My current goal is to acquire additional funds to continue renovating my house. I've always dreamed of plastering the walls and cementing the floor because it was muddy and very frustrating during the rainy season. Additionally, the dust has been impacting our health constantly. I plan to use my monthly transfer to purchase the necessary materials to achieve this goal. Once the renovation is complete, I won’t have to worry about the health issues our family has been facing or the house being on the verge of collapsing at times.

Before GiveDirectly came into our lives, my family and I had no choice but to relieve ourselves in the bushes, which was very unhygienic and exposed us to diseases like cholera. To address this, I spent $34 to start building a pit latrine for our use. I’m excited that it will soon be ready and will provide a safer environment for us, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases. I also spent $34 on cement and sand to begin renovating my house, which is in poor condition with muddy floors and damaged walls. The renovation is progressing, and I’m looking forward to finishing it once I have more funds to buy the remaining materials. Additionally, I bought a goat for $34. I’m hopeful that over time, as goats reproduce twice a year, I’ll build up a herd that can provide support in case I face financial challenges. As a widow who needs extra support, this will be a valuable asset for me and my family.

In the coming year, I hope to accomplish my dream of starting a cloth-selling business, a boutique that I’ve been thinking about for a long time. To achieve this, I plan to save $30 every month. By the end of two months, I will have the $60 I need as start-up capital for my business. I believe that with this boutique, I can create a stable source of income for myself and my family. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the pride and fulfillment of running my own business and providing for my loved ones. I am determined to work hard and make this dream a reality, knowing that every dollar saved brings me closer to a better future.

For the last few years, I have been sleeping on a torn mat that made my life difficult. Each morning, I would wake up feeling tired and sore, longing for a decent night's rest. Life was tough, but I pushed through every day with hope. Recently, my situation took a turn for the better. Out of the recent transfers amounting to $102, I decided to prioritize my comfort and well-being. I used $42 to buy a nice mattress, and now, my sleep is restful and rejuvenating. It feels like a luxury to lie down on something so soft and supportive after years of discomfort. With the remaining $60, I focused on improving my living conditions. My house had partially collapsed on one side, and the floor was just bare earth, making it dusty and uneven. I used the money to repair the collapsed wall and put down a cemented floor. This renovation transformed my home, making it sturdy and clean. Now, my house feels safe and solid, a true haven where I can relax and feel secure. These changes have brought a significant improvement to my life, filling me with gratitude and a renewed sense of hope.

I have yet to finish the renovations and repairs for the entire house. However, my achievements this year encompass successfully concluding all renovations, ensuring the house is now safe and resilient, capable of withstanding even the challenges posed by the rainy season. The support from the transfers has been instrumental in facilitating my grandchildren's education, and it brings me immense joy to witness that they no longer encounter the difficulties associated with the prospect of being sent home.

For a total of $40, I invested in a goat and three hens, recognizing their potential as valuable assets for the future. The goats, in particular, are viewed as a strategic investment with the expectation of multiplication. The proceeds from their future sales will be earmarked for the education of my two grandchildren under my care. Allocating $34, I undertook partial repairs on my house, reinforcing it with cement pillars to fortify its structure and prevent potential collapse. Last year's heavy rains had exposed vulnerable poles, making these timely repairs crucial. The remaining $28 from the transfers was judiciously spent on acquiring soap, detergents, and other essential items for my home. I express heartfelt gratitude for the financial support provided through the transfers, as it has played a pivotal role in fortifying my household, securing the future education of my grandchildren, and enhancing overall well-being.

In the future, I aspire to reinforce the mud-wall house, which always seems vulnerable to strong winds. I intend to construct robust pillars that will firmly anchor my house to the ground, granting it the resilience to endure various weather conditions. Furthermore, I have a plan to encircle my house with a protective concrete skirting. This will not only shield it from moisture but also add a sense of permanence and appeal to its appearance. Most importantly, I yearn to purchase a new bed, a place of comfort and repose that I can truly call my own. For a considerable time, I've been using my son's bed, ever since mine broke when my old house collapsed.

Upon receiving the cash transfer, my priority was to purchase food to ensure my family had something to eat as we had not harvested yet and hunger was still a concern. Following that, I bought a goat for $34 to rear it. I now have a total of 4 goats, all of which I bought through the cash transfers. I believe that goats can reproduce, and there is a ready market for their sale, providing a potential source of income for my family through the sale of offspring. I also allocated $34 to cover the transportation costs for our maize harvest from the farm to our home. The farm is situated more than 20 kilometers away, and this used to pose a real challenge. However, this time, I successfully transported 19 sacks of maize from our 6-acre farm. This is a tremendous relief because it means my family will have an adequate food supply for an extended period. Furthermore, I used $25 to pay the school fees of my granddaughter, who is currently in Form Four. I am delighted that she no longer has any outstanding fees, allowing her to focus on her upcoming exams without the worry of her education being disrupted. This cash transfer, combined with the successful harvest, has lightened the load on my son, who works as a waiter in a restaurant. He has been the sole provider for our family, supporting all six children and ensuring we have enough food. It has been quite challenging for him, but now, our situation is improving, and we are on the path to a brighter future.

Paying fees for my four grandchildren has been the biggest challenge, and ever since I began receiving the transfers, my objective has been to make sure that I use the transfers to pay fees for them on time. Their father has been ill and bedridden for almost six years due to a stroke that has paralyzed him. He is incapacitated, and he cannot work anymore. He depends on me for everything, and the children are now under my care. My goal is to ensure that I pay fees on time so that they can achieve their educational goals despite the financial hardships that I am facing, being that I am just a subsistence farmer with no source of income.

y husband passed on and I have been living with my children and grandchildren. I have four of my grandchildren whose father who also happens to be my son suffered a stroke and ended up being paralyzed. He has been in this condition for almost six years now. His condition has always worried me since he is no longer able to work and provide for his family. Besides, he is my First born son and his situation has left me as the sole bread winner. One of his children is in high school while the remaining three are in primary school. We never thought they would be able to go to school as getting the school fees and other school requirements had been a problem. We are so grateful that the transfer has helped ensure that they are in school. I managed to clear the fee arrears on time to avoid them being sent home. In addition to this, I also bought a goat for Ksh. 2500. I currently own six goats, which is a saving for future of my grand children's education. Since I do not have any source of income, I will sell the goats in case I am unable to pay fees for my grandchildren. Lastly, I also bought foodstuffs such as a bale of maize flour, which can last for a month, and ensured that my household had enough food daily.

I do not want my granddaughter to miss out on school because of finances. My plan is to save for three months to cover her school fees needs as this is her last year in school. She is required to pay 90 dollars per term as school fees and if I save 30 dollars of my monthly transfers I will be able to achieve this. I also hope to add chicken over a period of months to create sort of an emergency fund for the family. Some days we do not have money but if we have maybe chicken we can sell and use the money to sort out the food or any other needs that arise.

I am very thankful for Givedirectly and I would say we would have suffered were it not for you. My eldest son was striken by a disease that makes his hands stuck and that has prevented him from securing work but he has 6 children with the first born in form four. I am now responsible for this children. I have been using 20 dollars from my monthly transfers to pay school fees for my grandchild in form four to ensure she is able to continue with her studies. The transfers in January were even sent on the day that she had been sent away from school and since she is my trustee she withdrew the money and I gave her the 20 dollars to go settle school fees. I have also been able to buy a goat and chicken with December and January transfers. The goat was a kid and went for 30 dollars while I got two chicken for 10 dollars. I do not have a very profitable business since my work is to sell tobacco which I buy from someone at 4 dollars and sell at 4.5 dollars making 50 cents which I use to settle debts for food. The Givedirectly transfers have also allowed me to provide food though not much as this budget usually is 4 dollars per month with this transfers while I supplement with my earnings.

I admire Give Directly for the excellent work it does in sending cash to needy communities. A household like mine can now afford to feed on a regular basis because of these transfers. I am also grateful for the opportunity to contribute to my grandchild's education through these cash transfers. Everything, in my opinion, is in place in terms of the organization's work.

My granddaughter, Khadijah, who is currently in form three, was kicked out of school the day I received the cash transfers because she owed $140 in tuition. Being paralyzed, her father (my son) cannot take on strenuous tasks to actively support her education. This leaves her mother to shoulder the load of responsibilities of all four children, three of whom are in primary school. Previously, I would sell chickens to help raise Khadijah’s school fees until the entire flock was depleted. The cash transfer from Give Directly came at the perfect time. To relieve the burden, I gave her $20 to help reduce the school fee balance and she happily resumed her studies. I used the remaining money to purchase food for the family of twelve (two sons and their wives, and seven grandchildren) to boost the little that was left in stock. Having starved for two days earlier that month, I am glad the case has never repeated itself after the cash transfer, courtesy of Give Directly. 

When I got the Text message notice on my phone, I was out in the field tending to my livestock. When I discovered I had gotten my first transfer, I was astounded. I ululated at the top of my lungs and leapt up and down. I started dancing and singing praise songs as I gave God thanks for the miracle.

I'm delighted I got my first transfer since it gave me a significant cash boost. The fact that my granddaughter works so hard in school inspires me to do everything in my power to assist her in completing her education. She frequently gets sent home because of school fee arrears that have accumulated over the years, which is a problem given my terrible financial situation. I'm happy that the transfer allowed me to pay off some of the debt and guarantee that she would finish her education.

My granddaughter is in form three and is pursuing her secondary education. His father had a weird ailment that caused paralysis three years ago, while her mother passed away three years ago. He is unable to care for his daughter or work due to his health. Since then, I've been taking care of the child, paying for her food, school supplies, and other necessities while still providing for my own needs. I've had a lot of difficulties taking care of her because I lost my sole source of income, which was farming. The drought has continued for more than three years, making it hard to cultivate crops. Since my granddaughter owed the school a total of KES 14000 when I got my transfer, I decided to spend KES 2000 to cover her tuition. We frequently go to bed hungry because we don't have enough money to buy meals because our income is unpredictable. I used the final KES 1000 to buy food for the family in addition to covering the cost of the students' tuition.