My house is very old, with the poles starting to decay, and I fear they may collapse soon. Therefore, by the time the transfers come to an end, I aim to repair the walls of the house to reinforce its foundation and make it more durable. Since I am not actively employed and do not wish to burden my son beyond his means, I plan to save some funds from the cash transfers to purchase the necessary building materials.

I have been without a mattress for a long time, resorting to sleeping on sacks as bedding, which often led to uncomfortable nights. Therefore, I allocated $34 to purchase a mattress, finally allowing me to rest more comfortably. Additionally, I lacked adequate clothing as most of my attire had worn out from repetitive use. Wanting to present myself well, especially in public, I spent $12 on buying a dress, a T-shirt, and a khanga. Furthermore, I invested $34 in purchasing a goat, intending for it to serve as a future source of income. Even after the transfers have ended, I can sell the goat to meet any urgent needs that may arise. My son is the sole provider for our family, working as a house nanny in town to support his wife, four children, and me back in the village. However, much of his salary is consumed by expenses such as fees for his four children, and he can only support me when possible. I am grateful that the cash transfers have provided crucial supplemental support, alleviating my sole dependence on him.

My intention is to utilize my upcoming transfers to invest in livestock. Over a short period, I aim to build a substantial herd, which can serve as a source of income should I choose to sell. I greatly appreciate the financial support provided by Give Directly, and I am confident that this investment will yield positive results, ultimately leading to financial independence.

After experiencing a period of abundant rainfall, conducive for farming, I made the decision to hire laborers to assist in planting maize on my half-acre farm, as I am no longer able to work on the farm due to my advancing age. The expenditure for this labor amounted to $20. I am eagerly anticipating a bountiful harvest, which will provide an ample food supply. Furthermore, I made an investment in the form of a goat, purchasing it for $35. I foresee this as a valuable asset for the future, with the potential to double my initial investment through its offspring, or yield a significant profit if sold. Additionally, I recently acquired a mattress, a substantial improvement from the uncomfortable sisal twine bed I had been using for years. This has brought me peaceful nights and alleviated my previous back pains, thanks to the assistance from the financial transfers.

My primary goal as the year comes to a close and beyond is to make a wise investment in purchasing goats. This step is crucial in my journey towards achieving financial stability, as it will provide a reliable source of income. As the goat herd multiplies over time, I plan to sell some of them to meet my pressing needs, which are currently a challenge for me to fulfill. This endeavor marks a significant accomplishment in my quest for a more secure and prosperous future.

In July, I utilized $9 from my transfers to purchase food for my family. My primary source of income comes from doing odd jobs, where I sell charcoal, albeit earning very little. This meager income, however, covers our daily food needs, as my husband is currently unemployed, and my earnings sustain our family. The financial support I receive brings me contentment, as it ensures a steady supply of food, reducing the occurrences of hunger that we used to face. With the remaining $25, I decided to save up with the goal of acquiring goats. Through the financial assistance provided by Give Directly, I was able to acquire two goats initially. As I continue to receive these funds, my plan is to further expand the herd by purchasing more goats. This endeavor represents a strategic and prudent investment for the future, allowing me to secure stability for the days to come.

Owning a sizable herd of livestock by the end of this year and beyond will be my greatest achievement. This will be a substitute source of income for me since I can no longer work on the farm due to the dry weather. In an emergency, I will have a backup plan since I can sell some of the livestock and use the proceeds to take care of my issues.

On the outskirts of Bengoni village, I manage a small business selling silver cyprinid. I only earn $2 per day, which is very little. This amount is insufficient to meet all of my family's needs, especially since I am the only source of income. My husband is too old to work anymore. I greatly benefit financially from the monthly stipend I receive because it helps me to provide for my family's essential needs. I spent $10 on food in bulk when I got my March transfers. By purchasing the food, I could be sure that my family wouldn't go without eating because we couldn't afford the expensive food. In addition to purchasing food, I spent $0.9 on two hens. It has been very challenging to work on the farms because there have been no rains for the past three years. I want to try my hand at raising livestock as an alternative. I can earn some money, achieve financial stability, and provide for my family's needs by raising livestock. Finally, I put the last $15 aside so I could purchase a goat the following month when the weather has improved and is suitable for raising livestock.

I sell charcoal to make a living as a casual laborer. My husband is too old to work, so he completely relies on me to provide for the needs of the family. Per bag of charcoal, I only make $2. We can buy two meals a day with this money; after that, there won't be any money left over to purchase additional food. My sons, who work in Mombasa, occasionally pitch in to assist when the situation becomes intolerable. I therefore spent $10 on food after receiving my transfer. We were facing a starvation crisis because there wasn't much food left in the house and I didn't have any money to buy food. I used the remaining money to purchase a goat in addition to food. The goat's worth will rise over time as it develops and proliferates. I'll eventually sell some of the goats and use the proceeds to take care of my immediate needs.

Giving money to the neediest members of society is Give Directly's most valuable work. Parents use this cash to feed their children, support their education, and even pay for medical expenses, which were previously unattainable due to poverty. I applaud the organization for their efforts and encourage them to continue sending monthly transfers because they are transforming people's lives for the better.

Due to the prolonged drought, I have had to rely on charcoal burning and selling to make a living and provide for my family's basic needs. A sack of charcoal takes an entire week to produce and sells at only KES 300. So, this is basically my weekly income, which barely covers two days' worth of food. As such, hunger is a real concern in my family. That is why I used KES 500 from the transfer to buy food, which has sustained my husband and I up to this point. I intend to spend KES 500 on five tree poles to repair my house's damaged roof, which could easily be blown off by the wind. I intend to use the remaining funds to purchase a goat as an additional source of income. If this animal reproduces, I will be able to easily raise funds by selling the offspring to help with my basic needs.

After spending several hours selling charcoal, I was exhausted and sat outside my house. I received a text message on my phone and I was surprised to learn that I had received my first transfer. I jumped up and down with joy because I did not expect to receive any money that day.

Venturing into livestock farming is a new opportunity for me. My current job selling charcoal is not doing well and venturing into livestock farming will help me become financially stable. I am happy that the transfer has made a big difference in my life by enabling me to venture into livestock farming and earn an income.

I earn a living as a casual laborer selling charcoal. Selling charcoal is tedious and from it I earn very little (KES 300 per bag). The demand for charcoal is very low, and it takes long before I sell any bag of charcoal). I often sleep hungry, especially when I cannot make any sales. The increase in essential food commodities has added more suffering because I can no longer afford to buy food. When I received my first transfer, I bought food worth KES 1000. Three packets of 2 kg maize flour, 2 kg of beans, ½ kg sugar and washing detergent. I saved KES 2000 to buy a goat. I want to venture into rearing of livestock and earn a living. This will ensure I become financially stable and able to support my family.