To establish a stable income source for my growing family, consisting of my wife and child, I aim to use the cash transfers to realize my dream of constructing rental properties. My plan revolves around livestock keeping and building rental spaces. With around ten goats, I can sell them for around $100 each, gradually accumulating funds to purchase land at the market center to build the rental house This rental space will serve as a crucial income source for my family, even beyond the duration of the cash transfers. I'm grateful for the progress I've already made, having acquired six goats this far.

I used the entire $102 I received over the past three months to purchase three goats, bringing my herd to a total of six goats. I aim to allow these animals to reproduce, intending to eventually sell them to acquire a piece of land at the trade center. My vision is to construct rental houses on this land, providing a steady monthly rental income. Currently, I lack a stable source of income, as the casual jobs I rely on in house construction are sporadic. This poses challenges in meeting the daily needs of my family, including food. I am glad at the opportunity the cash transfers have given me to grow my income stream.

Looking ahead to the end of the cash transfers, my goal is to have grown a herd of at least 20 goats. The ultimate objective is to leverage this livestock as a source of funds to purchase a 100x100 plot in one of the nearest trade centers in my region. On this plot, I plan to construct a rental house, creating a stable source of income. While this goal has been hindered by financial constraints and the lack of a stable income in the past, I am now confident that the cash transfers will enable me to build a substantial goat herd. In the future, selling some of these goats could generate the funds needed to acquire the desired piece of land, estimated at around $700.

In the past three months, the majority of my cash transfers have been allocated towards the purchase of goats for rearing. I utilized $82 from the funds to acquire three goats to multiply their numbers through breeding. The goal is to eventually sell some of them in the future, providing financial support for my wife and child. Currently, my main source of income is casual labor, such as trading livestock during market days, which is inconsistent and unpredictable. So far, I have acquired up to five goats through the cash transfers, which has provided a glimmer of hope for my future financial security. The remaining funds were used to purchase essential food items for the household, ensuring daily meals for my family.

I would wish to be self sufficient when it comes to food. My family relies heavily on food bought from stores because the drought had made our land unproductive. I have planted maize and I still am trying to add some more acres of land of maize so that I can have a bountiful harvest. My hope is once this maize is harvested I no longer use my transfers to buy food and instead use it to buy animals which will always multiply and I can sell them when I have a good number and direct those finances into buying land. This investments are to allow my children go through school once they do start attending school.

Its planting season for many and has been since the rains began. I personally was part of this. In April I paid for a tractor to help me till one acre of land at $25 and then in May I added an acre and paid the same amount to have it tilled. In this two months the transfers that were left, $9, went into buying food. I am also an animal farmer and I am always looking to get finances to grow my animals. In June I spent $20 to buy four hens which cost $5 each. I also used the $14 left to buy food.

I want to buy a piece of land and build commercial buildings which go at about $60. I would like to build houses which I will rent out. I want to buy more goats which will reproduce and give me more animals. I want to be able to sell this animals and use the money to save towards buying the piece of land. I want to eventually build some structures on the piece of land and rent it out to be able to make money which I can use to take my child through school although my child is not yet of age to go to school.

I do not have a permanent job, I engage in casual labour from time to time such as house construction and sometimes I buy and sell animals. I decided to buy animals to contribute to my animal selling business. In January and February I bought 2 goats at $30 each and I bought food at $4. In March I bought two cockerels at $10, food at $14 and clothes for myself and my child at $10.

My objective in the coming year would be to have a total of about 30 goats. This would enable me to get more money to purchase cows and also help me build rental houses. I have 10 goats so far. To accomplish my dream, I plan on purchasing a goat every month. Though I've got other responsibilities, I believe that discipline and focus will get me to achieve my dream in time.

I used a significant portion of my transfer to buy $25 worth of food in bulk for my family. I work multiple jobs as a casual worker to supplement my income. I occasionally sell charcoal in addition to selling livestock and getting paid a commission. I no longer sell livestock because the drought killed a lot of it. I make very little money selling charcoal, so I am unable to fully support my family. If I don't sell any charcoal, I go into debt, and my family doesn't have enough to eat. We had no need to worry about going hungry because we had spent a lot of money on food. In addition to buying food, I spent $9 on three hens. I'll have a backup source of income once they start to multiply in number. This will help me supplement my income and make sure I can fully support my family.

In my view, GiveDirectly does well in giving unconditional cash transfer to all who qualifies for its financial aid. I have never witnessed any non-governmental organization or any government doing what it does. It never practices favoritism and its processes are not influenced by any community member. As a result of this, there is a visible change in the community. Some parents who could not afford education have decided to take their children back to school. Some are raising livestock as well as being able to obtain food, which was unimaginable barely a few months ago. In contrast, there is nothing it does not do well since everyone enrolled in the program is so excited about the support.

My way of earning a livelihood is by keeping livestock, goats, sheep, and cow. In addition, I trade on livestock to supplement my household's income. Although I had first planned to spend my transfers on buying additional goats, I received it at the time when my baby, 1-month-old was very sick. I, therefore, spent the whole of my recent transfer on meeting the baby's medical costs. I am so glad that he is currently doing pretty well. He has fully recovered and that gives me joy. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly.

Until Give Directly came to my village, I had never heard of an organization that gives out unconditional cash to vulnerable communities. The prospect of receiving money without having to repay it excites me. When I finally received the first transfer, my heart warmed because I knew I would be able to start living out my dream of raising chickens.

The fact that I have ten extra hens is the biggest difference in my life right now. It was once a vision that is now becoming a reality courtesy of the cash transfers. I am convinced that the future transfers will bring even more, and I cannot wait to start benefiting from the chicken-rearing enterprise, thanks to Give Directly.

I was inspired to pursue poultry farming after seeing a friend make a living from raising and selling chickens. Given my lack of a consistent source of income, this project will keep me occupied while also generating sufficient revenues to cover my household's necessities, such as food. This is why I bought ten hens with the total transfer money. After they reproduce, I intend to sell the matured flock for at least KES 700 per chicken.