As I mentioned earlier, my house needed reinforcement to withstand the harsh weather conditions we face in our region, including strong winds. I am currently in the process of construction, and my plans for this year and beyond is to continue using a portion of my transfers to ensure my family has a strong and lasting home. I want to create a safe environment where we won’t have to worry about renovations or the possibility of the house collapsing in the future. In addition to my home improvement plans, I also want to save another portion of my transfers in our local savings group. My goal is to buy more goats, hoping they will multiply over time. I envision trading some of them for female cows, which can also increase in number and provide us with even more opportunities for income. Ultimately, I plan to sell some of the cows and goats and save the proceeds in my bank account. This will give me a financial cushion for when I need it most, particularly for my children’s education and to invest in my livestock-selling business. I am incredibly grateful for this support, as it enables me to pursue my dreams for my family and secure a better future for us all.

I have six children in school, and their education is my top priority. Recently, I used $59 from my transfers from GiveDirectly to pay their school fees, which was crucial in ensuring they would not be sent home due to unpaid fees. Also, our region is currently faced with severe drought and hunger, which has made it difficult for us to access basic necessities such as water and food from our farms. To ensure my family did not go hungry, I spent another $33 of my transfers on food, as we had none left. In addition to these immediate needs, I am also focused on building a sustainable future. I saved the remaining $10 in our local savings group, where members pool their resources to support one another. Once I receive my pooled funds, I plan to use the funds to buy chickens and goats. I envision them multiplying over time, providing us with a reliable source of income. My goal is to sell some of the animals and invest the profits back into buying more chicken and goats with the aim of selling them in the future.

In the upcoming year, I hope to renovate my house by adding strong pillars to make it more resilient against harsh weather. This will provide a safer and more secure home for my family. Once the house is sturdy and safe, I plan to start livestock farming. I believe this will be a wise investment, providing us with food and income. I will start with a few animals and gradually expand to build a sustainable source of income, securing our future for years to come. My journey begins with strengthening my home, and from there, I will establish a foundation for lasting prosperity through livestock farming.

As a peasant farmer with six school-going children, I am always looking for ways to support my family of nine. In addition to farming, I sometimes take on casual jobs at construction sites to supplement my income. With the last three transfers from GiveDirectly, I used $95 to pay for the school fees of my six children. Two are in secondary school while four are in primary school. Ensuring that they stayed in school without any interruptions was my top priority. I believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and I want my children to focus on their studies without worrying about being sent home for unpaid fees. With the remaining $7, I purchased detergents and personal items for the household. These items are essential for maintaining hygiene and dignity in our home. These transfers have allowed me to invest in my children's future and keep our household running smoothly.

I've been diligently saving a portion of my transfer in our merry-go-round group. Unfortunately, due to unfavorable weather conditions, our current house has weakened, especially the walls, posing a danger to my family's safety. In response, I've started building a sturdier, safer home. While I haven't finished construction, I'm proud to say I've reached the halfway point. Now, with my monthly transfer from GiveDirectly, I plan to continue the work until completion. This new house is already a vast improvement over our current one, and once finished, I aim to plaster it for added durability and a more attractive appearance. This will provide stability and a safe haven for my family. I'm truly grateful for GiveDirectly's support, as it has enabled me to pursue my dream despite the challenges of relying on low-paying, unreliable casual jobs.

I've carefully managed my recent transfer to meet our pressing needs, considering the uncertainty of relying on casual jobs. Prioritizing my family's immediate requirements, I allocated $44 for purchasing food, ensuring we have enough to sustain us while I focus on finding additional work. Additionally, I set aside $40 in our merry-go-round group, intending to invest in building my house when it's my turn to receive funds. The remaining $34 was dedicated to covering school fees, ensuring my children's education remains uninterrupted. I'm truly grateful to GiveDirectly for lightening my financial burden during this challenging time.

In the upcoming year, with the cash transfers I am receiving, my primary goal is to construct a modern house that can withstand the challenges of varying weather conditions, providing a secure and comfortable shelter for my family.Simultaneously, I aim to expand my goat flock and acquire a cow, envisioning a sustainable income source that will outlast the duration of the program. While I have a multitude of aspirations, I recognize the importance of pacing myself and taking gradual steps toward these goals, ensuring each endeavor is executed thoughtfully and effectively. With the support of the unconditional cash transfers, I am optimistic about the positive transformations that lie ahead for my family and me.

I joined a merry-go-round group upon receiving the cash transfers from GiveDirectly. Contributing $30 from the transfer, I accumulated funds that enabled me to expand my livestock-selling business by investing in additional stock. This move resulted in an increase in profits, providing the means to meet my household needs. The $40 allocated for the school fees of my six children not only kept them in school but rescued them from the possibility of being sent back home, a stark contrast to the challenging times before receiving the transfers. Furthermore, the surplus from the business allowed me to invest in a solar lighting system, creating a conducive environment for my children to study at home. I allocated $2.45 to food, facilitating both sustenance and the cultivation of our own produce, now overseen by my wife. Additionally, a portion of the transfer, $7.5, was dedicated to rearing chickens. This investment not only ensures a steady supply of eggs for our consumption but also generates income when we sell them in the market. Reflecting on this transformative journey, I am genuinely grateful for the positive turn our lives have taken, and I extend heartfelt thanks to GiveDirectly for their invaluable support.

My primary goal is to revive my chicken-selling business, which I had to discontinue due to various challenges I encountered. The motivation behind this aspiration is to establish a sustainable source of income that will enable me to provide for my family, especially considering my current lack of any income stream. To work towards this objective, I have initiated a savings plan dedicated to financing the venture, and I am committed to setting aside a portion of my monthly transfers to ensure that I can kick start the project in the near future.

I am truly grateful for the recent support I received from GiveDirectly, as it came at a crucial time of need. With four of my children sent home from school due to unpaid fees, I was facing a significant financial strain owing to the fact that I currently do not have a source of income. Thanks to the generous transfer, I was able to promptly settle their school fees, totaling $12, providing them the opportunity to continue their education. Additionally, the funds allowed me to address our immediate food needs by allocating $12.70 towards purchasing essential food stuffs for my family. Looking towards a more stable future, I wisely set aside $10 to begin a small business, offering hope for financial independence.

My goal for the remainder of the year is to venture into goat rearing. In the past, I had experience with goat farming but had to sell the goats to cover my children's school fees. I hope to invest in goats once again which will help create a sustainable wealth when they reproduce. Other than that, I also aspire to explore cattle keeping as a means of expanding my livelihood opportunities.

I allocated $1400 towards paying off the tuition fees for my four children who are enrolled in primary school. Since there is still an outstanding debt from the previous academic year, I usually make partial payments as I cannot afford the full amount at once. It is crucial for me to ensure that my children's education is not interrupted. Additionally, I managed to save $10 through a self-help group. I aim to accumulate enough savings to reach $50, which I plan to invest in a business of buying and selling chickens. This additional stream of income will provide much-needed financial stability for my family. I engage in casual jobs in house construction, which rarely come by, posing challenges to my ability to provide for my family. With the remaining $10 from the cash transfers, I bought food to supplement the little food that was left in stock. In April, I saved $10 through the self-help group. Additionally, $4 was used towards school fees, and $20 was allocated for food expenses.

I used to run a business where I would acquire animals from the community and then sell it in the adjacent market. Sadly, it did not work out because we spent all the money, leaving farming as my only source of income. Unfortunately, our recent drought has resulted in low productivity, therefore I intend to revive the business to increase my household's income. I have already started saving $10 each month to raise the necessary funds in order to accomplish this. My kids are in school now, and once they enter secondary school, their fees will increase. As a result, the business's earnings will help us pay for our home expenses, particularly those related to school.

In order to start a company of purchasing and selling animals when I get my shares, I saved $3,000 in a rotational savings club. I previously operated the same business, and it was profitable, which encouraged me. Unfortunately, I was unable to sustain it because it was my primary source of income, thus the majority of the earnings were used for living expenses. I will be able to support my family's requirements with the help of the business. I paid $12 for my kid's tuition so that they could enroll in school for the new academic year. In addition, I spent $24 for labor to plow the ground, but the drought caused the crops to fail. I used $9 to buy food for my family and spent $15 of the $24 I had left on new clothes for my kids to replace the old worn-out ones.

Previously, raising $30 a month was a challenge in our village, especially for those who rely on casual work which is the main source of income in our region. The highest amount we could raise in a month was $12 but this could not sustain us. In most cases, children could not frequent school because their parents could not afford to pay for their tuition fees. It was a great move by GiveDirectly to send us monthly transfers with no strings attached. Our village has improved and currently, nearly all school-aged children are in school while other people have set up businesses that are sustainable. On the other hand, I have not seen anything that the organization is not doing right.

We have six children, one is currently in secondary school and luckily, she is sponsored by the equity bank foundation. The five who are in primary school owed the school a balance of $60, and they could not be allowed in school before clearing the arrears. I do the available casual work within our region which includes helping people with farm work and house construction. Unfortunately, such activities are limited especially due to the prolonged drought and poor economy and thus the huge school fees arrears. With the recent transfer, I paid $18 to reduce the fee balance so that they could be allowed in school. $15 I paid for a deposit of a solar lamp that I bought on credit. We had a lantern lamp but it was not bright enough and my children would go to the neighbors' house for their studies due to the poor lighting. I am happy to watch how motivated they are currently to do their studies because our house is well-lit. The remaining $3 I spent on a bar of soap and one kilogram of sugar for my household members.

My phone rang with a message notification some minutes past 7 p.m. I was in my house thinking of how I would get a house construction job the following day to raise money for the household’s needs. Upon checking the contents of the message, I noticed that Give Directly had sent my first transfer. I felt like I had been born again, this time round into a life of abundance. The money together with what I made from my job, would help satisfy the household needs.

Since the month began, up until the day I received the transfer, my family had gone without food at least twice. The money I made from house construction was not enough to provide regular meals. However, my life transformed after the transfer. I was able to acquire food that lasted the family two days while I raised more money from my job. Thankfully, my work has been so successful ever since that we have never gone hungry again.

To provide for my family, I take on casual jobs in house construction to earn a living. However, I earn depending on the days worked, making at most KES 5,000 per month since the jobs rarely come by. This amount barely meets basic expenses like food and school fees for my six children, wife, and me. That is why I used KES 500 from the transfer to pay a compassionate aid application fee for my three children at school. When successful, the program will cover their school uniform, stationery, residence, and tuition costs. This will help relieve the weight off my shoulders. Also, I spent the remaining amount on food. The goal was to boost the little maize flour left in the household to last at least two days while I raised more money from my job.