About a year ago, my four children and I moved from my village to Galana, where we have established a home. Upon moving, we lacked a house, and I'm grateful that, through the cash transfers, I was able to build one for us. Looking ahead, my next goal is to venture into livestock farming, particularly goats. Since I am the family's primary breadwinner with no other reliable source of income, keeping livestock seems like a promising endeavor. I believe that in the future, as the livestock reproduces, I can sell some of them to support the education of my children.

I recently lost my father, which required me to spend $25 from the cash transfers on transportation to and from the village since I reside in another county. During the period I spent in the village, I had to purchase food for my four children, spending $9 to ensure they did not go hungry in my absence. This provision sustained them until my return. There was also a time when our household faced food scarcity before the farm harvest, and I used $34 to buy food, ensuring that we never went a day without a meal. In adherence to our Christmas tradition, I bought new clothes worth $15 for three of my children, well in advance to prepare for the upcoming celebration. The remaining $19 was allocated to hiring a sprinkler machine to irrigate my one-acre farm, situated near a river. This practice helps ensure an all-season harvest even during sunny weather. As the main provider for my children, the cash transfers have become a crucial source of income, assisting with our most basic needs, and for that, I am very grateful.

A year ago when I arrived in Galana for farming, I had to rely on my cousin's house since I lacked the funds to construct my own. However, as I plan to stay here for a while, I want to build a proper house to provide a comfortable home for my two children and myself. This would also give my cousin's family more privacy and space. To achieve this goal, I have already begun purchasing construction materials, including iron sheets and building poles. Once I have gathered enough resources, I intend to hire someone to build a two-room mud-walled house with an iron-sheet roof. Also, I have a desire to own livestock, specifically goats and chickens. I plan to build a herd for my children, which will serve as a valuable asset for their future financial security.

Upon receiving the funds, I promptly used $13 to clear my children's school fees, ensuring they could continue their education without any interruptions. Also, the school had long requested them to purchase school shoes and bags, but I could not afford them due to financial constraints. However, with the recent cash transfer, I could finally buy these essential items, sparing my children from being sent home by the school authorities. So I spent the remaining amount to buy each of the two a bag and a pair of shoes. Currently, I work at someone else's vegetable-selling stall, and I receive a small fee at the end of each month. Unfortunately, this income barely covers the needs of my two children and myself. Moreover, I also have the responsibility of providing for my parents back home, adding further financial pressure on me. Am grateful that the cash transfers have helped lift some of this pressure off of me.

I haven't had a chance to think of a goal for the year. I however know that I want to add to the five chickens I purchased. I have always wanted goats and chicken that are multiplying and I can sell to add more animals maybe a cow. I will spare some money throughout the year if things are not as hard and buy more animals so that I will have a big herd of goats and a large number of chicken at the end of the day.

separated from their father and although I am remarried my children are my responsibility alone. I work as an employee in a grocery shop where I earn $25 per month. This cannot suffice for their school fees since per child I need at least monthly $5 to ensure they can do their exams and learn. I used my January and March tansfers $10 to pay their school fees. The drought has also made it that we have to buy everything that we eat. I also used about $14 for food since January to March. In March I got 5 chickens at $1 each.

When I came to Galana in March, to work at a food point, I left my two children in the custody of my mother back in the village. Every month I send her $25 to buy food and pay school fees for the children. However, given the high food prices, the amount barely takes them throughout the month. This leaves my mother calling me frequently to complain about the children having nothing to eat. Sometimes, I wash people's clothes after work to support my family because my salary is not enough. So, the first thing I did when I received the transfer was to send home $13 for my children's school fees and $11 for food. To date, no complaint has been raised again and I could never be more relieved. I set aside the remaining transfer amount to buy myself food to last me until my next payday.

After separating from my husband some years ago, I went back to stay with my parents and have been struggling to ensure that my child gets all they would have from both parents. Filling the father's gap has never been easier, but I am glad that GiveDirectly's support changed my perspective and made me a little more creative in preparation for a better future. I spent KES 2400 of the last three transfers on four pieces of iron sheets. I will not stay in my parents' house forever as my child grows older, so I have to think of his future. The remaining KES 6600 I spent on foodstuffs, detergents and a few clothes for my child.

The unconditional cash transfers have played a key role in uplifting people especially the most valuable ones in the society. It's now evident that, people in the society have different needs. Some bought food, others payed school fees, other started small businesses and so on. I would encourage you to continue helping people through the unconditional cash transfers.

I separated from my husband over irreconcilable differences last year and returned back to my parents house with two of our four children. Due to poverty, my parents have never been able to build a bigger house and still lives in a two rooms house which servers as the kitchen, living and bed room and therefore, they couldn't accommodate us. I sell green groceries to earn living and since I'm their breadwinner, I usually go home in the evening to prepare supper for them then leave with my children to look for somewhere to sleep afterwards. It's been the most frustrating and uncomfortable experience I have ever gone through but I don't have a choice because I can't afford to build my own house. With the monthly KES 3000, I realized that I can buy building materials in bits and build my house after a while. I spend KES 1400 to buy 4 iron sheets, KES 1000 to buy clothes for my children so that they can have at least have an extra pair and KES 400 to buy food. I'm hopeful that in the next one year, I would have bought enough materials to build myself and my children a house.

Normally, after I gather greens from the farm, I go out to hawk them in the street. So, on this day I was at work when I received a message that confirmed I had received funds from give directly. I felt relieved. I finished my day's round then went back home. The next day, I went to withdraw the money and headed to my children's school to clear the arrears.

I have not yet noted any difference in my life as this is my first transfer. But with time, I believe I will be able to tell the difference. So far, I have managed to pay my children's school fees which had been a burning issue at the time.

August last year I separated from my husband. He stayed with two children whilst I went with the other two. With two children depending on me, I started hawking vegetables to provide for them. Whenever I got stuck, I always turned to my sister who works as a farmer. So, when I received the transfer, I topped up KES500 to the KES1000 from the give directly money to settle their school fees arrears. I also bought them some writing materials that cost me KES70 and using KES100 I bought a pair of slippers.