It's challenging to focus on business due to my child's medical condition. My priority is her treatment and well-being. My spouse works as a motorbike taxi driver to support our family, but watching our child's health deteriorate is emotionally draining. I'm deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support, which has allowed us to afford consistent clinic visits. For now, my plan is to use my monthly transfers to cover my child's medication. Once her health improves, I'll start thinking about starting a business to help support my spouse in providing for our family.

I want to express my gratitude to GiveDirectly for their financial support. Initially, I had planned to save my transfers to start a business, but unfortunately, my child fell ill and has not recovered since the attack. As a result, I had to use all the money I had saved for her medical expenses. Due to her condition, I am unable to leave her with anyone and must stay home with her every day. I take her to the clinic in Makadara every month, but despite diligently following her treatment schedule, there has been no improvement in her health. Because of this, I had to use my most recent transfer of $102 entirely for her medication. While it’s not the outcome I hoped for, I am thankful for the support, as it has allowed me to continue caring for my child during this challenging time.

I have always aspired to own a business, and to achieve this, I have been diligently saving with my local savings group. Despite a few setbacks, I remain determined to continue saving my transfers. I believe that with patience and perseverance, my savings will eventually mature. Once they do, I plan to use them to start the business I have always dreamed of. This goal motivates me to stay focused and committed to my financial plan.

The transfers came at a crucial time when my son was very unwell and admitted to the hospital. I used $68 of the funds to pay for his medication so he could receive the necessary treatment. Although he has not fully recovered, I am grateful for the progress he has made and hopeful for his complete recovery. Additionally, I spent $15 on food for my family since our supplies were depleted and I didn't want them to go hungry. I also saved $15 with our local savings group, aiming to use these savings to start a business. Lastly, I spent the remaining $4 to buy chickens, hoping they will multiply so I can sell them in the future to help in case of emergencies.

I have been in a savings group since my joining this program, I used to save consistently until November when my mother in-law got sick. Had it not been for Givedirectly transfers I probably would have lost a grip of my dreams. I had gotten to $230 in savings which I had hoped I would withdraw in November and buy a sewing machine as well as rent a shop to work out from. I used to own a shop providing tailoring services but I was forced to close down as I was renting the machine I was using and it was taken away from me. I spent $180 from my savings into paying the hospital bills for my mother in law and could no longer afford the sewing machine which would cost me $160. I am hoping to have enough in April to buy the machine and restart my business to ensure I am able to raise an income.

Hope was bleak and most things tumultuous before we started receiving Givedirectly transfers. I am a married woman. I live in the same place as my mother in-law and my husband siblings. My husband is usually the one on whom most financial needs fall on. My mother in-law fell ill in November and needed to be hospitalized. We took her to a nearby hospital and since she was in hospital for so long we were asked for $320 for her treatment,$60 from my November and December transfers went into her treatment, the $8 left sorted sugar and soap for the house. In January my mother in-law reported that she was feeling much better and said that she wanted to go back home. I decide to build to my goals using my January transfers, I sent part of it to my savings group and I saved $15 and bought additional chicken at $15 went into 3. The $4 went into buying food sugar and soap.

I aspire to be self-employed as I have been actively searching for a job without success. My goal is to purchase a sewing machine to start a tailoring business. With that I can easily give my family a better and quality life. I will also be able to create an opportunity for other youths that I can easily hire.

I attended a tailoring college, but at first, I could not afford a sewing machine. To overcome this challenge, I joined a merry-go-round. From the transfers, I took $20, which I saved wisely. With the remaining $14, I bought soap and lotion. This will help me maintain good hygiene and boost my confidence.

Ever since I completed my tailoring training, my dream has been to own a sewing machine and start my own tailoring business in the village. Unfortunately, with the limited income my husband earns from his motorcycle taxi business, it has been challenging to set aside enough funds to fulfill this dream. Thankfully, with the cash transfers, I now have a greater opportunity to purchase the equipment I need. My goal is to save enough money by the end of the year to acquire a sewing machine. In addition to the tailoring shop, I also aspire to start a vegetable-selling business to supplement my income. Ultimately, I aim to achieve financial stability, contribute to the household's needs, and alleviate the burden on my husband's shoulders.

As the main provider for our household, my husband works as a motorcyclist to earn a living. However, since he works for someone else's business, he has to split his earnings between his employer and himself. Additionally, he faces the challenge of a scarcity of passengers daily. These difficulties make it hard for him to consistently put food on the table, and there are times when we go to bed hungry. That is why I prioritize purchasing more food whenever I receive the funds. Recently, I spent $26 on maize flour, which has been able to sustain my family until now. Thanks to the cash transfers, the frequency of running out of food has significantly reduced. As is my usual practice, I saved $5 through a self-help group to buy a sewing machine by the end of the year. I am a trained tailor, but the lack of funds has hindered my ability to acquire my equipment. However, with the cash transfers, I now have hope of realizing this goal. Lastly, I used the remaining funds to purchase medication for my 6-year-old child who was suffering from flu.

My husband works as a motorcycle taxi and has a hard time making ends meet. This year, I want to help my family by paying off some of the household expenses. When the growth and expansion of my tailoring business occur, I will have a better opportunity to make a good income. I want to get a new, better sewing machine so I can finish all the orders I get on time. As a way to draw in more customers, increase my revenue, and support my family, I would also love to open a larger shop in a town center.

My sewing machine broke down, and I was unable to operate my tailoring business normally for more than two months. This had a significant impact on my job orders, and as a result, I lost many potential customers. I spent $16 to fix the sewing machine after getting my January transfers so I could get back to work. I'm relieved to be back at work and am now concentrating on completing the orders I had before the machine malfunctioned. I purchased food for my family of three (my husband, son, and me). It was a good idea to add more food because the supply we had in the house was running low. Last but not least, I put $10 into a savings account with the goal of eventually growing my business. I currently work from the comfort of my home, but I would love to grow and open a shop where I could conduct business in order to draw in more customers.

GiveDirectly, in my opinion, has perfected the way it operates in terms of giving cash with no strings attached. Although I had not used it in a while, I'm impressed with how it works. It does not exclude any community member but works to enroll as many people as possible who will eventually receive cash assistance. Because of its financial assistance, I purchased new seats, which I did not have at first. Likewise, the community members are grateful; as a result of the transfer, a number of community members have started businesses, resulting in a positive change in their lifestyle. However, there is nothing GiveDirectly does not do well.

I am newlywed and have only been in marriage for about a year. We have been living in a hard condition because my husband nor I have a steady source of income. We lacked a seat and had to borrow them whenever we had guests. Upon receiving my recent transfer, I spent $20 on three plastic chairs. It was helpful because we did not have the funds to purchase the same. I saved $10 from my most recent transfer in a merry-go-round in hopes raise money sufficient to buy a sewing machine. I have tailoring skills, and I would like to start a tailoring shop.

It was at 9.00 p.m. when I was already asleep. I heard a notification message on my phone and thought the money in my M-PESA had been erroneously sent to me. I did not believe it at first, but upon hearing about the celebrations from my neighbors, I confirmed it was from GiveDirectly and felt so happy.

The biggest difference in my life is affording nutritious meals. Using the transfer, I managed to buy enough food and, therefore, enjoyed a balanced diet for a while. In the recent past, sometimes we could go to bed without food. Even the night I received the transfer, we started to sleep hungry but woke up and went to buy food after receiving the cash. We did not have food and had not eaten anything for lunch too. This is not the case anymore, and I thank GiveDirectly for supporting us.

I am not formally employed and hence rely on burning charcoal to meet part of our basic needs. My husband who works as a motorcycle taxi rider is the sole breadwinner in the family. We are only two people in the house. I spent all my transfers to purchase food because we had none at the time. The charcoal business was not very stable due to floods, and my husband’s income was not enough due to low business operations making us have no reliable income for buying food.