This coming year, my main goal is to complete the renovations on my house by building strong pillars to make it firm and able to withstand the strong winds. As I work on this project, I feel a growing sense of security and pride in knowing that I will soon have a safe and sturdy home. Once the house is completed, I plan to venture into goat-keeping. I believe this will be a good investment that will enable me to have a source of income through selling their offering.

I am a very old widower, relying solely on the monthly transfers from GiveDirectly. My sons, who I would have depended on, have their own families to take care of. The last three transfers I received, totaling $102, were essential for my survival and comfort. First, I used $34 to buy enough food to sustain myself. This ensured that I had the necessary nutrition to keep going. After that, since I did not have electricity and paraffin had become too expensive, I decided to buy a Delight solar panel on hire-purchase. I usually pay a $12 monthly installment, so I used $30 to service the loan. Currently, I have good lighting at home during the night, which has made a big difference in my daily life. With the remaining $38, I focused on renovating my house. I built strong pillars and added skirting to make the house firmer, ensuring it could withstand the strong winds we often experience in our area. Although the renovations are incomplete, I am committed to finishing them with the coming transfers. These improvements have already provided me with a sense of security and stability. The support from GiveDirectly has been a lifeline for me, allowing me to live with dignity and hope for a better future.

In the coming year and beyond, my ambition is to build a sustainable future by investing in livestock, particularly goats. Goats, with their affordability, ease of maintenance, and lucrative market demand, stand as a beacon of opportunity. Through dedication, diligence, and a steadfast commitment to my goals, I aspire to cultivate a thriving herd that will enable me secures financial stability.

As a peasant farmer striving to brighten my life, my most cherished investment from the monthly transfers has been in a solar panel lighting system. For too long, the dim glow of a humble lamp cast shadows of insecurity around my home. Nightfall shrouded my dwelling in darkness, leaving me vulnerable and anxious. However, with the determination to change my circumstances, I embraced the opportunity the transfers offered. Over the past three months, I diligently directed the funds towards securing a solar panel set on a hire-purchase basis, committing $48 each month towards its acquisition. Even with the toil of additional casual jobs, I found solace in the steady progress toward a brighter future. Now, as I bask in the gentle glow of the solar-powered lights, a sense of security envelops my abode. No longer do I fear the cloak of darkness, for the radiance emanating from my home speaks of safety and progress.

In the coming months, I intend to utilize my subsequent transfers to fulfill the monthly installments for the solar panel. This will allow me to become the rightful owner of the solar panel and lighting system, without any disruptions. Moreover, I plan to continue improving the condition of my house to prevent any future collapses. I am sincerely grateful for the ongoing transfers, as they have positively impacted my life in numerous ways.

Two months ago, as the rainy season commenced, my mud-walled house began to deteriorate. The constant rain caused the mud covering the walls to erode, leaving behind significant holes. To address this issue, I allocated $34 to purchase cement and hired a skilled mason who successfully repaired the walls. Furthermore, I decided to invest in sustainable lighting by acquiring a solar panel through a hire purchase arrangement. This investment has significantly improved the illumination within my house. To acquire the solar panel and lights, I combined $34 from the transfers with some of my previous savings. With $15, I purchased three hens, considering them a valuable long-term investment as they will breed and increase my initial investment. Additionally, I allocated $19 towards purchasing food, ensuring that I never had to go to bed on an empty stomach. The financial support I have received through these transfers has brought me immense gratitude and happiness.

Due to the ongoing rains, my mud-walled house was leaning on one side, as they are susceptible to rainfall. Over the past few months, I hired someone to construct concrete pillars on the corners and reinforce the foundation of the walls. I am pleased with the progress as the structure now appears more stable. However, the work is not yet complete, as the foundation still needs attention. This is my priority until the end of the year. Once that is done, I plan to invest in more livestock to expand my two-cow herd. Specifically, I aim to start with chickens as they are more affordable and breed at a faster rate. Owning livestock will provide a stable source of wealth, and I can sell these animals to acquire funds for my needs.

Being an elderly widower, there are occasions when I require assistance with certain tasks. However, out of respect for my daughter-in-law, I hesitate to ask for her help unless I had a wife. Simple things like preparing a cup of tea or a quick meal would be easier if I had a partner. Cooking for myself using firewood was a challenge until I decided to invest in a gas cylinder, which made the process much simpler. When I received the cash transfer, the cylinder needed to be refilled, and I spent $14 to do so. I am relieved that I won't have to worry about refilling it for the next eight to nine months. The remaining $20 was used to purchase food for the family. I am grateful that through the cash transfers, I can contribute to our household needs and not solely rely on my son, who depends on casual jobs to provide for his own family and me.

When I first received the cash transfers, I spent most of it on building a concrete pillar around the walls of my house to reinforce it. However, due to pressing financial obligations like food, I was not able to channel every amount toward the renovation of the structure, which left one side of the wall unattended. My prayer is to conclude this project withing the next year so that I can start looking at other things like securing goats and more chickens for rearing. 

Due to the drought that has impaired crop farming in my region, I am forced to buy food and water, which is becoming expensive as commodity prices are rising. My job of weaving mats and baskets is also affected as the materials, such as palm leaves dried out from lack of rain. To be honest, if it were not for the cash transfers, I would have been malnourished from hunger;  am relieved that Give Directly brought the financial aid. When I received the recent cash transfers, my household had run out of food for the previous day, and I spent $28 on buying maize flour and water. Although the food did not serve my family until the end of the month, am glad that we enjoyed regular meals for the first few days. I used the remaining $6 to buy two chickens for rearing. As these chickens breed, I can easily sell them to purchase food and ensure that my family enjoys regular meals. 

For the longest time I've really wanted to renovate my house especially the foundation and the pillars since it is a mud house and the foundation is not quite great after it was swept away with rain. Therefore upon receiving the transaction I paid KES 700 to a mason for him to start fixing up my house gradually. I then proceeded to use the balance of KES 2,300 in ensuring that I looked into nourishment for my family and I since it was quite a challenge with the ongoing drought. I ended up acquiring five packets of maize flour, a kilogram of beans and sugar respectively, groceries and lastly drinking water because it was scarce and another problem.

I spent all the KES 3000 from my transfer to buy a wooden door for my house. The previous door in my house was made of iron sheets and had gigantic holes. I always feared someone would break into my house and steal my property because of the weak door. Fixing the wooden door has reinforced the security, and I feel safe living in the house.

GiveDirectly does well in upgrading people's livelihoods through the monthly payments. My life has changed for the better as a result of GiveDirectly transfers; I no longer worry about hunger. Everyone in my village is praising the organization for positively impacting their financial lives. There is nothing that GiveDirectly does not do well.

I spent most of my transfer on purchasing food for the family, clothes, livestock, and paying hospital bill. Specifically, I used KES 840 on seven packets of maize flour, KES 300 on two packets of wheat flour, KES 140 on a kilo of sugar, and KES 50 for tea leaves. Additionally, I acquired two pieces of clothes at KES 330, two chicken at KES 1000, and settled my hospital bill of KES 650.

I was sitting under the tree in front of my house weaving a basket for sale. I heard my phone ring out loudly. It attracted my attention, and I immediately picked the phone and after checking I realized I had received a text message. I could not read the content and had to call my grandson, who was about to go back to school for his afternoon classes to help me out. He then informed me I had received my first transfer. The news thrilled me and later that evening; I sent my grandson to withdraw the money and buy the food.

The money has made a big difference in my life. I have been wearing the same pair of shoes for the past six months. Because of my financial status, I could not buy myself a new pair. I spent the little I earned on food. That is how hard my life was, but I am now thankful that the transfer has made a big difference.

When I received my first transfer of KSH 1200, I spent half of it to buy food. Being the sole bread winner in my family it has been tough for me to be able to provide for the family. Before we started experiencing the drought in our area, I harvested the maize and cassava that I grew and used some for food at home and sold some to earn money. Life was bearable at that time and we could afford to have three meals per day. It is very hard for me to be able to do so currently as the farm is unproductive. I have had to do manual jobs which are not on a daily basis with a pay of KSH 200 – 300 per day. The money is just enough to budget for one or two meals. Due to these financial struggles that I am experiencing I decided to spend the biggest part of the transfer to buy food. In addition to the food I spent KSH 300 to buy a chicken. The main reason for buying the chicken was to ensure that I had chicken of my own. Previously my relatives would come to visit me and I would not have anything to offer them as a welcome gesture. This is the situation that drove my desire to buy and own the poultry. My plan is to buy more chicken and rear them sell some and also gift relatives who visit me at home. Besides buying the food and chicken I bought myself a new pair of shoes. The ones I had were worn out and badly torn.