In the upcoming year, my main goal is to invest in more goats. Currently, I only have two, but I see the potential they hold for securing my family's future. From the monthly transfers I receive, I plan to save at least $10 every month for that purpose. Gradually, this will help me grow my small herd. Goats are a valuable investment because they multiply quickly, and I can sell them when my family needs money for school fees, medical bills, or emergencies. This plan gives me hope for a brighter future and a stronger financial foundation for my family.

I am a mother of six, and since my husband and I are very old, we depend on our son, who works as a waiter at a cafeteria. With the last three transfers totaling $102, I spent $28 on medication after falling sick. I am happy to say that I am now feeling much better. My health is important, especially as I grow older, so I knew this had to be my priority. Besides that, I used $24 on food to ensure my family did not go hungry. It was a relief to know we had enough to eat without worrying about the next meal. Once our immediate needs were met, I thought about how to invest the remaining money to secure our future. I bought a goat for $40, adding to the one I already had, and also purchased three chickens for $10, bringing my total number of chickens to six. I believe these livestock will multiply over time, giving us a source of income and food in the future. This investment brings me peace of mind, knowing that as we grow older, we will have something to rely on when times are tough. The transfers have made a big difference in our lives, and I am grateful for the support that has allowed us to improve our situation step by step.

My goal in the coming year and beyond is to invest a portion of my subsequent transfers in purchasing livestock. Livestock are a valuable asset for my future and will help me accumulate wealth. Once they multiply, I will have the opportunity to sell some and use the money to take care of my immediate needs. To achieve this, I joined a savings group where I save $10 every month. Once the money I have saved is enough, I can use it to purchase a goat. I am very happy and appreciate the financial support from the transfers, which have significantly uplifted my life.

As time goes by, I am becoming older and can no longer work. My health has been deteriorating, hindering me from providing for myself. The money I receive from the cash transfers helps take care of my immediate needs. I spent $19 on food purchases, ensuring I had enough to eat, as the food I harvested from the farm has been depleted. I spent $34 on medicine and hospital bills after falling ill and visiting the hospital for treatment. Additionally, I saved $20 with the intention of purchasing goats, which will help in the event I need cash, as they multiply over time, making them a good investment. I purchased two birds of poultry, a hen and a guinea fowl. Once they multiply, I will sell some and reinvest the money to buy more goats. I also paid $10 as a down payment for the purchase of a goat. I am very happy to now own different livestock, which will definitely help me raise money even after the completion of the transfers in five years.

I am currently taking care of my six grandchildren, all of whom are enrolled in school. However, I do not have a reliable source of income to pay for their fees. The only hope I have is the monthly transfers, which I believe will provide some relief for my household. My grandchildren's father is sick and cannot work, so he also depends on me for his medication. Despite our financial struggles and my son's condition, I am determined to ensure that my grandchildren's education is not interrupted due to lack of fees. I aim to pay their fees on time every month so that they can stay in school and achieve their educational goals.

My son faced lung complications, necessitating a comprehensive check-up, including a scan to identify the root cause. Financial constraints, stemming from substantial spending on medication, made it difficult for him to afford the necessary examination. In support, I contributed $34 to cover the medical expenses, ensuring he received the required treatment. My hope is that he will recover fully, regain his vitality, and resume his role as the family's primary provider. Throughout his illness, I took on the responsibility of caring for his six children, all of whom are enrolled in school—two in high school and the others in primary school. Upon the reopening of schools, I covered their tuition fees, providing a sense of security that, despite my son's inability to work, they could pursue their education without hindrance. Currently relying on subsistence farming as my primary occupation, I've managed to sustain the family's nutritional needs without difficulty, thanks to the financial assistance I received. Moreover, I saved $10 in our local savings groups, creating a financial buffer for unforeseen emergencies. In addition to these, I also invested $21 in acquiring a goat and two chickens, adding to my existing livestock of 20 goats and several chickens. This diverse livestock serves as a financial safety net, ready to provide support in times of dire financial need.

My plan is to save money with the goal of purchasing a pair of oxen, which will greatly assist in plowing my farm. Previously, I faced challenges with timeliness in farm preparation, often having to rely on neighbors or using inferior tools, causing delays in the farming process. This resulted in poor harvests and an inability to fully cultivate my more than 4-acre farm. I firmly believe that if I can fully utilize my land, it will ensure food security for my household. Additionally, during the planting season, I can rent out the oxen to neighbors for additional income. To achieve this, I intend to save at least $20 every month.

My son, who used to be the primary provider, was working as a driver. Unfortunately, he had a debilitating accident that rendered him unable to work any longer. This situation made life nearly unbearable, as I was now tasked with providing for the family. Since we primarily engaged in farming for consumption, I do not have an income source that could have supported us. Additionally, my six grandchildren were frequently sent home from school due to our inability to pay their fees on time. However, I am incredibly thankful to GiveDirectly for their financial support, which has allowed my grandchildren to remain in school. I allocated $40 to cover their school fees, ensuring their continued education. I'm also proud to have acquired some livestock, which serves as a valuable asset to meet our financial needs. I invested $30 in purchasing two chickens and a goat, and I now have three goats. I believe that as they multiply, I can sell them to meet my financial obligations. Furthermore, I spent $10 on my ailing sister's medical expenses, and she received excellent treatment. With the remaining funds, I purchased essential food items such as maize flour and other cereals to feed my family, particularly during a time when our farming activities had not yet yielded crops. I also used a portion of the money to buy items that were lacking in our household.

I have always wanted to acquire more goats since I believe they provide the family with financial stability. My current objective is to save $5 every month so that I can purchase a goat after every four months and keep it in my compound. Even though I would love to save at least $10 a month, it will not be possible because I am working on my son’s health stability after falling sick. Once the goats multiply and become more numerous, I think I can easily sell them to meet my financial needs.

My plans for the recent transfer did not go as I had wished due to the poor health state of my son that befell him. When I received the transfer, I had an ailing son who required medical attention. Concerning this, I paid $24 medical charges and he received some treatment though he is still under supervision. Due to the prolonged drought, I saw it prudent to use $10 for the family’s upkeep. This enabled us to access some food something that was very difficult before the transfers.

In the next year, I desire to have built an additional room to my current one-room house. Since my grandchildren love to spend their nights in my house, I feel like the space is too small for all of us hence the need for an extension. Besides, the extra space will grant us privacy. I have already started buying the materials, which I hope to have fully assembled over the next few months so that construction can begin. Once the room is completed, I will start saving for other kinds of livestock like goats and cattle. 

The greatest hardship in my household is hunger. The charcoal-making practice that I rely on to raise money for food hardly puts meals on the table daily. Sometimes, my son who hawks water in Mombasa sends money home for household needs, which can barely feed his wife, six children, and me for more than a day. The transfers from Give Directly come as a relief that allows me to contribute to most of the family’s needs. I spent $19 from the recent transfer on food as the household had run out of maize flour that morning. I bought two chickens worth $6 and paid $9 worth of school fees for my grandchild when she was sent out of class to collect the balance. In December, I spent $20 on iron sheets and $14 on building poles, which I plan on using to extend an extra room from my house. From the money I received in November, I spent $10 on a guineafowl for rearing and the rest on food. 

I appreciate the kindness and courtesy shown by the Give Directly staff during the enrollment period. We were motivated to provide them with all the information they required from us by their composed demeanor. I do, however, implore the organization to complete enrolling those who were ignored because they lacked identification cards. This will help to greatly ensure that they receive the financial assistance they currently require to survive the challenging economic times.

I reside in a modest one-room shelter in the village with my three grandchildren. I provide all of the family's (three grandchildren and husband) income . I cannot fit the entire family of five in the small room where I currently reside. I set aside $20 after getting my transfer so that I could later purchase iron sheets and construct an additional room for my family. I purchased $5 worth of food in addition to saving money to buy iron sheets. We sometimes slept on empty stomachs because my charcoal business hasn't been doing well, leaving me with no money to buy food. After purchasing the food, I was ecstatic, and this provided adequate assurance that I would not go without food. A week after receiving the transfer, I started having some waist pains, so I used the remaining money to pay a medical bill. I'm glad to report that since then, my health has significantly improved.

Around 7 p.m., I was preparing porridge for supper using the little maize flour left in the household. Suddenly, my mobile phone vibrated with a message alert, which I asked my daughter-in-law to check because I cannot read. I cannot express enough how overjoyed I was when she confirmed that Give Directly had sent the first transfer. I slept a happy person that night and could not wait to withdraw the money early the following morning. 

My grandson, who is currently in his fourth grade, had been pulled out of class the morning of the transfer day to collect school fee balances. Thankfully, the transfer timing was perfect since it enabled me to clear this overdue tuition amount the following day. He was glad to resume learning and has never been sent home ever since.

Due to my husband’s old age, he cannot actively participate in any work to provide for our family of three people. This leaves me as the breadwinner. To raise funds for household needs, I burn and sell charcoal, where I earn at most KES 1,000 per week. Given the high cost of living, this amount is barely enough to provide a week’s long of food. As such, paying school fees for my fourth-grade grandson becomes a challenge most of the time. When I received the transfer, he had been pulled out of class to collect overdue tuition arrears and I lacked funds, at the time, to settle the same. That is why I deducted KES 500 from the transfer to clear the debt and he happily resumed classes. At the same time, the household had run out of food the previous two days, to the extent of surviving on a cup of porridge per day. So, I used the remaining fund to acquire food that lasted us at least four days.