My goal in the coming year and beyond is to purchase a mattress. After successfully buying a wooden bed, I now want to get a mattress to improve my comfort. For a long time, I have been sleeping on the bare, uncarpeted floor on top of a sack, which has led to severe back pains and discomfort. To achieve this goal, I plan to save a portion of my transfers next month and use it to purchase the mattress. I am appreciative of the financial support that is helping me achieve my set goals in life.

After many years of sleeping on the bare floor, I was finally able to purchase a wooden bed for $50. This is a significant achievement for me, as I have always wanted to own a bed to increase my comfort while sleeping. Additionally, I purchased a new school uniform for my grandchild to replace her old ones as she started the new term. I am relieved that this will help her continue her education without any issues. I also purchased a goat for $30, adding to the herd of 10 goats that I already have. I am optimistic that the herd will grow and multiply, allowing me to sell some in the future for a profit and use the money to meet my needs. I saved $10 for any upcoming emergency in the near future. Raising livestock is my primary economic activity, but it does not currently earn me much income. This made it necessary for me to spend $18 on food, ensuring that my family of five had enough to eat. I am very grateful for the financial support, which has helped me take care of my family and plan for our future.

In the coming year and beyond, my biggest dream is to finally sleep like a king in my own home. Every night, I wrestle with discomfort on a small, creaky traditional bed that leaves me more tired than rested come morning. But now, with the support from GiveDirectly and the savings I've diligently tucked away, I'm on the brink of transforming my sleeping situation entirely. My goal is to buy a modern standard bed and a mattress that will cradle me in comfort and provide the rest I've longed for. It's not just about upgrading my sleeping arrangements; it's about reclaiming my energy, my vitality, and my zest for life. With this newfound comfort, I know I'll wake up each day refreshed, ready to tackle whatever challenges come my way, and finally able to dream without the weight of exhaustion dragging me down.

With the recent transfers, I made careful decisions to ensure they would benefit both my family and our future. Firstly, I allocated $30 towards my grandson's school fees. My daughter, a single mother, struggles to make ends meet, so I wanted to ease her burden by contributing to her son's education. Education is crucial for our children's future, and I believe every child deserves access to it. Secondly, I decided to save $30 in a traditional savings group. This group allows us to pool our resources and withdraw the money after 12 months for constructive purposes. It's a safety net for emergencies and future investments. Lastly, the remaining $42 was used to cover our daily meals. As a widow relying on my son's income from casual jobs, every dollar counts. Ensuring we have food on the table is essential for our well-being and survival. These decisions were made with careful consideration for both our immediate needs and long-term goals, ensuring that the impact of the transfers extends beyond just the present moment.

Currently, I make do with a torn mattress, using it to rest my body and get some sleep. My aim is to acquire a new mattress to enhance the quality of my sleep, alleviating the body pains associated with using worn-out pieces on the ground. Additionally, I aspire to purchase a bed for more comfort. I am deeply grateful for the financial support I've received through the transfers, as it has significantly uplifted my life, steering me away from the grips of poverty.

During the festive season, I allocated $24 towards purchasing food items to celebrate with my family, including my daughter and three grandchildren. Given the scarcity of employment opportunities, the availability of these funds was pivotal in further strengthening our familial bonds. This festive period stands out as the most enjoyable and fulfilling I've experienced, leaving me truly content. Additionally, I used an extra $10 to cover medical expenses for my grandson's circumcision, a significant rite of passage from childhood to adulthood. I'm relieved to see him healing well and on the path to recovery. The financial support I've received is deeply appreciated, particularly as my daughter and I rely on sporadic casual work for our sustenance. These funds from the transfers have greatly eased our ability to make ends meet.

I have a strong desire to acquire a new bed and mattress to improve the quality of my sleep. The current sisal twine bed I have is incredibly uncomfortable, and I believe that investing in a new bed and mattress will provide me with much-needed comfort. During the holidays, my grandchildren often come to visit me in the village. To ensure their comfort and convenience, I aspire to construct an additional room that can accommodate them during their visits. This will not only enhance their experience but also make their stay more enjoyable. I am filled with happiness and gratitude because the financial assistance I have received has proven to be invaluable, especially during the harsh period of intense drought in our village. It has truly made a significant difference in helping me meet my needs and overcome challenges posed by the drought.

I allocated $10 from my August transfers to cover the school fees for my three grandchildren. Unfortunately, when the current term began, they were initially turned away from school due to an outstanding fee balance of $25. However, I am relieved that they are now back in school and able to continue their education without any further disruptions. One of my grandchildren fell ill and had to be admitted to the hospital. I used $10 to settle the medical bill. I am delighted to report that their health has significantly improved, and they have made a full recovery. With the remaining $14, I made some essential purchases such as sugar, soap, and detergents. Additionally, I invested some of the funds to sift the maize I recently harvested from my farm, ensuring that my family has an ample food supply. Being a peasant farmer, I am incredibly grateful for the financial support I have received from the company. It has played a vital role in helping me take care of my family's needs and improving our overall well-being.

There are so many things that I wish to have accomplished in the coming years a beyond. However, my most pressing concerns right now include securing a bed and mattress, buying goats, and expanding my house with one more room. I feel like after many years of sleeping on a sisal-twined bed, it’s high time that I upgraded it to a wooden one plus a mattress. After that is accomplished, I plan to extend a room to my house to accommodate my three grandchildren. We currently share a space and it does not feel right given the age difference. Also, I wish to own more goats than the three that I acquired using previous transfers. After the transfer ceases, I believe that I will have grown substantial wealth through livestock keeping that will help support the needs of my family.

My household consists of my daughter, her three children (all schooling), and me. Both my daughter and I work and take on casual tasks to provide for the family, but the low income makes it difficult to cover all basic needs. By the time I received the transfer, two of my grandchildren had missed some days of schooling due to an outstanding balance. Since their mother was yet to raise the required funds, I decided to settle the $10 so that the children would resume their studies. Am happy to say that they never missed learning until they closed for the April holidays. At the same time, my household had run out of food the previous night and I spent $14 to replenish more. I saved the remaining $10 through a self-help group. I plan to accumulate enough savings to buy a decent wooden bed to replace the sisal-twined one.

I need to extend another room to my one-room house by year-end. This will provide adequate space to accommodate my three grandchildren, who mostly spend their nights with me. Furthermore, given my advanced age, I would enjoy the privacy that comes with occupying a separate room. The project will cost at least $100, which I plan on raising through upcoming transfers. After completing construction, I plan to buy a bed and mattress for the new space.

My family enjoyed one of the best Christmas celebrations, thanks to the cash sent by Give Directly. I only saved $10 from the amount to clear last term's school fees for my three grandchildren when schools resume and spent the rest on wheat flour, two chickens, and rice. Were it not for the transfer, am not sure my family would have made as much merry. My two son’s who mostly provide for us through their casual jobs were beyond glad about the transfer too. At least they bought enough time to raise more funds for the household. 

I purchased a goat with my entire transfer. I've wanted to keep animals for a long, but due to a lack of money, this hasn't been possible. I lost my only source of income, which was crucial to my ability to support my family. We have been left without food as a result of the severe drought that has lasted for more than three years. My goal is to start a livestock farm, specializing in the raising of drought-tolerant goats. I will amass a great deal of wealth and eventually achieve financial stability once the goat multiplies. If there is a crisis, I will sell some and utilize the proceeds to address the issue.

From the interaction at the Barraza, census, registration, and enrolment, I did not encounter any case of bias from the Give Directly staff towards the villagers. This was excellent. I would like to commend the organization for that. I would recommend the organization conduct physical surveys in the village to assess the real impact of the funds in our lives.  

After the death of my husband, who was the sole breadwinner of my family (3 children), my life took a turn for the worst. I cannot provide for the needs (food, school fees, and clothing) of my children fully due to my lack of a job. When I received my transfer, I spent a large portion of KES to buy a bag of cement at KES 650, one piece of an iron sheet at KES 750, and a few pieces of timber used in making a door for my house. Three months ago, the door to my house fell off and got destroyed. I have faced incidences of theft on my property because my house does not have a door. The fear of losing property in my house limited the distance and time I spent away from my house, losing better opportunities of securing a job.

Frankly, this is my first experience both benefiting from and learning about an organization that gives out cash aid. Imagine how I felt when I finally held the money in my hands. To say I was happy is an understatement. I knew this money would solve the hunger problem in our household.

The eating patterns in the household have drastically improved since I received the transfer. Previously, we prioritized one meal per day, which strictly happened to be supper to avoid sleeping on empty stomachs. Things changed post-transfer. We merrily enjoy breakfast, lunch, and supper. Also, our bodies are healthier and stronger than before.

Coming into the program, my utmost goal was to construct a new house in place of the current one that was very old, with perforated mud walls. Furthermore, sleeping on the floor of a doorless shelter is both exhausting and unsafe. I had planned to use the first transfer to acquire iron sheets for the structure; unfortunately, it was unfruitful. My son was suffering from a skin infection that sent forth blisters all over his body. Hence, my maternal instincts told me to temporarily surrender the house project and focus on recovering the health of my child. I paid for his medical expenses amounting to KES 500 and he received appropriate treatment. As we speak, his physical condition is fully restored and I could not be happier. Additionally, the household had run out of meals the previous day and sadly, my daughter (the breadwinner) had not made money from her coconut selling business. Needless to say, I received the cash during an extremely needy time. Therefore I utilized KES 500 to purchase food. I bought a hen with the remaining KES 170 to reproduce and increase my income streams in financial emergencies.