This year, my main objective is to focus on investing in livestock, particularly goats. Goats are low-maintenance and can easily be sold to finance various expenses like school fees, food, and other daily necessities. Moreover, I plan to use them as a financial cushion for unexpected emergencies. I aim to use funds from my upcoming transfers to purchase these goats, providing my family with additional income to address any future needs. Being a part of this organization has significantly improved my life, and I feel immensely grateful for the support it provides.

After dropping out of school in seventh grade due to lack of school fees, I began raising livestock for others as a means of earning a living. My mother's income from selling charcoal wasn't enough to sustain our family, so I joined in to help support my three siblings. Previously, we struggled to afford food and school fees, but I am happy that our circumstances have improved. Thanks to the transfers we received, our financial situation has stabilized, allowing us to purchase food and provide education for my siblings. From the money I received, I allocated $15 to settle a debt incurred from buying food, $10 for my siblings' school fees, and $22 for personal necessities. Additionally, I invested $20 in purchasing a goat, which I plan to raise and eventually sell at a profit later on. I also set aside $30 for emergencies, ensuring we have a safety net for unexpected expenses. I am deeply grateful for the assistance I have received, as it has been instrumental in helping me and my family overcome financial challenges.

Now that I have recently completed the construction of my house, with only the door pending, my new goal is to invest the cash transfers in livestock rearing. As I work as a herdsman, this endeavor aligns with my experience and motivation to own livestock, particularly goats. By raising these animals, I envision the potential to sell them in times of need, providing a source of income even after the cash transfers conclude. The goats, as they reproduce and increase in number, will serve as a valuable and sustainable economic asset for the future.

Receiving the cash transfers marked the beginning of my journey to build my own house. Previously, I had been residing with my brother, but circumstances changed when he got married, compelling me to seek shelter from a relative. From the recent cash transfer, I allocated $84 towards supporting the construction of my house by purchasing essential building materials such as iron sheets and nails. Although the house is not fully complete, with only the door left to install, I am profoundly grateful for the progress I have made, as this would not have been possible without the assistance from GiveDirectly. Additionally, I used part of the funds to repay a debt of $10 at a savings group, from which I had borrowed money to finance the construction project. The remaining $8 was allocated to personal needs, such as clothes, and supporting household essentials like food. Given my role as a herdsman, the modest income I generate would not have propelled this construction project as far as it has come without the cash transfers.

Receiving cash from GiveDirectly has ignited a burning desire within me to achieve true ownership of a house. It's not just about having a roof over my head, but about having a place I can proudly call my own, a sanctuary where I can build a stable and secure future. With each iron sheet I purchase, I feel a step closer to realizing this dream. However, my aspirations extend beyond just a house. The investment I made in buying chickens earlier has opened my eyes to the potential of creating additional sources of income. Those little feathered creatures are more than just poultry; they represent an opportunity for me to generate sustainable funds and ensure a better life for myself. The choices I make with this cash transcend mere financial calculations; they hold the weight of my hopes, dreams, and determination to create a brighter future.

Receiving cash from GiveDirectly has been a true blessing for me, and it's hard to describe the mix of emotions I feel when deciding how to spend it. Every month, I diligently set aside $24 to buy two iron sheets, getting closer to my dream of having a home. The urgency to build grows stronger as I realize I still need 23 sheets but only have 10. Living with my brother has been a temporary solution, but he is talking about marriage and that means I might face homelessness soon. In April, I decided to invest myself by buying two chickens for $5, hoping they would provide some much needed source of income. In May brought it was smaller expense with one chicken costing $3. Finally, in June, I managed to relieve a burden by paying off a debt of $10 I had accumulated from food purchases at the local shops.

My goal for the next one year is to venture into livestock rearing. I would want have as many goats as possible so that I become one of the greatest livestock keeper within the area. I want to ensure that I at least purchase a goat every month with the transfers that I would be receiving to enable attain my goal.

The transfer that I received was of great help, I currently do not have a house and I have been sleeping in my brothers house for quite sometime now, but he recently married, a situation that had forced me to start planning on how to build my own house. Therefore with the transfers, I manages to buy iron sheets worth KES. 1200 and added to other materials that I already put in place to enable me to soon start on the construction. I also managed to settle some debts that I had amounting to KES.1000, gave one of my sisters KES.500 for school fees and spent the remaining amount of KES.770 on personal items

Ever since I began receiving the transfers, my prayer was to build my own house since I don't have one. I was accommodated by my brother for some time and when he got married, I had to seek shelter from a neighbor. Though he accepted to accommodate me, I was not at peace at all as I couldn't enjoy any privacy. I am glad that through the recent transfers, I have been saving to enable me to purchase building poles and iron sheets. I am targeting 25 pieces of iron sheets and now I am at 20. I am grateful to GiveDirectly since this is a great step towards achieving my dream. In addition to this, I also spent a portion of the recent transfers on buying chickens and currently, I own twelve which I believe will continue multiplying. I can readily sell them to take care of my financial needs. Lastly, I bought maize flour for my family's provision and paid debts that had accumulated as a result of buying food on credit for some weeks that we lacked.

Give Directly excels at giving people unconditional cash transfers. The cash assistance program allows individuals to spend the money according to their specific needs. To be sincere, I am pleased with how the organization functions and cannot propose a greater level of service than what they have developed.

My brother, Karisa, who works in the cattle trade, and I (motorcyclist) are the sole breadwinners for our family of nine. Our earnings are cannot cover other needs beyond the essentials (food).  This is why it has been difficult for me to achieve my goal of building a house. I would like to leave my brother's shelter and give him privacy while still enjoying my own space. The transfers provide an excellent opportunity to put the plan into action. That's why I used KES 2,500 from the transfer to purchase three iron sheets for the new structure. I gave the remaining amount to my grade eight sister in boarding school as pocket money because she had run out.

I had been looking forward to the transfers in order to help relieve my family's hunger. In fact, I woke up that morning starving because I had not eaten anything the night before. Working as a motorcycle rider, I was yet to earn enough money to buy food. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders when I finally got the transfer. I was certain that the family would be fed.

Prior to the transfers, my family's main issue was hunger. We would constantly skip meals and go to bed hungry because we did not have enough money to buy food. However, after the transfer, the situation improved. My contribution to the purchase of maize flour provided enough food for the household to last a month. We have never missed a meal.

After I graduated from high school last year, my ambition was to start raising chickens. The plan is to let them multiply and then sell them to raise funds to build my one-room house. I wish to move out of my brother's house (who lives in Mombasa town) so he can have privacy whenever he visits and so that I can have my own space. This is why I used KES 600 from the transfer to purchase two hens and begin my rearing journey. I spent the rest of the money on food. For the previous three days, our household had gone without food, causing us to sleep hungry. I am truly grateful because we have never gone to bed hungry since.