I want to be able to rely on a steady stream of money in the future, particularly once this program ends. So, my objective is to raise a sizable herd of goats as a livestock farmer. In order to do this, I intend to utilize the transfers I will get in the future from GiveDirectly to buy goats. My hope is that the goats will grow in both quantity and value over time, allowing me to sell some of them later on to meet urgent requirements as well as take care of my children's education. Having animals, in my opinion, is like having a bank account since you can sell them and take care of problems later on.

I have two children in school, and their education is incredibly important to me as it secures a better future for them. To ensure they can continue their studies without interruption, I recently spent $28 of my transfers to pay their school fees, making sure they wouldn’t be sent home for lack of payment. In addition to supporting their education, I have aspirations of becoming a livestock farmer. To lay the groundwork for this goal, I invested $70 of my transfers to purchase goats, hoping they will multiply and increase in both number and value. This investment is intended to provide a source of income in the future, allowing me to take care of my family. Lastly, I used the remaining $4 to buy some sugar for my morning breakfast which helps energize me for the day ahead.

I want to establish a stable source of income through the rearing of livestock. I currently have three goats that I bought through the cash transfers. I wish to have grown this herd by five by the time the cash transfers end. I believe that rearing livestock will allow me to grow my wealth and provide a sure source of income that can continue supporting the needs of my children, especially their school fees, even after the cash transfers end. It will be a valuable supplement to the little and unpredictable earnings that I currently make from selling palm wine.

I used $30 to buy a goat. When the transfers end, I wish to have accumulated enough wealth through rearing livestock. This will enable me to support the education of my two children. Personally, I rely on selling palm wine. The earnings from this are just enough for food and not other needs like school fees. So through rearing livestock, I believe that I can accumulate a reliable source of income in the future to cover school fees. I also used $58 to buy a wooden bed. I used to sleep on a sisal-twined bed. The disadvantage with this bed was that I had to replace the ropes every three months because they loosened up and got damaged pretty quickly. The wooden bed is stronger and more durable. I saved $30 through a savings club, and I wish to buy a mattress to fit my wooden bed so that I can have a comfortable sleeping space. I spent another $10 to cover school fees for my children, ensuring that they continued with their education without interruption. I am happy that the transfers have allowed me to provide for needs that previously seemed challenging, like school fees for my children and affording decent furniture.

In the coming year, my objective is to expand my livestock holdings by acquiring additional goats. Presently, I have three, and I eagerly anticipate growing my herd. I view these goats as a valuable investment, as they will continue to be assets even after the conclusion of the current project. Planning to raise them until maturity, I intend to sell them when necessary to meet my financial obligations. The positive transformation in my life is a source of joy, and I attribute it to your support.

As the primary provider for my family, I sustain our needs by selling palm wine to earn a living and support my children's education. Receiving these transfers brings me great joy, as it has enabled me to complete my house while ensuring my children receive an education. The past has been a challenging journey, particularly after the loss of my husband, and my business struggled to meet our family's needs. The financial assistance has provided significant relief. Out of the received funds, I allocated $34 to purchase a larger and more comfortable bed, addressing a need in our household. Another $34 was invested in acquiring a goat, with hopes of raising and selling it for profit in the future. The remaining amount was dedicated to clearing school fees for my son, who was preparing for his final examinations. I am content with the positive strides I have made in improving my life and the well-being of my family.

In the coming year, my primary goal is to acquire a new bed and mattress. This purchase will not only be a significant improvement but will also greatly enhance my overall comfort. Following this, I have plans to expand my livestock by adding a goat to the two I already own, which were acquired using transfer funds. The addition of this goat holds promise for the future, as their reproduction will allow me to sell offspring and utilize the proceeds to cover my children's school fees. I'm currently experiencing a great sense of contentment, as I have a home, a growing livestock portfolio, and my children are receiving education, all thanks to the financial support I've received.

We established a savings group comprising six of my relatives who receive monthly transfers from Give Directly. Each month, we each contribute $20, and the total sum is divided into two parts. Two members are then given $60 each. In August, I received $60 from our group, and I intend to use it to purchase a wooden bed. Currently, I sleep on a sisal twine bed, but I aspire to upgrade to a wooden one. I managed to save $14, which I plan to put towards paying the school fees for my two children, one in secondary school and the other in primary school. Their outstanding school fees are $30 and $5, respectively. Settling this amount when schools reopen will ensure they remain enrolled and not face any expulsion threats. I am genuinely grateful for the financial support I receive from these transfers. As a widow, it enables me to meet all my family's needs. These transfers, combined with some assistance from my older sons, have significantly improved the quality of my life.

My ultimate goal, both by the end of this year and beyond, is to ensure that my daughters complete their education without any interruptions. This will enable them to concentrate on their studies and achieve academic success. I am particularly proud of my daughter who is currently in her final year of secondary school. Thanks to the financial transfers, she has cleared all her school fee balances and can now sit for her final national exams without any financial burdens. I am confident that this will greatly enhance her chances of success and enable her to achieve her career aspirations.

My palm wine selling business barely generates enough income, making it difficult for me to provide for my three young daughters. Two of my daughters are students at Mnazimwenga secondary school, with one in form four and the other in form one. The youngest is in grade four at Ikanga primary school. Previously, my children would go for a whole month without going to school due to huge school fee balances. However, I am now relieved that they can learn in a conducive environment without any interruptions, thanks to the financial assistance I receive from the organization that helps me pay their school fees. With the March transfer I received, I paid $30 towards the school fees of my two daughters in secondary school. I am glad that my children face fewer obstacles in achieving their career aspirations.

My top most priority is to ensure that I look after my kids especially when it comes to their education. This is because I want to equip my children so that they can be able to have a better future and stand a chance to make the most for themselves later on. That is why with each transfer I receive I will ensure that I have paid for their tuition fees so that they can remain in school. I am quite happy that with the funds that I have received in the past I was able to build myself a house. Therefore, my next project is to ensure that I invest in growing my farm by buying a couple of goats and poultry.

As a widow, it has been difficult to care for my three school-aged children, Dama, Hamisi, and Sidi. Because I do not have a steady source of income, I make charcoal to help them. This is a physically demanding job that drains my energy and causes me to become ill on occasion. I prioritized purchasing a goat for $30 immediately after I received my recent transfer. I am hopeful that it will reproduce and that I will be able to sell a portion of my flock to help pay their school fees. I am hoping they will do well in school and support me later in life if they do well.

I immediately spent KES 3,000 on round poles for a new house after receiving my transfer. The current house is in disrepair, and I am always embarrassed when I have visitors. It is a single-roomed house that is too small to accommodate my entire family of six people. Because I am a widow, it has been difficult for me to raise funds and build a new house. I am relieved that the transfer was a positive step and I look forward to purchasing more building materials to construct a spacious room that can comfortably accommodate all of my children.

What GiveDirectly does well is giving us freedom to choose how to spend our transfers. Through this, people have been able to achieve their dreams. I have seen people build houses, buy livestock, pay school fees and buy food. The impact of the cash transfers is so evident in the village and people are so grateful for the financial support.

I have been brewing and selling local beer to provide for my family. Ever since my husband died, I had no alternative rather than to look for something to do and feed my family. This being a dry land where you can not do farming or get manual jobs, I settled on brewing local beer. Although it has not been earning me much, the little that I get can afford me school fees and at least one meal per day. I sold all my livestock to pay school fees when my children joined high school and I have never managed to buy other livestock since then. During enrolled, GiveDirectly officer asked me what my goals were and I told him that I wanted to by livestock so that I can be a proud member of the village like others. I have been spending my monthly transfer to by a goat and my herd is growing since now I have four goats. I'm so proud of my self and I thank GiveDirectly for helping me achieve this milestone.

I usually wake up early in the morning to prepare a local brew from my coconut trees and I was busily engrossed in my work when I heard my phone ringing, an alert of an incoming message. Though I knew it was the exact time GiveDirectly had promised to send us the transfers I was not sure whether the message came from them. I called my helper to check for me the message and to my surprise, it was from GiveDirectly, that I had received my first transfer from them, I felt happy now that I would be able to save good amount of money in our local savings group.

I am part of our village savings group where we normally save some money every week. I was able to save KES 100 only unlike my partners who were saving more money than I. My aim was to save more but my financial status could not allow it since I was getting little money from selling a locally made brew. When I received the transfer, I was able to save KES 1000, which makes it to be the biggest difference in my daily life. I am hoping to save more money as I receive my monthly transfer and look for an investment like buying livestock such as goats to rear.

I saved KES 1000 upon receiving the first transfer to our savings group which is composed of 25 people from my village. My aim is to save enough money and later on invest in buying livestock such as goats. At least I will be having some assets to rely on in case of dire financial needs. I spent the remaining KES 200 to settle my household needs such as buying vegetables daily to feed my family and some personal effects such as soap.