Currently, my children and I live in an area with unresolved conflicts, which makes me feel uneasy about our future here. My dream for the coming year and beyond is to buy a piece of land of our own, where we can build a safe, peaceful home. Since buying land is expensive and beyond my current means, I plan to start small. I intend to use a portion of my transfers to buy goats, with the hope that they will multiply over time. As their numbers grow, I can eventually trade them for male cows, which I’ll train to plow my farm. Once these cows mature into strong bulls, my goal is to sell them and use the proceeds to purchase that piece of land I’ve longed for. I am incredibly grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has given me, and I hold onto hope and prayer that one day I’ll be able to provide my children and myself with the security and peace we deserve.

With two children in secondary school, one of whom is in their final year, keeping up with their school fees is essential to me. Recently, I used $55 of my GiveDirectly transfers to cover their fees, giving them the stability they need to fully focus on their studies. There is no greater joy than knowing my children can continue their education, a reality made possible by this invaluable support. Our region has been harshly impacted by drought and hunger, so I also used $19 to buy food for my family, ensuring we had enough to eat in these challenging times. With the remaining $25 of my transfers, I was able to purchase a goat to add to the small flock I already have. My hope is that, over time, these goats will multiply, eventually allowing me to trade them for male cows to help plow my farm. This support from GiveDirectly has been a lifeline, providing my family with stability and allowing us to plan for a better future. I am incredibly grateful, and I look forward to brighter days ahead with renewed hope and a deep sense of appreciation.

Previously, I used my transfers to buy goats, and they were able to multiply. I was able to trade them and acquire a cow, which I happily named Give. I am happy that Give is now expecting and will soon have a young one. Moving forward, I plan to continue using my transfers to expand my herd of goats. As I mentioned, my ultimate goal is to eventually own cows for plowing my farm and for milk production for my family to utilize and sell. I am hopeful that these goats will multiply and increase in number so that I may be able to trade them for cows. I am excited about this adventure, and I pray that God sees me through it so that my family can have a secure financial future.

Owning cows has always been a dream of mine, as they would provide valuable assistance in plowing my farm and produce milk for my family and for sell. To work towards this goal, I have been using my transfers to buy goats. I therefore used $66 of my recent transfers to buy additional goats in the hopes that their number and value will increase over time. My plan is to eventually trade these goats for cows, which will help me achieve my long-term objective. I also spent $10 on chicken in addition to the goats I invested in. I am hopeful that these chicken will grow as well and I may be able to use them as food for my family and visitors and provide delicious meals. Lastly, I supplemented our existing food supply with more food for my family using the $6 that was left over.

I plan to start saving through a merry-go-round club to accumulate funds to purchase additional livestock, such as goats or cattle. As a widow with no other source of income, I see livestock rearing as the most viable option for securing a steady stream of income. I am committed to continuing this momentum of buying and rearing livestock, as it has proven effective in fulfilling my children's educational needs and reducing their reliance on their elder brother. With both of my children still in secondary school, I anticipate that selling these animals in the future will provide me with the means to continue supporting their education.

I have two children in secondary school, and while their elder brother primarily shoulders the responsibility for their tuition, I do my best to support them whenever possible, ensuring the burden does not solely rest on him. As secondary school tuition tends to be higher, I allocated $60 to settle their balances for the ongoing term, relieving them of any outstanding debts. Also, I invested in livestock by purchasing four chickens for $8 and a goat for $30, bringing my total number of goats to five. These animals serve as a financial security measure for the future, as they have proven helpful in covering my children's tuition fees and ensuring they have ample school time. In times of financial strain, such as when the cash transfers are yet to come in, I can sell the goats to cover any outstanding tuition fees. I am grateful for the transfers as they have enabled me to support my children's education and alleviate some of the burden on their brother, allowing him to better care for his child.

Looking ahead to the coming year and beyond, my biggest aspiration revolves around owning a piece of land. It's a dream that's been nestled in my heart for quite some time now. I envision having my own plot where I can build rental houses in the future. This isn't just about creating a real estate investment; it's about securing a legacy for my children. Providing them with something tangible to inherit has always been a significant goal. I believe that by working hard and saving diligently, I can turn this dream into a reality. Owning land and establishing rental properties might take time, but the prospect of leaving something meaningful behind for my children motivates me to push forward and strive for this goal. Here's to the journey toward securing a stable and prosperous future for the ones I love.

I recently used the entire amount of my unconditional cash transfer, totaling $34.7, to buy a goat, a decision that holds great significance in my life. This investment has been a long-time dream of mine. Previously, using past transfers, I managed to accumulate six goats, and my plan is to eventually exchange them for a cow. The idea is to gradually build my livestock portfolio and eventually exchange the cow for oxen. This transition is crucial for me, especially considering my advancing age, where physical labor becomes challenging. I aim to rely on these animals for sustenance and income generation. Furthermore, I plan to lease them out to friends at a fee, creating an additional source of income. As a widow with two children, substantial farming has been our mainstay, but with my physical limitations, I can no longer undertake arduous tasks. The decision to invest in livestock is not only about ensuring a more secure future for my family but also about leveraging a sustainable source of income. While I may not be as physically productive due to age, I am hopeful that this strategic investment in goats will pave the way for a reliable means of support. Through this endeavor, I aim to secure our livelihood, generate income, and create opportunities for a better life for my children, ensuring they have a solid foundation even after I'm no longer able to work actively on the farm.

For a while, obtaining enough food has been a significant hurdle for me. However, things have changed as a result of my successful farming activities and abundant harvest. With this newfound success, I have a clear plan in mind: I will utilize the money to purchase additional goats and nurture them as part of my living assets. I currently own six goats and my goal for the upcoming year and beyond is to increase this number. Given my current situation without a steady income, owning these goats provides me with a reliable source of financial support whenever the need arises. Their potential to multiply and grow offers a promising prospect for my future economic stability. These goats also guarantee a bright future for my family, especially in terms of my children's education.

I spent my recent transfers mainly on buying goats, providing education for my children, and buying enough food for my family. I decided to invest $50 in purchasing two goats, which I believe will prove to be a beneficial investment in the long run. Goats have proven to be advantageous as they multiply quickly, promising a prosperous future with a growing herd. I am thankful for the transfer because it has allowed me to acquire six goats so far. As they grow in number, I anticipate having the chance to rely on them for my financial needs. Additionally, I utilized a portion of the money to cover my two children's school fees, ensuring that they are attending school without any financial hindrances. I am pleased to see them pursuing their education uninterrupted, as I have consistently managed to pay their fees on time. Finally, I ensured that I had enough food for my family by stocking up on necessities like maize flour. This ensured that my family had an ample supply of food to meet their needs and sustain their well-being.

My biggest accomplishment by the end of this year and beyond is to increase the herd of livestock that I have currently. I am optimistic that by the end of the year the goats that I would have bought would multiply, thereby increasing my initial investment. The ultimate goal is to sell some of the goats and use the money to buy a dairy cow. Thereafter, I'll be able to sell milk after purchasing the dairy cows, which will be one way of generating income that will help me take care of my needs.

Since I don't have a job, I must rely on my son for financial support. Prior to three years ago, I really relied on raising crops on my farm and selling the harvest at the market to make ends meet. Since we haven't had any rain for the past three years, this isn't the situation right now, and my son has been providing me with financial support to meet my needs. I therefore spent a sizable sum of $30 to purchase a goat after receiving my match transfers. Since I no longer work on the farm, I keep myself occupied by caring for animals and moving them to the field, watering them, and keeping them healthy. The goat is an investment for the future because it will multiply in a few months, increasing my initial investment. Finally, I used the last $4 to purchase two packets of maize flour. I hardly had any food left in the house, so buying the flour was a relief because otherwise, I would have had to go to bed without food because I lacked the funds to do so. I'm thankful for the monthly transfer because it has allowed me to escape the grip of extreme poverty and become financially independent.

I'm not good at burning charcoal because it's such a tedious task. Since my husband passed away twenty years ago, this has been my main source of income. I'm getting older, and the energy I still have won't allow me to keep doing this job. There isn't anything left over after I spend what little money I make selling charcoal to cover my daily food expenses. I frequently receive financial support from my son, a watchman, whenever I don't have enough money to buy food. I intend to start a small kiok business where I will sell the silver cyprinids, which are in high demand, in order to stop this over-dependence on my son. I'll be able to make a living off of this and take care of myself.

By the time I received the transfer, my form two son, Sammy, had been complaining about an overdue school fee balance. His older brother, who mainly finances his education, had not earned enough money from his motorcycle job to pay off the $15 debt. So I used part of the cash transfer to pay off the debt so he could study peacefully and take his end-of-year exams. At the same time, my family had just run out of food the night before, and I had no way of replenishing it. Fortunately, the transfer timing was perfect, and I spent $15 for maize flour and washing powder. To this day, there is still enough food for my two boys and me, for which I am immensely grateful to Give Directly. I used the rest transfer money to buy two hens. At least, I won't be worried about not having enough chicken to feed visitors whenever they come. 

Even before I got enrolled intonthe program by the organization, I always wanted to invest more into growing my farm by purchasing farm animals. I most yearned to own livestock but unfortunately they were quite costly. Therefore when I got introduced to the organization I took it as my chance to begin purchasing farm animals. So far I had bought three goats because cows are expensive and time round I bought another goat which cost me KES 2,500. I plan to allow the goats to breed so that finally I when I eventually decide to sell, I will have enough money to get a cow. Afterwards I used the balance of KES 500 I was left with and bought two packets of maize flour so that I could have a meal.

I would like to send my sincere gratitude to the GiveDirectly organization for helping me out during this difficult period through the use of unconditional transfers. The organization, however, should improve on adhering to the timeliness in disbursing the funds.

My life changed for the worse 12 years ago after the passing on of my husband. Raising my four children alone has not been a walk in the park. Before my husband’s demise, I had over 30 goats and three dairy cows. With no source of income to take care of my children, it forced me to sell many goats. I used the money I got from selling the goats to pay school fees and buy food and clothes. In times of need, resort to borrowing money from my relatives who talk ill about me. Currently, I have 5 goats remaining and my biggest fear is to lose all of them and remain with none. It is for this reason that when I received my transfer of KES 3000; I spent it all on buying a nanny goat. Buying this goat gives me hope I will accumulate enough wealth once they multiply in numbers.  

I had taken my cow for grazing that morning when I received the notification that I had received funds from GiveDirectly. If I were to be honest I never thought this organization would keep its word or if it was to be trusted in the first place since I had seen any other like it and that does what it does. Nevertheless I was filled with euphoria because like I stated earlier my kids were home and I felt distressed.

GiveDirectly with the help of the funds we receive from them has given us individuals from areas with extreme poverty crisis an opportunity to improve our lives and that is through whether we invest in a business, take our kids to school and even manage to afford a meal, it is help we yearned and needed and that we have such an opportunity we will try and ensure to make the most of it. We are most definitely honored and grateful.

A day before receiving the transfers two of my kids who were still in school were sent home because of the pending balance in both their tuition fee. So when I woke up the next day and saw that I had received the money from GiveDirectly it was such a huge relief because I had finally got a solution to one of my problems. I took KES 1,000 of what I had received and immediately went ahead and paid for the school fees and the next day I was overjoyed to see them on their way back to school. I was left with about KES 200 and I took this money and went ahead to purchase two packets of maize flour so we would have a meal in the house.