I have established a small animal farm, where I currently raise chickens, sheep, and goats. Unfortunately, while my poultry project was thriving, an outbreak occurred that wiped out almost all of my chickens, leaving only two survivors. At present, I have 5 goats and 3 sheep as part of my livestock project. Both my goats and chickens have had offspring. My plan is to prepare for the future as I have a two-year-old child who has not yet started school. I anticipate needing funds when she does, so I aim to build a larger herd that will allow me to sell animals to ensure she can enroll in school and complete her education, even after the Givediretly program ends. Therefore, in the coming year and beyond, I intend to use my transfers to invest in livestock, focusing on goat and sheep farming alongside poultry operations.

When I received my latest transfer, I spent $10 on goat medicine and also purchased two more goats for $68. I have a strong passion for goat rearing. In our area, goats thrive and adapt well to harsh weather conditions, especially since we often experience prolonged droughts that cause other animals to perish. I love goats because they multiply quickly, and I intend for them to provide financial security for me once my transfers come to an end. With the remaining $14, I decided to buy clothing for myself and my children. We wanted to look presentable as we prepared to visit my husband’s place. I truly appreciate GiveDirectly for their financial support.

I have started a small animal farm. I now have chicken, sheep and Goats. I have 7 goats , 3 sheep and 12 chicken. My goats have had children as well as the chicken. This is the plan for me. I have a young child of two years, she is yet to start school but I know I will need cash when she does, so my plan is to ensure that I have a big herd that can allow me to sell animals to ensure she gets into school and finishes her education even when the Givediretly program comes to an end.

I am an animal rearer. The cash transfers from Givedirectly have allowed me to add more animals. I have spent $90 to buy 3 goats. I have also bought clothes for my child at $4, I bought soap and oil at $4 and also spent the same amount to buy food. I am excited for a future because of the transfers. I was a simple housewife before the transfers but now I have animals that I can rear.

My objective remains steadfast: to persist in acquiring additional livestock. This expansion not only ensures a greater quantity but also assures their proliferation over time. Prior to my enrollment in the program, I did not possess a single head of livestock; however, I now proudly oversee a total of eight. This remarkable progress fills me with gratitude, as I anticipate further growth in their numbers. I am confident that these animals will play a pivotal role in securing the well-being of my family in the future. The ongoing financial support I have received fills me with immense satisfaction and appreciation.

Utilizing a significant portion of my $90 transfers, I invested in expanding our livestock holdings. This investment comprised the acquisition of two goats for $60 and one sheep for $30. I take immense pride and satisfaction in this decision, as it represents a step towards securing our family's future. With a one-year-old son to consider, I foresee that within three years, the burgeoning livestock assets will provide a substantial resource for financing his education. Currently, our inventory includes six goats and two sheep, and I hold optimistic expectations for further growth in the near future. This growing livestock portfolio not only signifies a potential source of wealth but also serves as a safety net in times of unexpected financial strain. Additionally, as my husband serves as the primary provider for our family of three, I occasionally assist in purchasing essential items such as food, detergents, and personal care products, totaling $12. The invaluable support received through financial transfers has significantly eased our financial burdens, for which I am profoundly grateful.

My achievements primarily center on acquiring additional livestock, raising them, and expanding the herd. This will ultimately enable me to sell some of the livestock, using the proceeds to support my son's education and assist my husband in managing the household expenses. I am extremely grateful for the financial assistance provided by Give Directly, as it has been instrumental in this progress.

I acquired two goats for a total of $68 with the specific intention of securing my son's future education. As these goats multiply, I plan to sell them and utilize the proceeds to fund my son's education when the time comes. I am pleased that the financial assistance I have received is enabling me to make prudent investments that will ensure my son's access to quality education and a secure future. Alongside the goat purchase, I also bought new clothing for both my son and myself. Our existing clothing options were limited and many were beyond repair. The support we have received has significantly improved our family's well-being. Previously, my husband faced challenges while working as a motorcycle taxi driver to support our family, but this has changed for the better due to the financial assistance.

As I earlier said I have a one year two months child who I plan to one day take to school. I however at the moment do not have a trade and my husband, who is the sole breadwinner herds animals which usually pays between $1 to $3 daily depending on who you are herding for and this is not sufficient. My plan is to build our own herd by buying goats and cows which he can herd alongside his work and we can sell once they grow in number to ensure my child gets an education.

I am a stay at home mother. I have a young one about one year two months old and at this age children tend to require constant feeding to ensure they are well nourished. I used a majority of my transfers on food. In may I spent $10 to get 5 bags of maize flour and then used $3 to get one kilogram of sugar to use in tea and porridge. In June I bought 5 bags of maize flour as well as pastries every morning locally know as 'KDF' for the baby to have something to eat and this cost me $20. Due to the constant rain I got some warm blankets at $7 and also got some farm items, a hoe and a machete at $7. In April I took a goat at $30 and used the rest of my transfers to get toiletries.

As a family, we have limited investment options. Because there are not many thriving businesses in our neighborhood, it's vulnerable to this kind of circumstance. Therefore, as I continue to receive my transfer, my main goal is to increase my goat flock. Raising livestock seems more feasible to us, and we hope they will be of better return to my family. Goats grow faster and can help fetch much in case they do not succumb to the periodic drought situations that we have been experiencing in our areas. Since I only have a son who is six months old, this type of investment will go a long way in helping him.

Immediately after I received my transfer, I spent $25 on a goat. I already had three goats but I thought of buying one more to increase my flock. I opted for keeping goats because when the flock increase, it shall be a promising source of income. I used the rest of my transfer, $9 to meet the treatment cost for my son, Patrick. He fell unwell two days before I received my transfer. I spent $9 on meeting his medication cost, which I could not do prior because I had no money. The transfer helped me by reducing my burden since we never had a reliable source of income. My husband does livestock keeping while I do not have any income.

My objectives are to be self-sufficient and to contribute to our home. Since I don't have a job, my husband, who drives a motorcycle as a taxi, provides the majority of our family's income. In the future, I will save aside a portion of the monthly transfers for a few months, and then I will utilize the money to launch a grocery store. Groceries are more profitable because practically everyone uses them every day. I'll start buying goats to raise later, once the business is established.

We recently started a family, and we already have a wonderful child. We want to give him and our future children a decent living so they can pursue greater educations. My spouse takes care of us because I do not yet have a source of income. He has a motorcycle that he hires someone to drive so that he can provide taxi services while tending to his livestock. I used the entire $94 to purchase two goats and a sheep for breeding in an effort to increase our household income. They produce annually, making them a smart investment. Hopefully, when our child is old enough to start school, we will have a large number of them that we can sell to pay his fees.

We never expected that we would ever receive such a support aimed at alleviating poverty in our region. We have had relief programs that were not directly changing our lives like GiveDirectly does. Giving us the freedom to chose on what to do with the transfers has made it possible for us to settle our dire financial needs with ease. Some of us were struggling with basic needs like food but through the monthly transfers, we are now able to adequately provide for our families, invest in livestock and taking our children to school. Thus giving us the transfers without strings attached is what GiveDirectly does well. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.

I received my first when I had just been blessed with a newborn son. I had spent all the money I had on medical expenses and I could not afford to do a shopping for my baby. When I got my Ksh.1200, I did enough shopping on new clothes for the baby. When the second transfer came, I chose to invest it in buying livestock which include a sheep at Ksh. 2500 and the remaining Ksh. 550 on buying two chickens. These are my living assets which I can rely on to settle my future financial needs. My expectation is that they will reproduce and increase in number. I can readily sell the offspring in case a dire financial need arises.

The transfer arrived at a critical juncture in my life, when I had just given birth to a child and my financial needs had doubled. I was relieved when I received confirmation message of the money from Give Directly. I felt a rush of excitement because I knew the money would help me meet some of my immediate needs, such as clothing for baby Erick.

Prior to the transfer, I had always hoped to own a chicken but lacked the funds to do so. I am glad because the transfer provided an excellent opportunity for me to obtain my first hens. Thanks to Give Directly, I am now the proud owner of two chickens. When these birds multiply, I will be able to easily sell them to raise funds for my household bills. 

Erick, my son, was born two days before the transfer. My top priority at the time was getting enough clothing for my child and re-energizing my body after childbirth. However, the money my husband had set aside for these purposes was insufficient; his motorcycle job had not paid well that week. This is why I spent KES 2,000 from the transfer to buy my son a pair of onesies and a baby blanket. I bought porridge flour for myself with KES 500. I am relieved that my energy has returned, and the baby is doing well as a result of the transfer. In addition, I purchased two hens with the remaining funds, as I had planned when I was enrolled into the cash program.