My goal for this year is to expand my livestock activities by purchasing more goats and cows. I plan to use the upcoming transfers to achieve this. Increasing my livestock will provide a valuable investment that will benefit me even after the project ends, creating a lasting legacy. I am pleased with the progress I have made so far, as it ensures that my family will be well taken care of in case of any urgent needs. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has significantly improved our situation.

I sell traditional liquor while my husband engages in casual jobs to support our family of six. Previously, it was difficult to meet our needs because business was slow, and I often had to supplement our income by digging out tree stumps. I am grateful that my situation has improved; I can now afford to educate my two remaining children, as the others have grown and moved out. Additionally, I have been able to buy two goats and a cow and also build a separate house for my son. From my transfers, I saved $45 in our local savings club. Accumulating these monthly savings allows me to acquire more livestock. I then used $27 to pay school fees for my children as they had a pending debt that needed to be settled. I spent the remaining $10 to buy food as we had none. I am truly grateful for this assistance, as it has significantly improved my life.

As a businesswoman, the profits generated from my business endeavors are dedicated solely to meeting our family's daily needs. This division of resources allows for a structured approach: business earnings for immediate requirements and transfers for long-term investments. This strategy aims to establish a solid foundation for our family's prosperity, with education expenses for our children also factored into the equation. Utilizing my initial savings from the merry-go-round, I made a significant investment by purchasing a cow. This is just the beginning; my intention is to continue saving and gradually acquire more cows. I hold a positive outlook, believing that these cows will not only multiply but also become a sustainable source of income for my family. Whether through selling them or utilizing bulls for land ploughing services, I envision a future where our livelihood is bolstered by the success of our livestock ventures, ensuring financial stability. There's a sense of determination and hope driving these decisions, rooted in the desire to secure a better future for our family

As part of a group of friends receiving transfers from GiveDirectly, we decided to create a merry-go-round savings group. Upon receiving my share of the transfers, I chose to save $45, earmarking it for investment in livestock when my turn comes up in the merry-go-round rotation. Prioritizing my children's education, I allocated $32 from the transfer for their school fees, ensuring they can continue their studies without disruption. In addition to savings and education, I also run a local palm wine selling business. Recognizing the potential for growth, I invested $15 from the transfers into my business, resulting in improved profitability. Witnessing my business flourish brings me immense satisfaction and motivates me to further enhance its success. With my business thriving, I'm able to reallocate my transfers towards savings and pursuing long-term investments. One such dream is acquiring a cow, something I've always aspired to. It symbolizes not just a business venture but a fulfillment of a personal ambition. Finally, I allocated the remaining $900 of the transfers towards purchasing food and essential household items so as to maintain a balance between investment, education, and everyday needs, ensuring the well-being of my family.

I wish to expand my livestock holdings by the time the cash transfers conclude. Currently, I own a cow and a goat obtained through these savings. The plan is to continue acquiring cows, eventually having two, which can assist in farming activities like plowing, saving on the expenses of hiring plowing services. Additionally, the goats will contribute to building wealth. Even after the transfers end, the livestock will serve as a vital source of income, complementing the revenue generated from my business of selling palm wine. I am excited that the recent harvest has alleviated financial constraints on food, providing an opportune moment to focus on expanding my livestock. 

I recently joined a merry-go-round club with fellow cash transfer recipients, contributing $10 each month. This collective fund is rotated among members to address individual needs. Also, part of my monthly allocation, $10, is reserved for saving toward purchasing livestock. I'm pleased to share that I have already acquired a goat and a calf through this savings approach. Owning livestock is a strategic move for securing my future, as I can sell them later to meet various needs. Additionally, I allocate $5 monthly for my daughter Zawadi's school fees. Ensuring her education remains uninterrupted is essential, especially during holidays, as she is set to enter the seventh grade. My husband, who lacks a stable income, depends on casual jobs in house construction to provide for the family. To support him, I run a small business selling palm wine. With our limited sources of funds, I am grateful that the cash transfers have been supporting in meeting some needs of the family like school fees for our daughter. The remaining $9 is typically used to buy food, ensuring that my family never goes without. The consistent support from the cash transfers has significantly improved our quality of life.

My primary goal is to renovate my house, which has been in disrepair for many years. Unfortunately, using my menial job earnings proved difficult because the majority of it went towards food and other essential household needs. The condition of the roof is particularly concerning, as it is dilapidated and poses a risk of being blown away during strong winds. Furthermore, the constant leaks during rainy days have caused damage to my household items, leaving me constantly concerned. I intend to replace the old roof with new iron sheets to address these issues and create a safe and comfortable living space. My immediate goal is to purchase 25 iron sheets, which will be critical in facilitating the much needed renovation. I have already purchased 8 iron sheets with the help of monthly transfers, indicating progress toward my goal. Moving forward, I am determined to use the monthly transfers to acquire the remaining iron sheets and commence the renovation process. This endeavour is a significant step toward bettering my living conditions and ensuring a more secure and pleasant home for myself and my family.

The recent transfers have brought positive changes to my life. It has given me hope of improving our living conditions through a house renovation, allowed my daughter to continue her education uninterrupted, and ensured that we have enough food to sustain us. For a considerable period, my house has been in deplorable condition, with a dilapidated and rusty roof that gives it an unsightly appearance. During rainy days, the roof leaks, subjecting me to long, cold nights. Despite the discomfort, I couldn't afford to renovate the house on my own, leaving me with no choice but to stay in its deteriorating state. However, the money I received has given me a glimmer of hope, as I can now consider renovating it and creating a better living space. I have been saving a portion of the funds each month, enabling me to purchase eight pieces of iron sheets. My goal is to acquire 25 pieces, which I believe will be sufficient for the renovation. Besides the renovation project, I also allocated some of the money to pay for my daughter's Junior high school fees. I am relieved and happy that she can continue her studies without the fear of being sent away from school due to unpaid fees. Additionally, I used part of the transfer to buy essential foodstuffs, such as maize flour. This ensured that my family no longer faced food shortages and that we could enjoy three meals a day.

In the next year and beyond, I hope to have renovated the roof of my house. I have been buying iron sheets with $10 from each cash transfer. After successfully repairing the roof, I wish to venture into livestock keeping so that I can accumulate enough wealth before the cash program comes to an end. Owning livestock will help me support my family’s needs like food and school fees. 

To support my husband in providing for our two children, I sell palm wine. However, considering the low consumption of produce, the money I make hardly puts food on the table and keeps my children in school. This is why I usually budget the cash transfer to meet the basic needs of my family first. From each of the three recent cash transfers, I used $10 to pay school fees for my children, $14 to buy food, and $10 to buy iron sheets.  I intend to use the irons sheets to renovate the roof of my house which has corroded and perforated over the last five years. With the cash transfers, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders because they help me cover some of the pressing needs in my household. 

I applaud GiveDirectly for providing us with the unconditional transfers while also assisting the less fortunate in our society. The transfers represent a significant financial boost for my long-held goal of fixing up my house. Because of a lack of funds brought on by the meager income from my business, I was unable to realize my dream. I am happy with GiveDirectly's performance thus far and kindly ask them to keep up the good work.

I provide the only income for my family (husband and two children). I support myself by selling palm wine (local brew from the coconut plant). Due to a lack of customers, the business is not doing well, and I only make a small amount of sales each day. My farm is the other option I have, but the drought that started three years ago is a big obstacle. I have trouble making ends meet for my family because of my low income. When it rains, water seeps into my house through the rusted, rotten, and sizable holes in the iron sheets that cover it. I spent $10 to purchase a single piece of iron sheet with the future intention of buying more with the money from my next transfer and mending the roof of the house. In addition, I paid my two children's primary school tuition arrears who had been expelled because of the debt. I struggle to provide for the family as the only sole breadwinner of the family. we skip meals because we can't afford to buy food. Therefore, I used half of the transfer money ($15) to buy food in bulk that would last us more than a week. This was the surest way to make sure my family wouldn't go hungry while I was saving money to buy more food.

when I noticed that I had a message I asked my trustee to read what it entails and that is when he confirmed that the money had finally been sent out and I was so elated as well because at the time I was struggling financially and I could really use the funds.

I was really glad that I finally had the chance to get a meal and not have to worry about when the next one would be since before I received that money I had already gone hungry for thdaye days.

Between drought and the high Cost of living nutrition has been one of my biggest challenges and that is the reason why when I received the money I spent KES 1,000 and used it to buy five packets of maize flour. I then ended up using the remaining KES 2,000 I was left with to buy a couple of pieces of iron sheets so that I could replace the old ones that I had since they were worn out.