Without a stable source of income, it’s been a constant struggle for my husband and me to provide for our family. This situation has motivated me to start a small grocery business, which I believe will offer a more reliable source of income and help us meet our family’s needs. To achieve this goal, I plan to set aside a small amount from each transfer until I have enough capital to launch the business. Once I start, I hope to attract a steady stream of customers and generate a sustainable income. I am truly appreciative of the financial assistance, which has empowered me to work toward a brighter future for my family.

I have six children currently attending primary school. Both my husband and I work as casual laborers, but the income we earn is minimal and very unpredictable due to the limited availability of jobs. This irregularity has added to our financial struggles, making it difficult to meet even the most basic needs, like putting food on the table. The financial support from the transfers has been a lifeline for my family, especially in enabling us to keep up with my children's educational expenses. I recently used $90 from the transfers to pay a portion of the school fees for all six of my children. They had accumulated a significant amount of unpaid fees, and the school administration had sent them home until the balance was settled. Although I wasn’t able to clear the entire debt, I’m relieved that the payment I made was enough to allow them back in school to continue their education. Knowing that they are now back in class without further interruptions brings me peace of mind. I used the remaining $12 to purchase food for my family, ensuring that my children have a meal to come home to after school. I am extremely grateful for this financial support, which has allowed me to meet some of our pressing needs despite our financial challenges.

I am currently unemployed and eager to start my own business selling vegetables and groceries to my fellow villagers. With all my children currently in school, once the academic term ends, I anticipate being able to save the transfer that would otherwise go towards school fees. This savings will enable me to accumulate the necessary capital of $50 to start my business. Starting this business holds the promise of significant improving my family's financial situation. It will allow me to meet our needs without difficulty, providing stability and opportunity for growth. I have hope that this initiative will bring about positive changes and contribute to our overall well-being.

As a mother of seven children, seeing all of them in school and receiving education brings me immense joy and pride. My husband and I are currently unemployed, relying on transfers from GiveDirectly for our livelihood. With the recent transfer we received, we made a conscious decision to allocate $102 towards paying our children's school fees. This ensures that their education continues uninterrupted, and they can focus on their studies without the worry of being sent home. I am deeply committed to ensuring my children's succeed in life through education. It is my greatest wish to see them achieve their dreams, despite the challenges we face.

In order to ensure the uninterrupted education of my children, I am focused on utilizing the transfers to cover their school fees. During school holidays, when fee payments are not required, I plan to allocate the transfers towards investments in livestock. I admit with some embarrassment that my compound currently lacks any livestock, not even a simple chicken. This leaves me vulnerable, as I lack a fallback option during emergencies and remain entirely reliant on these transfers. To rectify this situation, I am determined to acquire livestock before the year concludes. My initial goal is to procure at least a goat and a few chickens. Allocating $10 towards the purchase of chickens and setting aside approximately $30 for a goat represents a practical starting point towards achieving this objective. By diversifying my assets in this manner, I aim to establish a more resilient financial foundation for myself and my family.

Ensuring that my children receive an education is my top priority, and I am grateful for the transfers that enable me to support them in their schooling. With five children relying on me since their father is also unemployed and not a Givedirectly beneficiary, managing their school fees with the monthly transfers is crucial to avoid any disruptions in their education. Typically, the entire $34 transfer is allocated towards paying my children's school fees, ensuring that they remain enrolled and their learning is not interrupted due to delayed payments. During school holidays when there are no fee obligations, I use the transfers to address other essential needs such as clothing and shoes for my children. Despite the financial challenges, I am committed to providing the best possible opportunities for my children's education. The transfers play a vital role in ensuring that they have access to schooling and the resources they need to thrive academically.

My plan is to open a grocery shop, which I believe will not only provide me with a source of income but also help support my family. Additionally, I plan to invest in livestock, expanding my current holdings and building a larger space for them. This move will not only help me generate an income but also create a foundation for long-term financial security. These cash transfers have opened up new doors for me ensuring a better future for my family.

Before the monthly cash transfers from GiveDirectly, my family faced significant challenges. We have five children, all in school, and the burden of paying their school fees weighed heavily on us. My husband runs a small grocery shop, but the income is minimal, and it is never enough to cover all our household needs. This financial struggle made it difficult to ensure that our children received proper education.With the support of the monthly cash transfers, I spent $80 to pay for my children's school fees. Additionally, I invested $24 in purchasing livestock with the goal of increasing our flock. This has created a source of income giving us financial stability. The cash transfers have really transformed our lives.

With an unwavering spirit and a strong desire to succeed, I am determined to open my own grocery store. Through careful saving from my transfers, I am diligently gathering the necessary funds to turn this dream into a reality. However, my ambition extends beyond financial success; I aim to create a welcoming space that nurtures and supports the community. I am prepared to face any challenges that may arise, knowing that they will only bring me closer to achieving my goal. I am filled with anticipation and excitement, ready to create a grocery store that not only provides essential goods but also fosters community connections and empowerment.

As a devoted mother of seven children, I am wholeheartedly dedicated to their well-being and future. Recognizing the importance of education, I allocated $9 from my resources to cover the school fees of my five school-going children, ensuring they have the necessary tools for academic success. With the remaining $25, I made a strategic and thoughtful decision to invest in a goat. This investment not only provides sustenance for my family but also opens doors to potential income through breeding or selling offspring. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for always making sure that I receive my transfers and it's usually on time, and I can easily plan for it.

I am a casual worker and I do not make much from casual work. I can make $5 a day and spend the rest of the week without work and that makes it difficult to pay school fees for my children. I have seven children in school who depend on me and my husband who does a small business of selling groundnuts in the city to take care of their education. My plan this year is to use this transfers to ensure my children get an education. I also want to buy a number of chicken that I can sell and afford to buy goats. I also want to ensure my family is well fed this year which I hope to achieve by this transfers.

I have been able to focus on paying school fees for my children, buying chicken and feeding my family as I have been receiving the transfers. In December I spent $11 on school fees, I bought two chicken at $4.5 each hence spent $9 on them and used $15 to buy flour and sugar. In January I spent the same amount on school fees which is $11, I bought three chicken at $5, $4,$2 which cost a total of $11, I also spent $12 on food. In February I bumped up the amount I spent on school fees to $12.5, I bought two chicken at $5 each which cost $10 and I bought food at $10.5.

GiveDirectly has done a tremendous job within a very short span of time by offering a form of sustainability for us and through the transfers which have led to financial stability and also personal development which we are quite grateful for.

I was extremely excited when I noticed the arrival of the transfers especially considering that the previous night I had gone to bed on an empty stomach. That is why after withdrawing the money I decided to use KES 1,650 and purchased eight packets of maize flour to ensure that I at least had something to eat that night. I then proceeded to use KES 1,000 to pay tuition fee for five of my children because it had actually been two days since they had been kicked out of school. I was left with a balance of KES 350 which I decided to buy a hen with because I was planning to gradually invest in poultry farming.

I was at the market center around 6.30 p.m. as I was doing my job of washing clothes when I received the message. We were with my daughter who had come to apply for her ID. Since I do not know how to read or write, I gave her the phone to check the content of the message. She confirmed that I had received money from GiveDirectly, and hence, could not hide my joy.

The biggest difference is the reduced financial burden and having food in the house. The flour I bought using the transfer lasted us for three days. In addition, my kids managed to report back to school after I paid for their KES 600 school fees. Spending my money this way brought a lot of happiness to the family.

I have a family of nine - my husband, seven children, and I. I do not have a permanent job, and hence wash clothes for people to earn a living. My husband, a casual laborer, is the breadwinner of the family. Out of our seven kids, six are school-going while one has not yet joined. The transfers saved us a lot when our kids were at home after being sent to collect money for school fees. We even had not had proper meals for three days. Using the transfers, I settled KES 600 fee arrears and bought food worth KES 600. Clearing the fee arrear made my kids enjoy ample time for studies at school. Having my kids at school made me feel happy as a mother. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the support.