My goal for this year is to expand into livestock brokerage, focusing particularly on goats. The plan is to eventually exchange the goats for cows as their numbers increase. These cows will help me settle a debt that has been stressful for me for years. After purchasing a piece of land on credit, I was left with a $1000 debt, which I intend to clear using the livestock I will acquire through the transfers. Currently, I have a small number of goats, and I am confident that in a few years, my herd will grow sufficiently to facilitate the exchange for cows and settle the debt. Once the debt is cleared, I will finally have peace of mind.

For now, I only depend on farming activities and livestock rearing, as I left my masonry job a few years ago due to my advanced age. Providing for my family has been a challenge. Given these challenges, I've been considering more reliable assets to secure our future once this assistance ends in two to three years. Recently, I was able to buy three goats for $96 to expand the herd. I trust that, with time, I will have many goats, and I plan to exchange some for cows since cows are more valuable and expensive than goats. This plan is for the years ahead, and I will use these cows to settle a debt, as the land I live on was bought on credit, and there is a balance of $1000 that needs to be settled. These livestock will not only help me meet my basic needs in the future but also bring me peace of mind, as I will be debt-free. With the remaining $6, I used it to buy vegetables, cooking oil, flour, and fish, which my family enjoyed as we faced the new day's challenges, especially with food insecurity being so severe here.

My goal for this year is to expand into livestock brokerage, with a particular focus on goats. It promises to be a profitable venture that will also bring me a sense of fulfillment. After purchasing the piece of land, I plan to use the transfers I receive to make this goal a reality. This investment is crucial for establishing a successful business and enhancing my financial stability. I deeply appreciate the support from GiveDirectly, as it has enabled me to accomplish so much.

I used to work as a mason, but as I grew older, the work became too exhausting, so I had to stop. Now, I am focused on subsistence farming to support myself and my large family of 11. It has NOT been easy providing for them; there were times we could not afford to buy food or pay school fees for the children. However, since GiveDirectly began helping our village, our situation has greatly improved. I had bought a piece of land, approximately thirty acres, but had not finished paying for it. With the monthly transfers I receive, I have been able to pay off the debt and am now close to completing the payments. Additionally, I have used the transfers to acquire goats and cows, which I now raise. My main focus has been on acquiring livestock, especially goats. I used the entire $102 from the transfers I received to buy three goats, which I plan to rear and eventually sell at a profit. I am truly thankful for this opportunity to enhance my life, and I am optimistic about the future ahead.

Looking ahead, my primary goal for this year is to complete the payment for my land. Acquiring 30 acres on loan was a significant investment, and I now aim to clear the remaining debt of $1000. Utilizing both my transfers and financial support from my children, I am determined to secure ownership of this land, ensuring a lasting legacy for my family. Owning this property will provide a sense of security and prosperity for generations to come, reflecting my commitment to securing a better future for my loved ones even beyond my lifetime.

Having worked as a mason for many years, I eventually retired due to advancing age. Prior to the intervention of GiveDirectly, I faced constant financial struggles, often relying on financial support from my employed children. The introduction of this project has provided me with a stable source of income, enabling me to support myself and my wife comfortably. With this assistance, I have managed to settle part of the payment for land I had purchased on loan. Furthermore, I invested in goats, using $68 to purchase two, which serve as a valuable asset to be sold in times of urgent need. With $34, I secured food supplies for my family, a relief considering that we did not have enough before. Participating in this project has significantly enhanced our quality of life, a fact that fills me with genuine happiness.

I currently live in a dilapidated, old house in dire need of renovation. My objective is to embark on a gradual rebuilding process, starting with the roof. To achieve this, my first step is to purchase iron roofing sheets. Subsequently, I plan to acquire furnishings like beds and chairs. I will fund this endeavor through the income generated from my work and additional transfers. This transformation means that my family will soon have a place to call home, and I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for making this possible.

As a mason, my livelihood relies on building houses, but it's a seasonal job that doesn't always guarantee sufficient income to cover my household expenses. During challenging times times, I have had to venture into raising and selling livestock to diversify my income streams. Since we began receiving these transfers, our lives have changed for the better, and I'm filled with gratitude and happiness. I allocated $34 to purchase food for my family, addressing our needs during a prolonged drought. Another $34 was invested in acquiring a goat, which I plan to rear to maturity and eventually sell at a profit. The remaining $34 was used to restock essential household items that had run out. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I now hold hope for a brighter future for my family.

My main objective is to send my children to college. To ensure that they never run out of school fees, I will continue to save and invest the transfers I receive. By educating them, I'm hopeful they'll have good careers in the future and can support me when I'm old.

I work as a builder by trade,but lately I have not been able to do my job well because of my advanced age. Due to the protracted drought, I used $34 to purchase food for my family. I then used $10 to clear my daughter's school fee arrears for a tailoring school program she is enrolled in. I also spent $24 to purchase a goat that I hope to raise. I will use the money I make from selling its offspring to purchase a cow in future. I used the remaining sum to make arrangements for my mother's funeral. Give Directly has done so much for me, and I'm incredibly appreciative.

My main goal is to acquire the whole piece of land where I currently reside. So far I have managed to pay half the required amount, and with the remaining balance, I want to continue buying livestock (goats) and later trade them for cows, then after 5 years, I would sell the cows to help me settle the remaining balance of KES.100.000.

The land that I currently live in is half-paid, and I have been wondering how I would settle the remaining balance of KES. 100,000. The transfers that have been receiving had been of great help because I have been spending it towards achieving my goals. With the recent one of KES. 3470, I managed to buy a goat worth KES. 2000 for rearing that I would later sell to repay the debts. Also, with the ongoing drought resulting in loss of food, I spent the remaining amount of KES. 1470 to buy food for my family. I was very grateful.

I was quite happy to receive the funds when I did especially because at that time I had already settled tuition for my children so I could look into other things. Therefore after withdrawing the transfers I went ahead and purchased a goat which cost me KES 2,900 because I really wanted to invest in growing my farm hoping that it will assist me financially in the future. The balance of KES 100 is what I used as transportation fee when I went to fetch the goat.

When i finally received the transfers, I went on to purchase a goat since the owner was selling it at a throw away price because it seemed to urgently need the money to pay school fees for his children. I ended up purchasing the goat at KES 1,000 since I also wanted to have more farm animals and now I happen to own three goats. Lastly I used the remaining KES 2,000 and paid tuition fee for two of my children. One happens to be in his last year of high-school while the other is pursuing a course in tailoring.

GiveDirectly does very well in every aspect and I cannot fault them so far. From the period of enrolment up to now, they have been able to keep their promises of giving us the unconditional transfers. The services from their officers during the enrolment process have been top-notch and extremely happy and commend them for that.

I spent the entire amount of KSH 3000 from my second transfer to pay school fees for my two children. The eldest is a form three student whereas the youngest is in class eight. I decide to pay school fees because of the big school fee balance that both had. The school administration had communicated that they would not sit for their exam unless I cleared the fee balance. I currently do not have a job as I had to leave my job in town and come back home to settle a land dispute to prevent my family being thrown out from the land we occupied. Since the beginning, I could not work and I did not have money to pay the fee balances. The only job I do now is to raise the little livestock that I have left.

I had gone to the field to take care of the livestock that day and right after my son called me to tell me he was back home due to pending balances in school fees, shortly after I got the message from GiveDirectly that the funds had arrived. It was honestly an amazing coincidence and I was in luck. I was so happy because were it not for the money my son would have probably stayed home foe a while before I could find ways of getting money and sending him back to school.

Due to the circumstances I was in at the moment I received the money I had to prioritise on what was most important for my family and myself which included seeing my son continue with his education. But I most definitely see great change in the future because this program has given a chance to develop and elevate ourselves to greater heights and we ought to seize this opportunity which I intend to. Therefore I ma grateful for the support and belief that GiveDirectly saw in us.

This funds in my own thinking would not have come at a better time that when they did because I was financial stuck during that period and my son had just been sent home from highschool that same day because I had failed to pay his tuition fee. I t was such a huge relief to receive the money when I did it almost felt God had heard my prayers. I immediately sent my son KES 1,000 so that he would instantly go back to school and not miss out on his studies or catching up with other students. The remaining KES 200 I still have it and choose to leave it in my savings account for a rainy day.