My goal for the coming year and beyond is to invest in livestock. With the uncertainties surrounding the climatic conditions, I can no longer rely on farming alone. Livestock is a more dependable way for me to make a living. I plan to use the money I’m saving in the savings group to purchase more animals by the end of the year. As my livestock numbers grow, I’ll be able to sell them at the market for a profit, which will help me meet my family’s essential needs. Additionally, I want to purchase a larger water tank to store water for use during the dry season.

As a subsistence farmer, I’ve found that rearing livestock is a lucrative venture with the potential for good income, especially now that farming has become less profitable due to the harsh climatic conditions. This is why I’ve shifted my focus to raising various poultry birds, including ducks, hens, and turkeys, to generate income. Before being enrolled in the cash program, I sold charcoal, a labor-intensive job that yielded very little income, leaving both my husband and me struggling to make ends meet. I recently spent $12 to purchase two ducks, bringing the total number of ducks I have to 23. I hope they multiply, providing an opportunity to earn income by selling some of them. Additionally, I bought a goat for $46, increasing my herd to 12 goats. I’m proud of this progress and optimistic about selling them in the near future to generate income. I also saved $30 in a savings group, with the goal of accumulating enough money to purchase more livestock in the future. To ensure my family is well-fed, I spent $24 on food, and I’m glad that we have enough to eat and haven’t missed any meals. I also bought animal feed for the ducks, ensuring they grow strong and healthy. I am very grateful that, with the help of the financial transfers, my husband and I no longer struggle to meet our family’s basic needs.

I plan on purchasing a water tank costing $25 to help me store water. Currently, I use a 20-liter jerrican to store water for home use, but these jerricans store very little water. When the water pans run out, I face challenges accessing enough water. A large water tank will allow me to store more water for longer periods. Additionally, I plan on purchasing more livestock with the amount I save from our savings group. I am very appreciative of the financial support I am receiving from the transfers, which is helping me improve my quality of life.

Both my husband and I mostly rely on farming to earn a living. On our six-acre farm, we plant maize, keeping some for our own use and selling the surplus. We also have bulls that we use to cultivate other people's farms to earn some money. However, with the recent harsh weather, we can no longer make enough income because all our sources of income depend on wet weather. The money from the transfers has played a huge role in helping me and my family take care of our essential needs, including purchasing food. I spent $28 to purchase 15 packets of maize flour since the food we harvested at the end of last year is already finished. I now have to buy food from the shop to sustain my family. I spent $52 to purchase different poultry birds, including five hens, two ducks, and two turkeys. My goal is to rear them and, once they multiply, sell some to buy more livestock and attend to other needs. Additionally, I saved $10 in a savings group with the goal of using the amount to buy livestock in the future. I also purchased clothing for $14 to replace my worn-out pairs. Now, I am glad that I look presentable and feel good, thanks to the financial support. I appreciate the financial assistance, which helps me take care of my family of seven members despite lacking a reliable source of income.

My objective is to accumulate sufficient funds from forthcoming transfers to expand my livestock holdings. This strategy aims to generate wealth through the multiplication of the animals. Presently, I've invested in eight goats using funds from the transfers. As the herd increases in size, I anticipate the opportunity to sell them, ensuring ongoing financial stability beyond the duration of the support. I am deeply grateful for the financial assistance provided by the transfers, which has proven instrumental in pursuing my aspirations.

I invested $38 in acquiring a goat, recognizing its potential as a strategic asset for the future, particularly upon giving birth. The offspring will serve as a source of income when sold, providing financial flexibility. Additionally, I allocated $10 towards acquiring two ducks, supplementing my existing flock. In December, a festive month, $20 was spent on ensuring a plentiful feast for my family, fostering joyful celebrations. A further $9 was dedicated to purchasing a new set of clothes and shoes, enhancing my appearance and replacing worn-out attire. I set aside $15 within a savings group, earmarking it for future investment in livestock. The remaining $14 proved invaluable for purchasing detergent and other personal essentials. I am profoundly grateful for the financial support received, which enabled me to transition away from the labor-intensive and low-paying charcoal selling business, significantly improving my financial well-being.

For many years, my primary means of making a living was through the production and sale of charcoal. However, this livelihood was far from dependable. It demanded considerable physical strength, which, given my age, I am no longer capable of sustaining. Now, faced with the absence of a reliable source of income, I have a plan to secure my financial future: I intend to invest in more goats, raise them, and capitalize on their reproduction to generate income. Currently, I am the proud owner of ten goats and a few cows that I am diligently caring for. These animals provide me with a financial safety net, ready to assist in times of urgent financial need. Additionally, even when the program concludes, I will possess valuable assets to fall back on. To achieve this financial stability and transformation in my life, I am committed to saving a portion of the monthly transfers I receive. This strategy will help me work toward my goal of buying more goats and securing a brighter future for myself.

GiveDirectly's support has truly transformed my life, and I am immensely grateful for the positive changes it has brought. It has propelled me to heights I could never have imagined. For years, the simple luxury of a comfortable night's sleep had eluded me, as I had been using tattered rags, sacks, and mats as makeshift bedding. When my traditional bed broke, I was forced to rest on the dusty ground, exposing myself to respiratory infections. My dream had always been to replace my worn-out bedding with something new, but financial constraints kept it just that—a dream. However, when I began receiving transfers from GiveDirectly, I decided to save $20 in our local savings group. Over the months, my savings grew to nearly $110. I am delighted that I recently used these funds to purchase a new wooden bed and a comfortable mattress, finally bidding farewell to my old bedding. Thanks to GiveDirectly's support, I can now enjoy restful nights in my new bed. Furthermore, I invested $10 in acquiring poultry with the goal of establishing a self-sustaining project that can generate income. The returns from this venture will not only meet my needs but also elevate my overall living standards. Lastly, I had incurred a debt for food that I was unable to repay on time. Thanks to the financial assistance I received, I was able to clear this debt, bringing peace and relief from the burden of overdue payments.

I am determined to acquire a comfortable and suitable sleeping space to replace my broken bed. This includes obtaining a good bed and mattress that will enhance the quality of my sleep. Additionally, I aspire to venture into goat rearing. By investing in this livestock, I aim to build a sustainable source of income and wealth that can support my family's needs in the long term. Furthermore, I wish to start a sardine-selling business in my locality. The demand for sardines is high in my region, and I believe that establishing a business focused on selling this popular product could be financially rewarding. 

I managed to save $20 from the recent transfer. My intention is to continue saving to afford the essential items I need, especially a new bed. Currently, my bed is broken, and I am experiencing poor sleeping conditions. I plan to purchase a new bed and mattress, which will cost approximately $95. Additionally, I aim to acquire goats, which are priced at $35 each. By the time the cash aid ends, I hope to have accumulated around 30 goats, which will provide ongoing support for my needs. Also, the day before the transfer, my household had run out of food, which caused me a lot of stress. Luckily, with the cash, I spent $14 on purchasing food. This relieved some of the pressure, and I am even able to afford tea for breakfast. Overall, the cash transfers have had a positive impact on my ability to meet essential needs. In fact, since I started receiving the cash aid I have stopped engaging in charcoal burning as a means of income generation. 

The aim of investing in goats is that they are cheap to maintain and they have read markets since they are affordable and thus can be converted to monetary value anytime the need arises. Based on that, I came up with a saving plan where I will be buying a goat in every two transfers. This plan will enable me to have at least six goats by the end of the year apart from the ones which will be born in between.

The time the organization was sending out the transfers was around christmas holiday and therefore my biggest priority was definitely concerned with nourishment. For that reason I ended up spending KES 2,900 out of the funds that had received by buying three packets of wheat flour, nine packets of maize flour, two kilograms of sugar and beans, three litres of cooking oil, tea leaves and salt. I remained with a balance of KES 500 which I deposited into my savings account. Meanwhile in November I ended up spending my funds on buying three hens and then the rest of the money I used it on nutrition. Apart from that, I also used my money in October to purchase I have a goat and saved a small amount.

GiveDirectly is a good organization because it gives us money. The money they give makes us happy and I get a sense of peace because at the back of my mind I have something to expect at the end of the month. My friends are happy as well because of the unconditional transfers we get. GiveDirectly thank you for your good work and I pray you continue with that amazing heart.

The moment I received my transfers, the only thing that was ringing in my head was the fact that I really needed to purchase a goat. My husband has his own goats and I only have one goat. I want to use the money GiveDirectly gives me to purchase things that are tangible and physical so that after five years I would have things to be proud of. The money I got from GiveDirectly I was able to go purchase a goat that cost 3000 Kenya Shillings. I was so happy and I can't even find a better word to express how I felt. I am really grateful to GiveDirectly because at least now, I have two goats and am aiming to better my life and my family's.

I felt very a sudden surge of joy the minute I noticed the arrival of the finances especially because I had highly anticipated for the funds the instant I got enrolled because it meant I could cater for my needs and that of my family.

The fact that I can now manage to save up some money has left me very excited and this is due to the fact that through the savings I will finally manage to grow my farm by investing in a couple of farm animals and it also means that eventually I will have enough money to finally buy bed unlike now where I sleep on the ground.

As soon as I noticed that the money had arrived I decided to take away KES 700 and deposit it in my savings committee because I had planned to let the money accumulate so that I could eventually buy a couple of farm animals like goats and then buy a bed as well. Afterwards I remained with KES 500 which I decided use it in catering for nutrition so I purchased one and a half kilogram of rice, a half a kilogram of beans and sugar and cooking oil.