Due to my chest complications, I can no longer work due to the pain and constant coughing. Now, my only hope of accumulating wealth in the meantime is through raising livestock, especially goats. I plan to keep these animals so that even after the cash transfers end, I can sell them to obtain cash and provide for my family's most immediate needs, such as food and school fees for the children.

Last year, I developed chest complications from the prolonged activity of making charcoal for income. The strenuous nature of this work caused the issues. So, every month, I spend at least $8 on medication to manage the cough and pain. Additionally, I usually allocate approximately $5 for my children's school fees. I'm grateful that despite my health challenges, my children have been able to study without any interruptions, thanks to the cash transfers. The remaining amount usually goes towards purchasing food. I'm thankful because the cash transfers have significantly reduced the hardships my family faced before. Now, not only do we have fewer struggles with hunger, but my children can continue their studies without interruption.

Looking ahead, my goal is to grow my income stream, particularly by venturing into livestock rearing, focusing on goats and chickens. I've already started building a few goats with the recent transfers, and I aim to continue expanding this venture. Livestock keeping will not only help me meet the needs of my family but also ensure financial security for emergency expenses.

Over the past few months, I have been diligently working on building a new two-room house with the funds from the transfers. I am excited that the construction has been completed, providing my family with a stable and secure living space. This has enabled me to spend the cash transfers on other needs, particularly regarding my health and livestock acquisition. Recently, I encountered some chest complications that necessitated a medical checkup. I spent $24 on transportation to the hospital plus medication expenses. I am happy that I received the necessary medical attention and my condition is improving by the day. Furthermore, I invested $34 in acquiring a goat for rearing with the hope of growing wealth that will be my source of income when the transfers end in the future. The remaining $10 was used for essential food expenses. The cash transfers have played a crucial role in supporting me during times of medical need and have significantly reduced my dependence on my two sons, who traditionally serve as the main providers for the family.

My objective by the end of the year is to acquire a new mattress and experience comfortable and restful sleep. Currently, I don't have a proper bed and instead, sleep directly on the cold floor with only a thin 1-inch mat for separation. This sleeping arrangement has had adverse effects on my health, compelling me to seek a mattress for the bed. By doing so, I hope to escape the cold discomfort I often endure during the night. Additionally, apart from purchasing a bed and mattress, I aspire to provide support for my four grandchildren's education. Their father, who works as a casual laborer, earns a meager income, leading to occasional delays in paying their school fees, resulting in their dismissal from school. By utilizing the funds, we will be able to sponsor their education and ensure they can learn without encountering any obstacles.

I am extremely delighted and filled with joy about the monthly stipend I receive from Give Directly. Thanks to this support, I am now the proud owner of a spacious two-room house where I reside with my four grandchildren. Previously, my house was in a deteriorated state with rusty, hole-filled iron sheets that allowed rainwater to seep in, causing damage to my belongings and making my life miserable during rainy nights. I had to constantly move my possessions from one end to the other to protect them from destruction. After completing the construction of my house, I used $24 from my May transfers along with my accumulated savings to purchase a goat worth $35. I plan to acquire more goats with my future transfers, which will be essential in case I face any challenges. I can sell some of them and use the money for future expenses. Additionally, I spent $10 to buy food. Although I earn a livelihood through farming, it doesn't generate much income, and there are times when I struggle to afford basic necessities for my family. I am immensely grateful to Give Directly for enabling me to fulfill the needs that I was previously unable to meet for my family.

Not to completely rely on my son, I wish to own a business selling vegetables. I believe I will make enough profits to cover basic needs, like food, and relieve the burden off his shoulders. At least this would give him ample time to raise money for other things like school fees for his children. I would be happy if I could save enough from the next cash transfers to start the business. 

Am glad that the recent transfer allowed me to complete constructing my two-room mud-walled house that had stagnated since last year. I finally could afford to pay the constructor $15 from the transfer to finish the exercise. Before, raising these funds was hard given that I have no source of income. Thankfully, I am now settled into the new house and enjoying my new space, thanks to Give Directly. I spent the remaining $19 on food since the household had run out of maize flour. Besides, my son who works as a casual laborer in Mombasa had not sent me money to buy more food. Gladly, the food I bought lasted my three grandchildren and me until the day he sent cash. From November’s transfer, I deducted $5 to buy a chicken, which I have been rearing to date. I hope it breeds into a larger flock in the future to help me raise cash. I spent the remaining money from November’s transfer on food as well. 

When I received the transfer, I was in the process of completing the construction of a new house. By this time, only the door installation was left to bring the exercise to completion but I lacked the necessary funds to acquire it. The little my two sons made from their casual jobs was only enough to provide food for the family and nothing beyond. So, the transfer presented an ideal opportunity to finalize the house project. I used KES 2,500 to have a door made and installed. I am now sheltering under a brand new structure, thanks to the transfers. Also, I spent the remaining amount to replenish food for myself and the mason that was helping me build the house. 

I deeply respect Give Directly for providing financial aid to the needy in society. Drought being a persistent issue in my area, the cash helps reduce hunger by assisting people to obtain food. Also, thanks to Give Directly, my dream of building a house is becoming a reality. Everything the organization does is to benefit people like us.

Hunger is the most serious problem in my family. The household depends on my sons to provide for basic needs like food, as they work from one casual job to the next. Because of the unpredictability of their jobs, the earnings are inconsistent, to the point where some days they don't earn anything and we have to go to bed hungry. Aside from that, attempts to renovate my house with a leaky roof have been futile due to financial instability. When it rains, the water wets our bed, making it difficult to sleep because of the cold. My current priority is to build a new house. As a result, I spent the entire transfer amount on iron sheets for the new shelter.

The morning I received the transfer I was sitted outside in my compound with my grandchildren caught up in my morning thoughts when one of them came running from the house and told me there was an mpesa message on my phone.I was filled with excitement and so were my grandchildren who immediately helped me in planning on how to improve my house.

The biggest difference in my daily life is being able to have a conducive environment to live in.All my life have struggled to feed and educate my two children through my charcoal selling business.Currently with old age my husband has been ill and not able to work for the longest time .This support program has given me yet another opportunity to enjoy an improved home which will be uplifting my living standards because my income is very little and my sons are not financially stable.

It has always been my wish to build another house because my current house is not in the best condition for anyone to live in.It has been a nightmare because the ironsheets are old and rusty and damaged especially by rain and the wind.In fear of the rain season I have opted to improve the structure than to build a new house.With my current savings and the KES 3000 received ,I was able to start my project and bought eight pieces of building trees and nails as well looked for someone to help in the clay mixture because with my old age its quite a strenuous exercise.