My main goal for the coming year and beyond is to purchase more goats and ensure that my two children in secondary school receive the education they deserve. Currently, I am proud to have over 30 goats and 20 chickens, which have greatly assisted in providing for my family. However, I believe that with more goats, I can increase my earnings from selling livestock, providing the stability needed to concentrate on my children’s education. I aim to grow my livestock, and in the future, I envision my family thriving, with my children graduating and having opportunities I never had.

I am a casual laborer doing charcoal burning to provide for my family of eight. I have six children, and two are still in secondary school. With the last three transfers, my priority was my children’s education. I used $60 to pay their school fees so they could continue learning without interruptions. Education is key to their future, and I want to give them every opportunity to succeed. After paying the fees, I decided to invest in our livestock. I bought a small goat for $14 and four chickens for $9, adding to my growing herd and poultry investments. Now, I have over thirty goats and twenty chickens. These animals are a crucial part of our livelihood, as they help me meet my family’s needs. If the need arises, I sell some to cover school fees or other expenses. With the remaining $19, I bought food for my family, ensuring we had enough to eat. These transfers have been a blessing, allowing me to secure my children’s education and strengthen our livestock investments, which will help us in the long run.

My main focus for the coming year and beyond is to expand my livestock holdings, particularly by acquiring more goats. With the monthly support I receive from GiveDirectly, I aim to gradually increase my goat herd. This plan stems from the realization that relying solely on my charcoal business isn't sustainable; it lacks the stability and security I need. By diversifying my assets with goats, I'll have a fallback in times of financial strain or emergencies. Selling a goat when needed can provide the necessary funds to manage unexpected situations. Ultimately, this venture represents a step towards greater financial resilience and independence, offering peace of mind for myself and my family.

Since I did not have assets to rely on, I decided to invest in something that would not only provide immediate relief but also promise future stability. With $40 from my unconditional cash transfers, I purchased two goats, envisioning a growing herd that could supplement my income from the unreliable charcoal business. The prospect of breeding goats filled me with hope, knowing that I could sell them when needed to alleviate financial strain. Additionally, I prioritized my son's education, allocating $25 towards his final year of secondary school. His academic success is paramount to me, believing that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Alongside these investments, I addressed the pressing needs of my household. Devoting $14 to renovate my house, I eliminated the constant fear of homelessness caused by a collapsing wall. The sense of security it brought was immeasurable. Lastly, with $24, I stocked up on essential provisions, ensuring my family's well-being while awaiting future transfers. From food supplies to household items like soap, every purchase was a step towards maintaining stability in our daily lives. As I navigated through these decisions, I couldn't help but feel a sense of empowerment, knowing that each allocation was a step towards securing a better future for myself and my loved ones.

As the festive holidays draw near, I plan to use my upcoming transfers to buy a goat for a Christmas feast with my family and close relatives. This occasion will provide a wonderful opportunity for us to bond and reflect on the events of the year, both the successes and the setbacks. It will also be a chance for me to reset and establish new goals for the upcoming year. I am deeply appreciative of the financial assistance from Give Directly, which has significantly contributed to improving my quality of life.

Due to the ongoing heavy rains in our village, I made the decision to plow my one-acre land, investing $30 to prepare it for planting. I have already planted maize on the farm and am eagerly anticipating a bountiful harvest in the upcoming months. Additionally, I spent $4 on herbicides to spray the maize. In other financial matters, I settled a $30 school fee debt for my son, who attends Tsangatsini Secondary School. He had been sent home due to the outstanding fee, but I am relieved that he has returned to school after an absence of over a week. Furthermore, I made a strategic investment by purchasing a goat for $34, envisioning it as a valuable asset for the future, especially considering the potential for it to multiply and double my initial investment. With the remaining funds, I chose to purchase sugar, which I used to make tea for my family of four members. I am truly grateful for the financial support that has been provided.

With the current abundance of food, I hope to focus on supporting my children's education in the coming years without them missing out on learning. Rearing livestock has proven to be a fruitful endeavor, as I already have six goats acquired through past cash transfers. I am determined to continue expanding this venture, as it offers a promising path to financial stability and contributes to my family's well-being.

I am excited that the current planting season has blessed my family with enough food to last for the next few months. With food being less of a concern now, it is the perfect opportunity for me to address other immediate needs, such as the school fees for my two children and building more wealth through livestock rearing. Thankfully, I have been able to take a break from the strenuous demands of charcoal burning for a living due to the ongoing farming season. Recently, after receiving the cash transfer, I immediately used $14 to pay off the $60 debt my son in form three had at his school. The timing was perfect as he had been sent home on the exact day I received the funds. On the same day, I purchased a goat worth $20, intending to let it multiply and grow the herd, intending to sell the offspring in the future to support my family's needs.

My dream is to spend a sizable sum of money purchasing and raising livestock. The raising of livestock gives an opportunity where I might make a lot of money now that I cannot operate on the fertile farms owing to the severe weather and climatic circumstances. I'll be able to easily take care of my wants if I sell the livestock on the market once they are there in sufficient numbers and for a great profit.

My children both attend school. The younger is in grade four and in primary school, while the older is a secondary school student in form three. I have found it difficult to manage paying my children's astronomical school expenses. I work as a casual laborer and sell charcoal for a living, therefore the money I make is quite meager and barely covers one meal each day. Nothing is left over to cover additional expenses. When I got my transfer, I spent a sizable sum of money $20 to partially cover my oldest son's back school fees and $4 for the younger. I'm happy that the debt isn't as huge as it used to be and that my kids will finish their education uninterrupted. Finally, I made a food buy that comprised three packets of maize flour, one kilogram each of rice, beans, and sugar. I'm happy because after I bought a lot of food, my family had plenty to eat.

I spent a significant amount of my transfer on a goat that cost $15. My daughters are currently in primary and secondary school, respectively. Due to the nature of my job, which does not pay well, I struggle greatly to pay for my children's school expenses. It was a wise investment for me to purchase the goat so that I could eventually afford to send my children to school. In the event that I don't have the money, I will sell some and use the proceeds to pay the school fees. To ensure that my oldest daughter stayed in school and continued her studies, I paid $10 in school fees. I eventually purchased a single piece of iron roofing sheet to replace an older, worn-out one on my roof. Numerous holes in the old piece allowed rainwater to seep in and eventually ruin my property. I'm relieved that my family and I will be safe during the rainy season thanks to the replacement.

I most definitely commend the organization for the great job that it is doing so far and I am personally grateful because the funds have helped me sort out my financial problems because I barely make enough money from the small casual jobs that I do. Therefore I definitely feel a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

About two years ago my house collapsed but lucky enough at the time it happened my family and I were not in the house. Heavy rains made it fall but it not only that, it was also because the foundation was not too great and the house was quite small and not constructed well be a use I could hardly afford building a proper house. Since there was nowhere else for me and my family to go, I temporarily fixed it but luckily I got introduced to GiveDirectly. I saw getting enrolled as a chance to finally fix my house so I used the recent transfers to purchase ironsheets worth KES 2,000 so that I can finally replace my grass thatched roof which is always in need of repairing. I was then left with a balance of KES 1,000 which I ended splitting into two and one half to pay tuition for my daughter who had been out of school for two days and the other half I used it on nutrition because we had nothing left in the house.

I arrived at my home very exhausted after a long day out walking the entire village selling the plates and sufurias. While resting on my bed, my phone vibrated, and I quickly checked it out. I was very excited to learn that I had received my first transfer from Give Directly. My heart filled with joy and called my wife to inform her about the good news.

The biggest difference I have had since receiving the transfer is the push to buy more things for my business. I bought more stock for my business and as a result, I have received more customers than before when the stock was very little. I am currently saving a lot from the business and soon I will realize my long-time goal of building a house.

For the past two years, my biggest dream is to build a bigger and more spacious house where I can live in with my family (wife and 2 children). The roof of the house I am currently sleeping in is seriously leaking, making it uncomfortable to live in. I have failed in building the house because I have no money to build a magnificent house for my family. Upon receiving my transfer, I invested it all in my business (selling kitchen equipment, e.g. plates and sufuria). Investing the money into the business offers me an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. First to expand my business and second to use the profit from the business to buy building materials such as iron sheets and start building a house for my family.