I have wanted to build on the animals I own. I would never have owned goats had it not been for Givedirectly. I now own 6 goats in addition to chicken and ducks. I want to buy more animals. For me animals are like an emergency fund. If I get an emergency whether its school fees, or someone being sick I can sell an animals get the money depending on how much is needed. I want to add more animals and increase my security for money.

I have been able to achieve a dream that has long being in my mind through Givedirectly transfers. I bought a goat in September and October at $38 and $42. I used my monthly transfers and added money from my business. In the last month of December I added $30 to my charcoal selling business. I sell charcoal to the main Island of Mombasa and my stock was at a very low point seeing that production has been slow due to the rains. I was able to do more for my business which is also a dream I achieved.

With the anticipation of a bountiful harvest that will guarantee ample food security, the burdensome task of purchasing expensive food from shops will soon be eliminated. This upcoming abundance opens up an opportunity for me to channel my monthly funds into investing in livestock, particularly goats, which are known for their ease of rearing and cost-effectiveness compared to other livestock types. My primary goal is to acquire bulls for myself, which I plan to achieve by selling some of the goats. Having bulls on hand will significantly reduce my farming expenses as they will assist me in preparing and cultivating the land during the rainy season.

As the breadwinner for my family of nine, I shoulder significant responsibilities. My wife and I have four children, and I my four siblings. Tragically, my mother passed away, leaving my four younger siblings in my care. Meanwhile, my father, who is elderly, still works but earns very little from his casual jobs. To make ends meet, I sell charcoal, though it's a laborious and not very lucrative occupation. Recently, I received a considerable financial boost with the July transfers, which brought me much happiness. With this extra income, I was able to purchase five packets of maize flour for $9, ensuring that my family never went hungry. Moreover, I managed to repay a $10 debt to a neighbor who had kindly rendered his services by digging my farm. Last month, I hired some laborers to weed my maize fields, and upon completion of their work, I paid them a total of $15 for their services. I am now filled with optimism as I anticipate a bountiful harvest in the coming months, which will secure food for my entire family. Despite the challenges I face as the sole provider, I find solace in the fact that I can support my loved ones and maintain hope for a more prosperous future.

My goal for the future is to ensure that I put in place an investment for my children so that they no longer struggle financially. Therefore, want to have a livestock-rearing project with as many livestock and I would achieve this by buying at least one goat every month worth $25 with the transfers that would be receiving so that by the end of one year, I would have a good number to enable me to sell some as I buy more.

In my opinion, GiveDireclty is doing great in terms of providing us with financial support owing to the fact that we live in the drought-affected parts of the country, the support had been so far of great help and verything is done well and there is nothing to improve on.

It had always been my wish that I spend the transfers that I have been receiving on something that would help my family and I in the future. Therefore, the transfers from GiveDirectly had so far been of much help in terms of buying livestock as it had also been my dream to have such a project that would run for a long time, and with the most recent one, I bought a goat worth $20 to add to the ones that I had previously bought. With the current economic crisis and the ongoing drought in the area, food had been a greater challenge to get and therefore I also managed to buy food with the remaining amount of $14 and I felt so happy and grateful for the support so far.

I am a motorbike rider, I was waiting to get a customer. I had waited like an hour to get a customer. I heard my phone ring and checked immediately when my phone rang, I had assumed that it was a please call me message form someone and thats why I checked immediately. When I opened my phone I saw a Safaricom message first and then I saw the MPesa message. I was so happy because I had no ID when GD staff came and enrolled us and was so worried that I would not be able to get the transfers but when I got money I knew I would now benefit from the project.

The biggest difference I have experienced receiving this transfer is buying the chicken. I do not make much from my work as motorbike rider. Today I have only had one client and I have so far made $1 and its already 2:00pm. I need to make enough to pay my employer and also have my profit so its quite the uphill task. I would never have afforded to buy any animals but now I see myself even getting goats with future transfers. I can see a real change coming into my life even as days go by.

I went bought books for my children, 12 books for my two children who are in school. One of my kids already had books but the two did not have books so I went and bought them books at $1.8. I used $6 of the money on Friday, our market day, to purchase three chicken which cost $2 each. I also bought three bags of maize flour for my house at $6 for food for my family.