It's heartening to visualize the bright years ahead, especially with the financial foundation that GiveDirectly has provided. With 40 heads of goats in my possession, I see not just a herd but a living investment that has the potential to multiply. The idea of selling them one by one in times of financial need adds a layer of security that was once a distant dream. These goats are more than livestock; they are a source of income and stability. Beyond just selling them, I see the practical benefits of having goats. Milking them provides a sustainable source of nourishment for my family and also reduces expenses that we would have otherwise incurred. It's a self-sustaining cycle that brings both financial and practical relief. Looking ahead, my aspirations extend to diversifying my sources of income. The thought of adding layer chickens to the mix, producing eggs to be sold for additional income, is a testament to the resilience and creativity that can bloom from a stable financial base.

I used to live a really stressful life, I had no job, and it felt like my husband was shouldering all the financial burdens at home. It made me feel so limited. But when those transfers came in, it was like a breath of fresh air. I can't even describe the relief. The first transfer came during a dry season, and instead of just sitting around, I decided to do something about it. So, I took a chance and used part of the money to plant some maize along a seasonal river. It was a bit risky, but I felt like I needed to break free from the cycle of dependency. Despite the odds, we managed to harvest some maize. Now, I can look back and see how those transfers from GiveDirectly didn't just bring money; they brought a shift in my life. I'm not stuck anymore. I can make decisions, take control, and see the results. It's not just about the maize; it's about reclaiming a sense of agency and creating a future that's not defined by limitations.

I found myself in a bit of a struggle, trying to complete the construction of our home. My husband and I were putting in every ounce of effort into various casual jobs, but the income wasn't enough to turn our house into the haven we had dreamt of. We decided to allocate $410 towards the house. With it, we managed to add the finishing touches to our home, finally installing the doors and windows. It transformed the structure into a real, tangible place we could call our own. After securing our home, we decided to buy food with $40. Having a stock of food in the house meant more than just convenience; it brought a peace of mind. No longer did we need to worry about daily food runs or wonder if we'd have enough to put on the table. The gratitude we felt was immeasurable; this unforeseen support bridged the financial gap that our modest incomes couldn't cover.

By the close of this year, my goal is to establish a kiosk at home to foster self-reliance rather than leaning entirely on my husband, a motorcycle driver, whose daily earnings of ksh 1000 cannot cater for all our family's needs. With my most recent series of transfers from Give Directly, I aim to dive into the grocery sector, initiating this venture with the mentioned kiosk.

Give Directly excels in distributing cash equitably throughout the village, avoiding any form of bias or discrimination. This approach has significantly empowered various groups including the youth, women, and even those who previously had no experience managing household finances. The straightforward cash transfer method has further motivated many villagers to pursue their entrepreneurial visions and achieve their financial aspirations.

Upon receiving my second transfer from Give Directly, I was overjoyed as it brought me a step closer to the realization of my long-standing dream - to build a lasting home that can accommodate my expanding family. With the funds, I chose to channel every bit of it into the final stages of the house construction, which would allow me to extend my existing two-room house to a more spacious three-room one.

I have a pattern in which I go to the bushy areas where our goats graze every evening just to look after them, and that is when I received the GiveDirectly transfers. I was very happy in my heart, knowing that God had come through for us. We are a young couple, and my husband would prefer to keep me at home while he goes out to look for money to buy food, so receiving this amount made me glad. Having food on the table is a major issue that we frequently face, so one of the first thoughts that came to mind was to buy food to supply the house.

Mostly, we would miss meals, taking only one per day or sometimes none at all and calling it a day. However, things have changed, and now we have three meals a day, and our child is enjoying and happy that his face can show he is glowing. I increased the number of goats, which makes me feel more financially secure than having none or only a few. We can now consider farming along the riverbank so that we can use irrigation and have plenty of food in the coming year. We feel so blessed and remembered even when we least expect it, and it always makes us feel valuable even when everything around us doesn't.

When I received the transfers, I went with my spouse to withdraw them and then divide them in the order that we had agreed upon earlier. I took $40 and went to the food store, where I spent it on food. I went for food first because I am a housewife and spend most of my time at home with our child, and occasionally we are left without food to eat during the day, only to wait until evening when he returns home with it, which was uncomfortable for me. We had discussed purchasing two goats that we had already identified, and we only paid $100 for both. This is to protect our future obligations, especially when we do not have money, and we will sell them and use the money. We have plans to extend our home, and we purchased materials for $60 just to assemble them, so that when we begin construction, we will just be looking for the amount to pay for the labor, and we are very delighted to have done these things. We're getting better slowly, and by the third transfer, we'll be enjoying a fresh beginning in life.