Venturing into extensive goat farming is my goal for the upcoming year. I see this as a significant opportunity to generate income for my family of six. To accomplish this endeavor, I plan to utilize my savings of $100, investing it wisely to make this venture a success. Goat farming holds immense potential, not only as a source of income but also as a means to provide for my family's needs. By carefully managing the resources available, I aim to expand this venture gradually, ensuring the well-being of my family. I believe that this step towards extensive goat farming will bring stability and financial security to our household. I am determined to dedicate my efforts and resources to making this venture thrive in the coming year.

It is incredible how much of a difference GiveDirectly has made in our lives. Their assistance has enabled us to achieve what seemed unattainable before. Personally, I would not have been able to fence my farm without their support. I am genuinely grateful that their assistance came through when it was most needed. However, I do have a wish for the organization. I believe that adding more transfers or extending the support could help accomplish other essential tasks or projects. There are always more aspirations and needs within the community that could benefit from their assistance. Expanding the support could further uplift and empower individuals to achieve their goals and improve their livelihoods.

As a family, our livelihood depends on daily casual jobs, often involving tasks like fetching firewood, where we earn $2 daily. However, this income is primarily directed towards ensuring there is enough food on our table, leaving little to nothing for savings. Therefore,receiving the transfers brought a sense of opportunity, and I made careful decisions to better our circumstances. I spent $150 to purchase fencing wire, a crucial step in securing my garden, where I plan to sow vegetables. This effort aims to provide both income and sustenance for my family of six. Additionally, I spent $75 on iron sheets to construct a goat shed, which I believe will be beneficial for our future. I also spent $110 on purchasing maize, a staple for our household, and the remaining funds were dedicated to purchasing essential household goods like beans. While our financial situation remains challenging, I am hopeful that these investments will provide us with a more stable source of income and nourishment.

Since I received the last transfer, I have had a lot to plan and hope to accomplish soon. With the goat project, I hope to spend the remaining $100 on buying at least two more goats and further wish to add even more goats in the coming year, which will then necessitate the construction of a bigger shelter and a fence to safeguard my crops from invasion while they are grazing.

GiveDirectly has truly been amazing for me and my family, helping us achieve milestones that would have been otherwise impossible. The uniqueness of this cash transfer program, with its unconditional spending, has been its strength. We all have different challenges in our households, and this flexibility allowed us to address our most pressing needs. What's more, it was entirely fair and did not discriminate; as long as one met the criteria, they could benefit. I sincerely believe that nothing should be changed as GiveDirectly extends its support to other villages. The same approach has been incredibly helpful, and I hope it continues to make a positive impact on many more families like mine.

Currently, I have four goats, attributed to the previous GiveDirectly transfer. I have been investing in these assets with the hope of growing them even more in the future. Ensuring their comfort in their new home has been my priority, making sure they have enough food and become familiar with their surroundings so they won't flee back to their original homes. When I received the final transfer, I allocated $96 to construct a shelter for them, complete with a chain-link fence to block off any wild animal intrusion at night. I also used $83 to purchase food for my current family of seven and covered the transportation costs for all our purchases from the shopping center to our doorstep. Building the shelter cost $60, and I bought other household goods we were missing for $110. Finally, I saved the remaining $100, which I plan to use to buy more goats to add to our current herd.

While I was engaged in washing utensils at home, a message notification appeared on my phone. Upon checking, I discovered it was an M-Pesa message confirming the receipt of funds from Givedirectly. I felt a surge of happiness and I immediately knew that I now had the means to support my youngest daughter, who is currently pursuing her education in a medical school. With the ability to pay her school fees, I felt a profound sense of relief and hope for her successful completion of her studies.

Previously, our daily meals were limited to just one, not by preference but due to the scarcity of food. Upon receiving these transfers, we've been able to increase our meals to at least twice a day, resulting in noticeable improvements in our overall health. I've been able to alleviate the burden of excessive manual labor, only engaging in such activities when I choose to. Our gratitude towards Givedirectly is immeasurable, as they have truly uplifted us from our challenging circumstances.

Following a deliberation with my husband, we made the choice to first do the cultivation of a farm in a scheme located near Marigat. Consequently, $100 from the initial transfer was allocated towards the acquisition of seeds and fertilizer, as well as covering certain fees. A notable advantage in this location is our capability to implement irrigation for our crops. This marks a significant shift from the challenges we previously encountered, where we had to engage in casual labor, including charcoal burning, to gather the necessary funds for these endeavors. The remaining portion of the transfer was spent on food for my four grandchildren, with whom I stay with.