In the coming year, my goal is to start goat farming because goats are more affordable and easier to maintain than cows, even though I already have one cow. I plan to save at least $10 monthly from my transfers to accumulate enough to buy one goat at a time. Currently, a goat costs around $50 due to high demand, but with steady savings, I know I can reach that amount. Starting with one goat, I hope to slowly build a herd, which will provide my family with a reliable source of income through offspring and meat selling. Over time, this will not only improve our financial stability but also allow me to expand the farm.

I am a widow who depends on my son to provide for our family. Life has not been easy because my son, who only does casual jobs, has his own family of nine to take care of. With no steady income, it has been a real struggle for him to support all of us. This has made me fully rely on the GiveDirectly monthly transfers for survival. With the most recent three transfers amounting to $102, I prioritized my health first. I used $34 to pay for medication as I was unwell. Thankfully, I got the treatment I needed, and I am feeling much better now. My health is improving, which gives me hope for the future. The remaining $68 went towards buying food for the family, as drought has hit us hard, making it difficult to rely on farming for our meals. This decision was necessary to bring some relief to my son, who works tirelessly to keep us all afloat. With the transfers, I could lift some of the heavy burden off his shoulders, giving him a break from worrying about how to feed us all. The transfers have been a lifeline for us, and I am grateful for the support that came when we needed it the most.

As I embark on the journey, my primary focus is prioritizing my health. Recognizing the importance of a thorough medical examination as advised by the doctors, I am determined to utilize the upcoming transfers to seek the necessary medical attention. My goal is not only to address my current health condition but also to pave the way for a future filled with vitality and well-being. In the coming year and beyond, I aspire to cultivate a lifestyle that honors and cherishes the gift of health, embracing each moment as an opportunity for growth and healing.

For the last three months, I've been battling with illness, particularly struggling with my vision. It was like living in perpetual darkness, unable to see the beauty of the world around me. But your generosity changed everything. The money you sent me wasn't just a sum of currency; it was a lifeline, a beacon of hope in my darkest hours. With it, I could seek the medical attention I so desperately needed. Thanks to your support, I can now see dimly, a glimmer of light amidst the shadows. Though my journey to recovery is far from over, I am grateful for this newfound clarity. The recent funds you provided weren't wasted but rather allocated precisely well; $11 for sustenance during my hospital stay and $23 for crucial medical expenses. My son, a casual laborer, has been by my side, but his earnings alone couldn't cover the extensive treatment I required. Your monthly transfers have been instrumental in bridging the gap, and ensuring I receive the care necessary for my well-being. Your kindness has not only restored my vision but also renewed my faith in humanity's compassion.

Since the burial, I have not been able to return to my village. However, with my subsequent transfers, my plan is to utilize the funds for transportation back to my village. Looking ahead, I intend to invest in livestock such as goats and hens. By rearing these animals, I will be able to generate income in the coming years as they multiply and increase in number. This future endeavor brings me great joy and optimism. Once again, I express my deep gratitude for the support provided through the transfers, as it has made a significant positive impact on my life.

As an elderly woman, I reside with my son, daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren. My son, who serves as the family's primary breadwinner, engages in various jobs such as house construction, selling charcoal, and farming. Unfortunately, the income he earns from these endeavors is meager. I often assist him in paying school fees for the children when they are unable to meet the expenses. Recently, I utilized $20 to clear a school fee debt for my grandchildren. Additionally, I allocated $48 towards purchasing food, which played a crucial role in ensuring that we did not go to bed on empty stomachs. Furthermore, I spent $34 on transportation to attend the funeral of a relative who tragically passed away due to an unknown illness. I am grateful that I could pay my last respects and provide a dignified burial for our beloved family member. The financial support from the transfers has greatly contributed to maintaining a sense of dignity in my life, and I am sincerely happy and appreciative of this assistance.

In the upcoming year and beyond, I have a plan to acquire goats with the intention of raising and breeding them. Given my elderly, weak, and visually impaired condition, I am no longer able to engage in regular work. Thus, establishing a livestock venture is the most feasible undertaking for me. This initiative not only aligns with my capabilities but also provides a potential source of income in case of urgent financial needs. In previous years, an extended period of drought prevented me from buying livestock, as I spent my transfer on providing food and covering my grandchildren's school fees. Fortunately, my recent successful farming efforts resulted in a substantial harvest. This achievement has significantly reduced my food-related expenses. I am now in a position to venture into goat rearing. I am planning to invest in acquiring goats in the near future, thereby securing valuable living assets for myself.

I am truly grateful for the support I've been receiving, which has been essential in improving my living conditions. My life has undergone a remarkable transformation. I now have the ability to enjoy three meals a day and experience a consistent sense of peace, knowing that my grandson's school fees are taken care of. Previously, I relied solely on my son, who lacks stable employment and has his own family to provide for. As I've grown older and lost my sight, I've encountered various challenges. My physical limitations prevent me from engaging in any work that could have otherwise sustained me. Upon receiving my recent financial assistance, I was able to pay some accumulated debts that had arisen from purchasing food on credit at a nearby store. I paid $10 to settle this bill and additionally purchased essential food items such as maize flour and cereals. These provisions ensured that my grandchildren had an ample supply of nourishment. I also share my home with seven grandchildren, all of whom I support, including their educational expenses. I successfully covered their school fees, enabling them to continue their studies. This has afforded me the opportunity to adequately plan for their upcoming tuition payments.

My only source of income is cash transfers. With my senior age and blindness, the only type of job I am capable of is dependency. There was nothing I could do except spend every last penny on food to prevent starvation due to the protracted drought that has made farming difficult. My current objective is to pay off a debt of almost $60 that I accrued during my spouse's farewell. Even though my kid is also making an effort to settle the same, I agreed to pay it in $10 monthly installments. By the end of the year, after this is resolved, I would like to have acquired at least 2 goats as an investment.

My top priority whenever I get monetary transfers is to buy meals. This is due to the fact that I am powerless to defend myself. I mean, I'm blind. Aside from that, my son, who I rely on, is unable to raise food crops due to the extreme farming difficulties caused by the drought in my region. To help us buy food, my son, who has a part-time job, occasionally burns charcoal or works on a farm. He occasionally needs to take a break because of weariness. Sadly, as we live hand to mouth, each break results in a string of missed meals. To allow him some time to rest, I chose to spend the entire transfer amount of $34 on food. This difficulty got worse once my spouse, who was my entire support system, passed away. Although I am appreciative of the assistance provided by GiveDirectly, I regret that there is no room for savings or investment because whatever I receive is used solely to buy food.

Given my advanced age, my son is my sole source of financial support. Since my son is the family's sole provider and earns a meager income, he occasionally finds it difficult to meet everyone's needs. This year, I want to purchase lots of goats. These goats will procreate, bringing me more money. As the number grows, I may decide to sell some and use the proceeds to provide for the needs of the family. This will help take some of the pressure off my son, who works extremely hard to put food on the table for the family every day.

I spent my most recent transfers on paying fees for my four grandchildren, bought enough foodstuffs for my family, and purchased a goat. My grandchildren were almost being discontinued from school since my son was not able to pay their school fees on time. He is the breadwinner and sometimes fails to secure the casual jobs that he does. Seeing my grandchildren not attending school troubled me because their future could be ruined. I thus paid for them and I am glad that they were allowed to continue with their studies without interruptions of fees. In addition, I purchased the goat to add to my already existing goat shed. My expectation is that these goats will multiply, and I can readily sell them to cater to my financial needs. Aside from this, they are also a saving for the future of the children's education. The transfers also ensured that I had enough food for the family since I bought bales of maize flour, sugar, and vegetables, a shopping that could serve us for weeks, and ensured that we do not lack food daily.

I am an elderly woman who fully depends on my son to provide for my daily needs. I am very weak and can no longer see, hence cannot find food for myself. My son is a casual laborer who earns a living by building houses for other people. He faces a lot of challenges such as low and delayed payments, and a lack of jobs. These challenges are a stumbling block to him providing for me and his family. Therefore, when I received my transfer, I spent KES 1500 on paying school fees for my three grandchildren, who were sent home due to school fees arrears. Besides paying school fees, I bought food worth KES 1500 so that I could ease the burden my son was going through in providing food for the family.

I thank the organization for helping needy people in society. The situation would be unbearable were it not for the unconditional transfers. I would urge the organization to increase the amount so that we can tackle the ever-growing prices of food items in our village.

10 years ago, after I lost my eyesight due to an eye infection, my life took a turn for the worst. As a hardworking woman, I lost my source of income, which was selling local palm wine and charcoal in the village. I had to depend on my son, who was working as a technician in the Kenya Power and Lighting Company. Unfortunately, he got involved in an accident and I was back to the normal life of struggles. My husband is of age and he cannot work anymore. We survive mainly on debts and contributions from both neighbors and relatives. The hard times have forced us to the number of meals we have in a day, from 3 to 1 meal per day. Sleeping on empty stomachs has become a tradition for us (husband and I). We sleep hungry for a minimum of 3 days every week. Therefore, when I received my transfer, I spent KES 2500 to clear off a debt that had accrued due to buying food on credit. I then sent the remaining KES 500 to buy detergent and body oil which I had not bought for a very long time.

Being jobless due to my physical disability, I was outside my house when I heard my neighbours celebrating for receiving the aid from GiveDirectly. I called my helper to confirm on my phone which had indicated there is new messages a few moments earlier. On checking it, he informed me that it was the transfer. I was very happy about receiving my aid which marked the end of spending the whole day without food.

The biggest difference in my life is the fact that I am no longer going to bed without food unlike before. I am very grateful to the organization for the aid, I can now afford decent meals thrice a day. Previously, I was depending on my child who is doing temporary casual jobs to support my needs as well as those of his family.

I am old and jobless because of my sight challenges. The only hope is from the well-wisher or depends on my child who is a casual laborer and had his own family to take care of. Life has been miserable, especially getting food. After receiving my transfer, I spent all of it to purchase enough food for my family because of the existing drought and famine in our area. I used all the transfer to purchase different foodstuffs like maize and wheat flour and cooking oil.