for the first time in a long while, I woke up feeling rested and refreshed. With the remaining $7, I bought some food to sustain myself. Being a widow who depends on charcoal burning for survival, every bit helps. This small amount allowed me to get some essentials like sugar, beans, and maize flour. Though it wasn't much, it meant I didn't have to worry about my next meal for a couple of days. Now, with my improved living conditions and a bit of food security, I feel a renewed sense of hope and energy to face each day.

I aspire to utilize my upcoming transfers to invest in acquiring livestock. Investing in livestock presents a significant opportunity for wealth creation and the establishment of a stable income stream. The inherent appreciation in the value of livestock is the key motivator for directing my funds towards this investment. I am genuinely pleased with the financial support I have received, as it has played a vital role in enhancing my life, elevating it from a state below the poverty line.

In November of the previous year, my son completed secondary school but faced a substantial school fee arrearage. I contributed $30 towards settling this debt, yet there remains a balance of $10 for him to clear in order to obtain his results and proceed to college. In addition, I invested $35 in purchasing a goat and a hen, as I find value in livestock due to their appreciating worth over time. This investment provides an avenue for wealth creation even beyond the scheduled termination of transfer receipts. Recognizing the need, I replaced worn-out clothing with new ones and allocated $8 towards purchasing food for my family. The financial assistance from Give Directly has been crucial in improving my quality of life, and I express sincere gratitude for the support received.

My aspiration is to establish a thriving venture selling fresh vegetables right from my home. Given my health issues, this endeavor aligns perfectly with my capabilities and allows me to contribute financially, especially as my son will be embarking on his college journey next year and the need for financial support becomes paramount. This endeavor not only promises a source of income but also brings the satisfaction of providing for my family's future.

Facing a recent diagnosis of malaria was a daunting challenge, especially considering the limited resources at my disposal. Fortunately, the unconditional cash transfer came just in time, allowing me to purchase the necessary medication for my recovery. I spent $3 on buying the required drugs, and I'm grateful that I have now fully recovered. Without this financial assistance, I would have continued to suffer, as I didn't even have a single coin left in my pocket. This support was a lifeline during my time of need, and I am profoundly thankful for it. The rest of the money was put to good use as well. I invested $20 in buying a goat, which I consider an asset. As they multiply, they'll provide a safety net for me. In times of financial constraints, I can sell one or two and resolve the immediate issues. With the remaining amount, I bought food worth $11.7 to feed my family of four. After my husband passed away a year ago, I've been raising my four children single-handedly, but currently, my own strength has waned and I am relying on my elder son for survival. This cash transfer not only restored my health but also offered a glimmer of hope for a more stable future for my family.

y biggest concern was how I would be able to pay for my son's education given my precarious financial situation when he enrolled in a two-year masonry course at a college. Before I budgeted using my monthly transfers, the tuition fees seemed impossible. Since I will still be receiving some transfers, I had to sacrifice some of my needs in order to make sure that my son finishes his studies within the allotted two years. Three of my grandchildren are currently in my care after being neglected by their parents and being left behind. The transfer is my only chance to guarantee that the fees are paid on time because I am too old and frail to perform manual labor the way I used to. My aim is to provide my son and grandchildren with the transfers they need to pursue their educational ambitions. This has been my main objective ever since I started this program.

My family has never gone without food in the past few months thanks to the transfers I've been getting from GiveDirectly each month. I was able to purchase enough food to make sure my children ate three meals a day, including a bale of maize flour and some cereals. I also used some of the money to purchase building poles to renovate my house, in addition to the food items. The recent rains had weakened and made the walls unstable. As a result of its inability to withstand the intense rain, I was afraid it might fall on me. Since I renovated it, it is now sturdy enough to withstand any disaster, so I can finally feel at peace. In addition to this, I used the most recent transfers to cover my son's and my three other grandchildren's school-age children's tuition. They were permitted to return to school to continue their studies after I was able to pay off the arrears. I hope they will be able to successfully complete their studies and meet their educational objectives thanks to this program.

Despite my advanced age, I am grateful that I only have one child in high school. His elder siblings had completed their studies and could support their families. Because I am pleased to see my son making progress in his studies, my goal for this year is to prioritize his education. As a result, I will always use my monthly transfer to pay his school fees. I hope that by doing so, he will have more time in school and thus make significant progress in his academics. Second, a portion of the transfers will enable me to obtain medication whenever I am ill.

I have been suffering from high blood pressure for a couple of years. Because I have to go for regular check-ups and buy drugs, the condition always costs me a lot of money. I spent $15 on medication when I received my most recent transfer because I was sick. Furthermore, I spent $15 on school fees for my son, Hamisi. He is currently in form one, and schools had just reopened, but I did not have enough money to pay his fees. I am glad he has been able to concentrate on his studies since I started receiving the transfer because teachers can keep him in school even though I pay fees in bits. The three-month transfer before the most recent one enabled me to renovate my house. It had been in bad condition since I got enrolled in GiveDirectly's program. I am glad it is better now.

The organization had done a noble thing in supporting the neediest people in our society. It is our prayer that God may keep our donors healthy and may they never lack because of the magnificent gesture that they have shown us. I did not witness things that were not done well or the ones that need to be improved.

I am happy and relieved knowing that I would be receiving money from GiveDirectly for the next five years. This would mean that I would comfortably provide for the basic needs of my family every month. I am a widow and a mother of three children; I had five children, but unfortunately, two girls died and I was left with three boys to look after. Life has not been easy since my husband died because I depend on the charcoal business, which is barely enough. I used my last month's transfer on buying a goat worth $1500 and used $5 on paying school fees and lastly bought foodstuffs with the remaining $4. I was unable to accomplish all this before due to financial constraints, but I am glad that I pulled it through with the unconditional transfer.

It was around 5 pm, just seated at home clueless about how to raise money for our dinner. Due to my health condition, I am not able to engage myself a lot in the firewood business that I operate and at that time I was in a financial crisis. You can imagine the kind of excitement I felt when I received the money. I immediately went to the shopping center to purchase some food for our dinner.

The biggest difference in my daily life is the ease with which I managed to purchase foodstuffs for my family and even provided my son with some money for his upkeep in college. Sustaining my family's needs has been a challenge since my spouse passed on early last year leaving me as the sole breadwinner. Due to my health condition, I had to venture into the new business of selling firewood and since it is a new one, I am still acclimatizing myself to it and thus the low income. Thanks to GiveDirectly for the support as it would not have been easy without them.

My husband passed on early last year and by then we already had five children. One is currently in college, two are in primary school and the other two dropped out of school. We had a business where we sold local brew before he died and since I used to consume a lot of it, my health was affected and the doctor recommended that I should stop. I have since then been collecting firewood from the nearby bushes and later selling them in the nearby markets. I do not earn enough money from it to sustain my household needs since I am the sole breadwinner. Therefore, I gave my son KES 500 of the first transfer for his upkeep while in college and spent the remaining KES 700 on our household foodstuffs. I am thankful for the support as it was a boost to household income.