I am an ECDE teacher, and I have taken the initiative to further my education by pursuing a Diploma course, which has always been my top priority. In the upcoming year, I plan to focus on my studies since obtaining a Diploma is more advantageous in the teaching profession. Additionally, acquiring this qualification will lead to a higher salary compared to just holding a teaching certificate. My primary objective is to save a portion of my GiveDirectly transfer within our savings group, where I can access loans to cover my school fees. Moreover, I aspire to build a new house for my mother, as our current one is in poor condition, it's grass-roofed, and the walls are made of mud, making it weak and prone to collapse. Thus, my plan is to complete my Diploma before starting this second project. I anticipate that the extra income from my salary, along with my transfers from GiveDirectly, will help me achieve these goals. I am also grateful for the support I receive.

I returned to school to further my education and am currently pursuing a Diploma in Early Childhood Education. Coming from a low-income family where my parents rely on casual jobs to support us, I decided to use part of my transfer to pay my fees, ensuring I am not denied the chance to learn and earn a certificate. With my most recent transfer, I spent $68 to clear part of my fee arrears. Additionally, I purchased building stones worth $34 as part of my plan to build my mother a better house. Our current house, made of mud and grass thatched roof, is not durable and appears old, especially since many people in our area are constructing better homes. I remain optimistic that, with time, I will achieve this goal.

I am an ECDE teacher which I hope to advance even further. I would like to take up a diploma of early childhood development. Getting a diploma is much more expensive than getting a certificate which means I will need more money to even advance myself. My goal is to continue saving in my savings group where I can get loans and pay to the school. I am greatful to have the liquidity to make this plans happen.

My brother's child was sent away from school and I was able to pay school fees for him at $20. I am also a member of a local village savings group which is allowing me to save for long term goals and I recently made a contribution of $20. I was also able to set aside $20 which will allow myself and siblings to build a proper toilet for our family.

In the upcoming year and beyond, my main focus is on fulfilling a heartfelt dream: building a decent house for my mother. The current state of her dwelling isn't satisfactory, and I strongly believe it's time for a change, one that reflects my love and gratitude for her sacrifices. I envision this new home not just as a shelter but as a symbol of my appreciation and respect for her. Utilizing the earnings from my teaching job and the monthly cash transfers, I am meticulously planning and saving to materialize this project. Knowing that this endeavor will bring immense joy to my mother and make her proud of me fills me with determination and purpose. The thought of seeing her living in a comfortable and safe environment, one that I helped create, is a source of great motivation. When the project is complete, the sense of accomplishment and fulfillment will be unmatched, knowing I've made a significant difference in my mother's life.

Since I am still single and childless, I've found purpose in supporting my family, particularly my elder brother and his children. With a sense of responsibility, I allocated $40 towards my nephews' education, ensuring they could pursue their studies without hindrance. Seeing them happy and thriving in school brings me immense joy, especially knowing the financial struggles my brother faces with his unstable job. As I witness their progress, I feel a deep sense of fulfillment, knowing that my contribution is making a tangible difference in their lives. Apart from that, I strategically saved $30 in mobile banking, envisioning a future where I could invest in livestock. By accumulating enough funds, I aim to purchase goats, with the ultimate goal of exchanging them for an ox. This strategic move will not only enhance my agricultural activities but also ensure a steady supply of farming products in the long run. Additionally, I directed $10 towards the caretaker of my goats, acknowledging his diligent efforts in ensuring the well-being of my livestock. As a nursery school teacher with a modest salary, the remaining funds were a lifeline, providing stability in uncertain times. With these resources, I secured food to sustain myself, alleviating the strain of financial constraints. This unconditional cash transfer has proven invaluable, offering me the means to support my family and ensure my own well-being in the face of financial challenges.

In my capacity as an educator, I am actively seeking additional income streams to complement my existing resources. Considering venturing into the sale of vegetables and fruits, I aim to establish a business in this sector. Furthermore, I intend to expand my investments in livestock. Presently, I have acquired two goats through my previous transfers, and I aspire to augment this number to bolster the herd, creating opportunities for income generation through sales. I am profoundly thankful for the unwavering financial support that has been extended to me thus far.

I provided financial assistance to my niece, who required support with her school fees as she prepared to return to school. My contribution of $30 was crucial in ensuring her uninterrupted pursuit of education. During the festive season, I allocated $20 towards the purchase of food essentials, fostering moments of joy and togetherness as I shared meals with my family. Additionally, I invested $14 in acquiring new clothing for my family, ensuring they were well-dressed and presented. In preparation for the previous rainy season, I allocated $24 towards the plowing of my land to ready it for planting. Recognizing the importance of preparedness, I set aside $10 as an emergency fund. I am genuinely grateful for the invaluable financial support from Give Directly, as it has been instrumental in assisting me during these times.

My primary objective is to construct a new toilet for my family. The current toilet we use is nearing its capacity, posing hygiene concerns for our household. To address this issue, I am committed to building a new toilet at the beginning of next year. I plan to achieve this goal by diligently setting aside a portion of my monthly transfers specifically for this purpose. This endeavour will ensures the health and well-being of my family.

I was very grateful for the transfers that I received from GiveDirectly. It had always been my norm to be saving part of my transfers so that I could commence on a project that I had been having in mind for a long time. Therefore, upon receiving my recent transfer, I saved $15 of the funds. My son, who had been sent home to collect school fees, was also going back to school, and I gave him $5 to cover his transport expenses. With the remaining amount of $4.70, I bought essential food items for my family, ensuring that we had enough to eat during the upcoming weeks. This support from GiveDirectly has made a significant impact on our lives.

I had been using part of my previous transfers on buying livestock (goats) for rearing and so far because I would want to rear as many livestock as possible. My goal is to have at least 10 goats and in order to chive this, I would be saving part of my monthly transfers and after every two months, I would ensure that I have the required amount since a goat costs around $30-$35.

With the tough economic times, getting money to feed my family had always been a great challenge owing to the fact that I am the breadwinner since my parents do not have any source of income. Therefore I always get foodstuffs on credit and pay for them whenever I get the money. Therefore with the transfers that I received, I managed to settle some of the debts that I had from a neighboring shop worth $20. Two of my children were also sent home to collect school fees and the transfers played a major role; I took $10 to school and I was happy because my children got a chance to carry on with their studies as the rest. The remaining $4.7 was also of help in buying a few food items, no words could express how grateful I was.

My goal for the upcoming year is to complete my present project, which is building a shelter, and then construct a latrine later because the one we currently have is outdated and unsafe.

I was overjoyed to get my transfers from Give Directly because it means I can now pay certain bills at home once more. I set aside ksh 800 to buy food to feed a family of six for four days and used ksh 2600 to purchase four iron sheets to construct a modest shelter for our goats.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly is the best organisation I have ever come across so far, especially in its mode of operation. The idea of offering unconditional cash transfer stood out of all hence this speaks a lot about its uniqueness. Apart from that, the officers are so humble and approachable, always there for us whenever we encounter any challenge or seek clarification. I do not see anything that they have not done well.

I spent part of my recent cash transfer on buying a goat for a total of $25. I have always loved goat rearing but because of financial constraints, I could not afford any. I settled for them because their pastures are readily available and they reproduce twice a year. I hope that soon I will have many of them which will enable me to achieve some other goals. Also, with the remaining amount of money, I bought food for my family and other household needs.

I definitely remember when the funds came in that evening and this is because I was actually making porridge because we had nothing to eatso that was going to be dinner. I was instantly filled with so much euphoria the moment I realized that I had finally received money because it meant that I could finally afford a meal.

The commencement of the poultry project has to be one of the most biggest difference that I go to make using the transfers, and this is because it has made me very hopeful for my future and I see myself being able to have more sustenance when he it comes to finances and catering to the needs of my family.

After realising that I had received the donation I decided that I was going to buy three hens which eventually cost me KES 600 and then I also bought five kilograms of chicken feed which cost me KES 200 because I was planning to invest in poultry farming so that it could offer me some form of sustainability.Afterwards I was left with KES 2,200 which I decided that I was going to dispose on nutrition, so I ended up buying 10 packets of maize flour, groceries and sardines on the daily and a half a litre of cooking oil.