My current goal is to renovate my house, which has been in a bad shape for quite some time. The rooftop of my house was built using iron sheets, which have become old and dilapidated, causing them to leak every time it rains. This was a terrible experience for me because my house became unlivable during such times. With the support of GiveDirectly, my husband and I have decided to use part of our monthly transfers to purchase 25 pieces of iron sheets for renovating the roof. I am happy that I have already acquired 15 pieces and have partially renovated the roof. I am now looking forward to purchasing the remaining pieces to complete the reconstruction and give my house a stable roof. Once the renovation is complete, I plan to buy goats, as they can serve as a source of cash. They are assets that I can sell to settle my financial obligations. Currently, I have two goats, and I hope to acquire more in the coming year and beyond.

Over the years, my house has fallen into disrepair, with the roof leaking every time it rains. The iron sheets are old, and the roof has become weak enough that I feared it would collapse under a heavy downpour. Since I didn't have the funds to renovate the roof immediately, I considered replacing it with grass, as it was the only material I could afford. Although grass is temporary, it was the only option available given the current state of my rooftop, which was built with iron sheets. When I and my husband started receiving transfers, we decided to save up to purchase iron sheets instead of relying on grass. With this plan in place, we were able to purchase 15 pieces of iron sheets. Our goal is to buy 25 pieces in total. So far, I've used the 15 iron sheets to renovate part of the roof, and I plan to complete the rest soon. Although the house isn't fully renovated yet, I feel at peace knowing that I've made progress. On my most recent transfer, I spent $40 to buy three more iron sheets. I also used the transfer to pay off a $21 medical bill that had accumulated while I was hospitalized. Additionally, I acquired a goat for $35, and I now own two goats. I'm happy to have some assets to rely on even after GiveDirectly phases out. Finally, I used the remaining amount to buy food and also paid school fees for my three grandsons, who had been sent home due to lack of fees.

Before the cash transfers come to an end, my goal is to have a new house. Our current dwelling is in poor condition, with a corroded roof that lets in water during rain, making the space uncomfortably cold. To achieve this, I plan to continue saving part of the cash transfers through my self-help group. When the group dissolves after one year, I intend to use the savings to purchase building materials like iron sheets and building poles. Additionally, I wish to continue buying goats; with one already acquired, I aim to accumulate at least five. As they reproduce, I can sell them to support the ongoing needs of my family.

My son, Baraka, shoulders the responsibility of providing for our family, which includes his five younger siblings and his six children. Despite his daily struggles in making and selling charcoal, the income he generates barely covers our basic needs, such as food. The cash transfers have been a blessing, allowing me to contribute to the household needs and relieve some of the burden from my son's shoulders. In the recent three cash transfers, I spent $28 on food, ensuring that we have at least one meal per day. At a time when our household frequently ran out of food, these funds made a significant difference. There was also a time when my daughter and I ailed from severe fever, and I spent $20 for our treatment. I'm grateful that we are both doing well. I also invested $32 in buying a goat and $18 in four hens, intending to rear them. Since I lack a reliable income source outside the cash transfers, owning livestock will ensure ongoing support for my family even after the transfers end. I saved the remaining $4 through a self-help group, aiming to accumulate enough funds to build another house.

My main goal is to renovate my house, which is in disrepair. The roof is in disrepair, and it leaks everywhere when it rains. I intend to purchase at least 15 iron sheets to help with the renovation. So far, the transfers and my small savings have enabled me to purchase six iron sheets. I will not have to worry about rain when I finish renovating this house. Having a stable, decent house will also protect my household items from being rained on, as has been the case in the past.

It has long been my ambition to own some livestock, particularly goats, which mature and multiply quickly. However, given my financial situation, I was unable to save money to purchase livestock because the majority of my little earnings from burning and selling charcoal were spent on food. I am glad I was able to get two goats for $38 after saving a portion of my monthly transfer. I intend to keep these goats, let them multiply, and then sell the offspring to meet my financial obligations. In addition to the goats, I also spent $10 to cover my medical expenses. I was well taken care of because I had enough money to cover the medical expenses; otherwise, I would have had to borrow money to go to the hospital. Finally, I purchased foodstuffs such as maize flour, which gave me peace of mind knowing that my family was eating well. I was sick and could not work the usual casual jobs of burning and selling charcoal, so my family would have gone hungry if I had not received the transfer.

Right now, am mostly concerned about expanding my herd of livestock within the next few years. Regardless of the overwhelming financial obligations, when this year ends, I wish to have secured at least two more goats to grow my flock to five. As these animals reproduce, I intend to sell them and gain cash for my children’s school fees. Next, I would like to renovate my house, which is currently leaking from the roof as the iron sheets have corroded over time. To achieve this activity, I need at least 14 pieces of iron sheets. 

Hunger is mostly an issue in my household, which makes my family sleep hungry at least seven times a month. Though my husband and I strive to make a living through charcoal selling, the physical demands and time-consuming aspects of the activity bar us from earning enough cash. Besides, our five children are constantly sent out to the school to pick up overdue tuition balances, which makes them miss classes. So, before spending my cash transfers on anything else, I usually prioritize these two needs. When I received the in December, I used $10 on food and saved $4 as my children’s tuition fee for when schools resumed. Next, I acquired a goat though $20 for rearing. From January cash, I spent $4 on food and the remaining $30 on a goat. Recently, I also bought a goat worth $25 and the rest on food.  I plan to let these three goats multiply, as I could easily sell them in the future to help cover my family’s necessities. 

I am grateful for GiveDirectly's kind offer to assist the less fortunate members of society. The transfer is a significant financial boost that will enable me to support my family. I'd like to express my gratitude to the GiveDirectly team for reminding us to make wise financial decisions through the monthly follow up conversations. As of now, everything is going well for the organization, and we request them to keep doing things that way.

I bought a piece of iron sheet with $10 from my second transfer. I have a single room in a dilapidated house with rusty, worn-out iron sheets that leak a lot when it rains. Every time I get a transfer, I try to set aside money to buy a piece of iron sheet so I can give the roof a complete makeover and get it in better shape. I spent $10 on food for the family in addition to the iron sheet purchase. We barely had any food left in the house because we lacked the funds to purchase food. For the entire week, I was unable to sell any charcoal through my business. My husband and our two dependent children were unable to help. I'm grateful that the money enabled me to feed my family and prevent hunger. The $10 I have left over goes into a savings group with the idea that I'll use it at the end of the year to pay my children' school expenses and fix the walls in my house.

Around 8 p.m., I was relaxing on the front porch of my house waiting for bedtime when I received a message on my mobile phone. Due to my inability to read, I asked my helper to check the message's information and she found that Give Directly had sent some money. To say I was delighted would be an understatement. I instantly sent her to withdraw the money and buy food for my family that had been starving for two days in a row.

My household had run out of food two days before the transfer, forcing my husband, three children, and myself to starve consecutively. Acquiring maize flour was the priority when I received the money from Give Directly. My family was thrilled to enjoy a week of regular meals courtesy of the transfers. I could never be happier.

My husband and I both burn and sell charcoal to raise money to support the needs of our three children, such as food and school fees. The process of producing charcoal takes at least two weeks, after which the most I can make is KES 300. With today's high food prices, this amount hardly provides sufficient food for more than two days. Thereafter, things usually darken, and hunger sets in for the rest of the week. Particularly, my family had gone two days without food before the cash transfer arrived. So, I prioritized KES 800 on food that restored my children's glow. I decided to use the remaining funds to purchase a hen from a neighbor. I had always longed to own chicken, but a lack of funds hindered me from doing so. I am grateful to Give Directly for making this desire possible.