With the arrival of the rains, I have set my sights on utilizing my upcoming transfers to plow my land and plant maize. Despite the setbacks I experienced last year, I am determined to give farming another chance. I remain optimistic that a successful harvest will enable me to redirect the funds previously spent on food towards other beneficial endeavors. I am grateful for the financial support I receive, as it has played a significant role in improving my quality of life and lifting me out of poverty.

Living with my son on a 2-acre plot of land, I have grappled with poor eyesight for the past forty years, often experiencing blurred vision accompanied by sharp pain. During such episodes, I am reliant on my son for assistance. The challenges in securing employment have further compounded our difficulties. In the rainy season, we diligently cultivate our farm to ensure an ample food supply. However, the past two rainy seasons have been disappointing as our crops were washed away by the heavy rains, leaving us with no harvest. Consequently, I allocated a significant portion of my $74 transfers towards purchasing food, ensuring that we never slept on empty stomachs, thanks to the support we receive. Investing in livestock has also been a priority. I purchased six hens for $18, and with funds from the transfers, I now own over 15 hens and four goats. Additionally, I allocated $10 to seek medical attention for chest pains and a stomach ailment. I am grateful that my health has since improved, and I am feeling much better. The assistance from Give Directly has been invaluable, enabling both my son and me to enhance our lives. We are profoundly grateful for the support that has brought stability and improvement in our circumstances.

Recently, I successfully launched a grocery kiosk selling a variety of items, such as vegetables, fruits, and sardines. While the profits generated are modest, they have significantly eased the financial burden of managing my household expenses. My objective is to expand the range of products I offer, aiming to boost my earnings and secure my financial future. As I am no longer engaged in active work, this business venture ensures a stable means of providing for my family. Additionally, I am considering investing in livestock, particularly goats, as they represent valuable assets that can serve as a reliable financial resource when needed.

Thanks to GiveDirectly transfers, I currently operate a small grocery shop primarily focused on stocking fruits and vegetables. In my advanced age, I've been dependent on my sons for support. However, their struggle with unstable employment and the responsibility of providing for their large families has made it challenging for them to consistently meet my needs. Due to my age and physical limitations, I've been engaged in small-scale subsistence farming. To address these challenges, I made the decision to save $20 each month, eventually accumulating enough to establish a small grocery shop. This business now yields a weekly profit of approximately $2, which effectively covers my basic needs. Beyond financial support, the shop provides me with a fulfilling and engaging activity in my later years, a welcome improvement that wouldn't have been possible with only my own resources. I spent the remaining amount to purchase essential food items such as maize flour and beans. Additionally, I also bought necessary household items that were previously lacking, further enhancing my quality of life.

The primary financial burden that has been adversely affecting me pertains to the persistent challenge of food shortages within my household. Struggling to adequately provide for my family, every coin I received was entirely channelled towards basic needs, leaving me unable to venture into other endeavors, such as livestock projects. Nevertheless, I am now pleased that a successful harvest has alleviated this situation. The bounty from our farm has resulted in a sufficient food supply for my household. This positive development has opened avenues for me to use the money received towards alternative projects. I am now contemplating the acquisition of goats for rearing and keeping. Goats are easy to manage and, importantly, can be sold to generate much-needed funds during times of financial stress.

I spent my transfers on buying essential food items, notably maize flour and various cereals. This ensured an ample food supply for my family, eradicating any concerns of scarcity. The transfers enabled me to purchase adequate food that could last several weeks, making the consumption of three daily meals an easily achievable routine. Notably, I spent some of my money to buy three chickens for $15, which I am now rearing. My plan is to let them multiply and eventually have a full poultry project. The ultimate goal of this project is to generate a consistent income stream that will allow me to easily meet the basic needs of my family. In addition, $13 was set aside for the purchase of a new door, a necessary improvement that has since been completed. The installation of this door was crucial, as its absence posed a security risk to my family. With the problem resolved, I can now live in peace and security in my own home.

I want to focus on cattle farming this year despite my family's needs. I presently have two goats, and if everything stays the same, I plan to buy another one every two months. By the end of the year, I'll be able to have at least five goats thanks to this plan. I decided on this strategy due to their available markets, and they are not only drought-resistant but also cheap to maintain and easily convertible to money.

We are now more financially independent thanks to GiveDirectly's assistance. The elderly and the young were handled with the utmost professionalism. The officers visited every home, thus the enrollment process was open to all. I have not yet encountered anything improper during my interactions with the personnel.

I was starving when the transfer arrived. Due to the drought that has afflicted our region, I am struggling to acquire food. I felt some relief after receiving the funds. Because I prioritize security, I chose to buy a door that only costs $10 to install at my house. The house had been without a door for almost a year. When I went to bed at night, I used to drape an old iron sheet across the doorway. anytime I was not at home, and I was concerned about leaving the house entrance with an iron sheet in place, even though I had no choice. Even though there was no evidence of theft, I was uncomfortable leaving the door unlocked. Because I am dependent on casual labor for survival, I set aside $20 to spend on food for my family's daily meals. After that, I used the remaining $4 to begin my dream of starting a chicken farm by purchasing two hens.

Up to that day, I had anxiously been hoping that my cash transfer could come in so that I could buy food for my family, we had been starving from the previous night. At around 3 p.m., while I was relaxing at home, I received a text message on my phone. I remember my nephew was the only person around who could help read the contents of the message. He broke the good news to me that Give Directly had sent me money; I was overjoyed. Finally, my family would have something to eat!

When I received the transfer, it had been a while since my compound was blessed with chickens. A while back, a vulture preyed on my entire flock of chickens, which left me stranded as these birds used to save the day whenever we had no money. After that incident, I could not buy more animals as I lacked the necessary funds. Gladly, the cash transfer rekindled that hope when it allowed me to buy two chickens. For me, that is the greatest difference. 

Given my vulnerable health condition, I hugely rely on my son, who sells chewing sticks, to provide for my needs. Sadly, his mere earnings can barely put enough food on the table, which makes us miss constantly miss meals. Since I cannot actively work to produce an income, I thought it would be better if I spent part of my cash transfers on buying livestock, which I could sell later to make money. At least this venture would reduce my over-dependence on my son and relieve him of some of the burdens. So, I spent $10 on two hens for this course. I spent the remaining amount on food as we had slept hungry the previous night. Even though it did not last long, am grateful to Give Directly and cannot wait to receive the upcoming cash.