In the coming year and beyond, I am committed to investing in goats to secure my family's future. This investment will provide us with a reliable source of income, even after the GiveDirectly program ends. Every month, I plan to save $20 from the transfers to gradually grow my herd. These goats will not only support us financially but also give my family a sense of stability and independence. With this plan, I am confident we will have something to rely on for years to come, ensuring our resilience and peace of mind.

I am a widow who depends on my son for provision. He works tirelessly at casual jobs to ensure we have food and shelter. Life has not been easy for us, but the transfers have been a great relief. With the last three transfers amounting to $102, I decided to prioritize easing his burden. I spent $68 on foodstuff, buying a sack of maize, beans, and sugar. This not only ensured that we had enough to eat but also gave my son a chance to rest and focus on himself, even if just for a little while. The joy of knowing he doesn’t have to push himself as hard just to put food on our table is immense. With the remaining $34, I cleared a debt I had incurred to buy building poles for my house. The debt had been weighing on my mind, but now that it is settled, I can enjoy the comfort of my completed two-room mud-walled house. Unlike the cramped and uncomfortable space we used to live in, my new house is spacious and gives me a sense of pride and security. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the transfers, as they have not only lightened my son's load but also brought us a better, more comfortable life.

As far back as I can remember, my ultimate dream has been to build a home. The sight of my modest, nearly collapsing house has been a strong motivator for me. Driven by determination, I started buying materials piece by piece for the transfers. I am now close to finishing the purchase of all the materials, and I’m excited to soon begin building. This will allow me to sleep peacefully with my husband and four grandchildren, without the constant worry we’ve had before. I also look forward to not having to seek shelter during harsh weather, which has been a frequent issue. Another goal of mine is to invest in goats with the hope that they will multiply. My plan is to eventually exchange the goats for bulls, which will greatly assist with farming since plowing has been challenging due to my age. I am confident that this will lead to a better harvest in the near future.

My husband and I are very old now and can no longer work on our own. We’ve been relying on our children to provide for our basic needs, but it's been challenging for them since they depend on fishing, which is an unreliable source of income, and they have their own families to support. I’ve been wanting to build a larger house because our current one is too small for my family, including my grandchildren. With the recent cash, I set a goal to spend $20 on buying iron sheets for the new house. I’m making good progress, and in a few months, I’ve nearly gathered all the materials needed. The new house will eventually provide enough space for all of us, without the discomfort we’ve faced before. Regarding food, I’ve been using $14 each month to buy supplies. I’m relieved that we rarely run out of food now, unlike before, when it was common for us to go to bed hungry.

From as far back as I can recall, my ultimate dream has been to build a home. The sight of my modest house, close to collapse, served as a powerful drive for action. Fueled by determination, I embarked on a journey of saving every penny from my transfers, methodically acquiring building materials bit by bit. It's been a journey defined by unwavering commitment and relentless perseverance, and the joy of witnessing tangible progress towards realizing my lifelong aspiration knows no bounds. As the final touches are placed on my new home, I'm filled with a profound sense of accomplishment and gratitude. It's a testament to the power of persistence and the belief that dreams, no matter how difficult, are within reach with dedication and hard work. With the foundation of my home firmly laid, I'm already looking ahead to the next chapter. Livestock farming beckons, and I envision investing in goats with the hope of their multiplication The plan to eventually trade goats for bulls, essential for farming activities, represents a strategic move towards financial stability and self-sufficiency. This isn't just about raising animals; it's about securing a sustainable source of income for my family.

From the outset, my goal has been to construct a home. The current state of my tiny house which is leaning on one side, about to collapse, ignited a sense of urgency within me. Consequently, I've diligently saved my transfers, purchasing building materials piece by piece. With each acquisition, I've witnessed tangible progress, bringing me immense satisfaction as my dream edges closer to reality. Utilizing the entirety of my $102 in transfers, I've committed to investing further in building materials for my home. This decision reflects not just a financial investment, but a deeply personal commitment to creating a safe and stable environment for myself and my loved ones and I am very grateful for the progress I have made so far

I am dedicated to the completion of my house construction. To achieve this, I will need to acquire additional iron sheets, building poles, and iron steel nails. I am delighted with the ongoing financial support, which is instrumental in realizing this objective. Upon achieving this milestone, I intend to venture into long-term livestock investment, ensuring a sustainable source of income beyond the duration of the transfers.

The majority of my $58 transfers was allocated towards procuring food for my family, which consists of seven members including my elderly husband and five grandchildren. It is essential for us to cultivate sufficient maize to sustain our family, with any surplus being sold to generate income. In addition to acquiring food, I set aside funds to purchase one iron sheet every month, gradually constructing a more spacious dwelling to accommodate all seven family members, as our current residence is both dilapidated and cramped. Furthermore, I dedicated $10 to plow half an acre of land, preparing it for cultivation amid the ongoing heavy rains. The financial support has been crucial in enabling me to lead a more comfortable life, steering clear of the perils of poverty, for which I am deeply appreciative.

Currently, I am tending to a pair of goats, and my aspiration for the upcoming year and beyond is to expand this number. Previously, my financial resources were primarily directed towards procuring sustenance, leaving little room for acquiring livestock. However, the positive outcome of a productive harvest has notably alleviated my family's concern about food scarcity. As a result, I am now in a position to consider investing in the acquisition of additional goats, thus enhancing the capacity of my goat shed. Given the absence of a regular income source, the potential to sell offspring from the expanded herd offers a reliable solution to address any future financial challenges.

Subsistence farming has consistently been my mainstay, ensuring the sustenance of my household. The presence of ample food within my home brings me a profound sense of tranquillity, particularly when a bountiful harvest secures our food supply. With the recent financial assistance, I made it a priority to promptly prepare my three-acre plot for cultivation, recognising the significance of timely plowing for a successful yield. Engaging oxen for this task allowed efficient plowing, resulting in a rich harvest. This outcome translates to a notable reduction in the likelihood of food shortages within my household. I also used a portion of the remaining funds to acquire a goat, which I am currently caring for. This addition brings my livestock count to two goats, and my objective is to nurture and multiply them. The eventual sale of these goats presents a viable option for generating funds, thereby addressing my prevailing financial responsibilities, given my current lack of income.

By the end of the year, I would love to have started a small kiosk business, but due to the hunger we are currently experiencing, this is proving to be challenging. As a result, I am compelled to spend my entire monthly transfer on purchasing food and water to ensure my survival. If things stay the same, I'd be content to save enough money to pay for the right treatment for my health condition. I'm now concentrating on starting a business that will give me financial security once my health gets better.

Being elderly, both my husband and I rely heavily on our son for financial support. My husband and I both have health issues that prevent us from working. I have had constant leg pain and swelling for the past three years, which has kept me from working. I've gone in and out of hospitals looking for medical assistance, but so far, nothing has come of it. It has proven to be very difficult to prepare meals without going to work. I therefore bought food and water with the money I received in March transfers. All of our water sources have dried up, which has severely impacted us due to climate change. It takes more than 30 kilometers of exhausting walking just to get water. Since I am unable to walk due to my health, I must purchase water from vendors at exorbitant prices. Given that he has a family of his own to support, my son, who works as a fisherman, is also having financial difficulties. Additionally, due to the rivers drying up as a result of the extreme heat and lack of rain, he may lose his sole source of income.

Since it doesn't rain much and even when it does, it never amounts to enough to allow anything to grow on the farm, nutrition is one of our major concerns, to be honest. This has caused us to place a higher priority on making sure we never go hungry. Therefore, I will favour our nourishment with this money. Because their parents barely make enough money from their jobs and occasionally struggle to keep them in school, I also want to pay for my granddaughters' education. It will also make me glad to finally start a business where I can sell groceries to earn a living.

As a consequence of drought hunger has been one of the biggest tribulation that I have had to endure for quite a while and occasionally. Therefore I was really happy to receive the transfers and that is why I ended up using KES 2,000 to purchase ten packets of maize flour so that I would not have to worry about when my next meal would be. I then decided to spend KES 1,000 to assist my son in paying for tuition for two of his children because at the time that already been kicked out of school for two days and he had no money. I then ended up depositing the balance of KES 400 in my savings account.

I really appreciate GiveDirectly for giving us the transfers unconditionally. Many of us could not afford the very basic needs especially putting food on the table. We depend on subsistence farming which has not been doing well for quite some time. Giving us the support and the freedom to plan for ourselves was the best thing for us. We are now able to fend for our families as well as pay fees for our children. In my opinion, this is what GiveDirectly has done well. I do not see anything that it does not do well.

I received my first transfer when I was sick and could not readily raise money for my medication. I am happy that I was treated through the money in a private hospital where services are better. Upon receiving the second transfer, I spent Ksh. 2000 on buying a goat that I am currently rearing on my homestead. I am expecting it to reproduce and increase in number. This is an asset that I can readily rely on in case of a financial need. I will sell the offspring to settle my future financial needs. Lastly, I spent Ksh. 1000 on buying adequate foodstuffs that could take us some weeks.

I received the text message at 9 pm. I was getting ready to go to bed after a long day running up and down looking for casual jobs (working on other people's farms) with no success. The drought has contributed to the massive loss of jobs and it is difficult to get one. I was very happy and tears flowed down my chubby cheeks upon receiving the money. Immediately, I withdrew the money and bought food for my family because we had eaten nothing that night.

Buying food for my family is the biggest difference that the funds have made in my life. Lack of jobs has made the situation difficult for my family and as a result, we often sleep on empty stomachs and survive on a cup of water. I am happy that for the previous two weeks, my family has had plenty of food to eat.

Receiving the funds was a tremendous boost for the family because we were going through a rough time financially. My husband and I are jobless and have survived buying food on credit. Often we survive on one meal a day due to financial constraints. My son is currently not in school due to a lack of school fees, and this has affected his progress in his studies. Therefore, when I received my first transfer of KES 1200, I spent KES 600 on buying food. The food I bought ensured that we had plenty to eat for the next two weeks. Besides buying food, I spent the other half on medication. I felt very ill a week before I received the funds. The money helped me clear the hospital bill and I am happy that my health has significantly improved.