I currently have two goats and three sheep, all purchased with money from the transfers. Despite having many needs to take care of, I have managed to save some amount in the past, which I invested in livestock. My goal for the coming year and beyond is to continue purchasing more livestock with the money from the transfers. Once the livestock multiply, I will be able to raise income by selling some in times of need. I am very happy that with the support from the cash transfers, I will be able to take care of my family now and in the future, even after the financial aid ends.

I do casual jobs such as selling charcoal to support my family. My husband is elderly and sickly, leaving me as the sole breadwinner. Six years ago, I earned my income by selling surplus food from my farm. However, due to changing climatic conditions, farming has become difficult with minimal returns, leading me to sell charcoal instead. The little I earn from selling charcoal, combined with the money from cash transfers, helps me meet my family’s needs. Recently, my elder brother passed away, and I spent $34 to contribute toward the purchase of essential items for his burial to give him a good send-off. Additionally, I spent $50 to purchase a goat, hoping it will multiply and increase my investment in the near future. To improve the lighting in my house, I previously purchased a solar-powered bulb on hire purchase, for which I pay a monthly installment of $10. This has significantly improved my ability to see around the house at night. With the remaining $8, I purchased food, ensuring my family had enough to eat. I am very happy and grateful for the financial support, which has helped me care for my family in the right way.

My aim this year is to build a substantial livestock herd. I plan to allocate a considerable portion of my transfer funds toward acquiring more livestock, especially sheep and goats. Once the herd reaches a sufficient size, I intend to establish a livestock sales business. With the profits from this venture, I will be able to lead a comfortable life. I express deep gratitude to this organization for its financial support, and I eagerly anticipate a brighter future ahead.

As an elderly woman, I find it challenging to engage in strenuous tasks to sustain myself. Therefore, I've turned to livestock trading, specifically goats, as my source of income. Previously, I used to sell charcoal after digging out tree stumps, but due to my declining health, it became too difficult. I am thankful that my goat business has flourished, providing me with much-needed relief. Investing all my funds, totaling $102, I purchased six sheep to add to my existing herd. Sheep breed rapidly and are in high demand, ensuring quick returns and improving my quality of life. I am profoundly grateful for this support as it has significantly elevated my living standards.

At present, we are relishing the plentiful harvest from our farms a month ago, which has provided us with an abundance of food. This surplus has allowed me to allocate funds towards acquiring more livestock. I am optimistic that in the near future, I will rely on the income generated from selling the livestock for my financial needs. I am truly grateful for the financial assistance provided by Give Directly, and it brings me great joy and appreciation.

I made a strategic investment for the future by purchasing two goats for $60. My plan is for the goats to multiply and form a large herd, which will provide me with the opportunity to sell some of them. This will allow me to meet my needs more independently. Currently, I rely mostly on subsistence farming, supported financially by my son due to the irregular availability of rain. The financial burden on my son is significant, as he has his own family and also takes care of me in my old age. The income from selling the livestock will alleviate the strain on my son and enable me to provide for my own needs. In addition to the goats, I spent $8 on sugar and tea leaves for breakfast each morning. I also set aside $34 to purchase quality food and celebrate Christmas with my family and relatives in the upcoming weeks. I am very grateful for the financial support I have received, as it has greatly contributed to my financial stability.

After completing the maize harvest on my farm, I will be abundantly stocked with food, granting me the opportunity to utilize my monthly transfers for purposes other than basic sustenance. I am considering livestock rearing as a pivotal investment strategy. As the livestock multiply, I can sell some and reinvest in acquiring more animals while also allocating a portion of the profits to cater to my daily needs. This way, I can ensure a sustainable and diversified income stream while securing a stable livelihood.

With my July transfers, I made a prudent decision to acquire a goat at the cost of $25. This purchase is a wise investment, as I anticipate its value to multiply in the coming months. Considering my financial situation as a peasant farmer, I rely heavily on my farm's harvest for survival. Given the current affordability of goats, I found them to be a practical and low-cost option. Goats are also easy to care for, adding to their appeal. After buying the goat, I allocated the remaining $9 to purchase food. As I work on my two-acre farm, maintaining sufficient energy is crucial for my productivity. The food I acquired proved to be extremely beneficial in providing the necessary sustenance to support my farming activities.

My goal is to have a sizable herd of livestock by the end of the year and beyond. I want to invest a significant portion of my transfer funds in livestock. Farming activities are not favored by the current weather conditions. This leaves farming livestock as my only remaining choice. When the herd is large enough, I'll start a livestock sales business and, with the money I make from that, I'll be able to live comfortably.

I bought a solar panel on hire purchase terms at the start of this year. The solar panel has greatly aided me in charging my phone whenever it runs out of power and has improved the lighting in my home, which I am happy about. Along with better lighting, I no longer have to pay extra for phone charging and paraffin purchases. I therefore spent $10 on paying the remaining balance for the solar panel's purchase when I received my March transfers. The expensive food and water in our village is another problem I've been dealing with. Increased food prices are significantly influenced by the lack of rain. I purchased food and water for $14. I'm thankful that spending such a sizable sum on food was sufficient to ensure that we won't skip any meals. In order to complete the payment for the goat I had purchased the month before, I finally spent $10. I was still owed $10 by the goat's owner. Knowing that I now possess the goat completely makes me smile.

I've had trouble making ends meet ever since the drought started two years ago. As a result of the lack of sales, my charcoal sales business is in decline. My loyal customers choose to use other fuels instead, like firewood, which is widely accessible. I spent $14 buying food and water for my use at home after getting my transfer. Water has turned into a rare and expensive commodity. A 20-liter jerrican of water costs $0.5, which is very pricey given how much water I use for domestic purposes. In addition to purchasing food and water, I used the remaining funds to purchase a goat for $25. After losing all of my livestock due to the effects of the drought a year ago, this will be a good start toward owning livestock and accumulating wealth.

I love it that the organization is helping the needy in the society. I am going through a tough time because I have no stable source of income. Through the transfer, I buy food and rarely go to bed on an empty stomach. I urge the organization to enroll more people so that many can get help.

I spent half of my transfer, KES 1500, on paying medical bills for my grandson. He is three months old and has developed high fever and skin rushes. Her mother, who is my daughter, did not have money because she does not have a job. We earn a living through the sale of charcoal. For the past two weeks, we could not sell charcoal as our customers opted for other cheaper fuel. I spent the other half KES 1500 on buying four packets of 2kg maize flour at KES 1000, 2kg of beans at 240 and bought water worth KES 250 for home use. The drought we are facing in the village is the major contributor to the problems we are facing because we no longer harvest food from our farms. Without food and no stable source of income, our lives become very difficult.

I was lying on my bed in deep pain because I was not feeling well. My sons, whom I depend on, did not have enough money to take me to the hospital, as I relied on traditional medicine and concoctions to make me feel better. While in my son broke the good news that I had received my first transfer. Although I was in much pain, I felt much joy in my heart because I knew the money would help me.

I am glad that the money from my first transfer made a tremendous difference in my life. The drugs I bought helped me recover from my critical condition. I could not visit the hospital because I had no money and also had no health insurance because of the poverty level that I am.

My health has deteriorated over the last three months. I fully depend on my sons who work as casual laborers, building people’s houses and selling charcoal. Their earnings have dropped because they find it hard to find jobs. Our farm is no longer productive because of the prolonged drought that began three years ago. Sleeping hungry and surviving one meal per day is the new norm. When I received my transfer, I bought medicine worth KES 400 to improve my health condition. I bought food, including fruits and vegetables, so that I could get the energy required to recover as I take the medicine.