I have always wanted a project that would sustain me even after the program ended, and livestock rearing has been my long-standing dream but financial limitations had prevented me from pursuing this goal. However, when I was enrolled in the GiveDirectly program, I knew my dreams were within reach. Initially, I spent my transfers on my family's necessities like food, but a few months ago, I decided to revive my dream. The transfers have been instrumental in helping me buy livestock such as goats and chickens. Most recently, I used the transfers to buy a goat for $25 and two chicken for $3 each and currently, I have four goats and six chicken. I will always be grateful to GiveDirectly for making my dream come true and for their ongoing support.

In the next year and beyond, I aim to establish a sustainable project to support my family, even if GiveDirectly's support ends. My passion for livestock rearing drives me to continue buying and raising more animals. To achieve this, I will allocate my monthly transfers to purchase at least one goat and one chicken each month; where one goat goes for around $25 and one chicken for $3, adding to my existing livestock. My ultimate goal is to build a substantial herd and flock to ensure long-term stability and self-sufficiency for my family.

I have yearned to buy a new mattress. My husband and I have been sleeping on an old and worn mattress due to lack of finances. My husband's unstable construction jobs do not pay him enough to buy a new one since I am unemployed. I am a seasonal farmer meaning I only farm when it raining and the weather is good. In November my husband had some small cash saved up, we added that to our transfers and bought a new mattress, this was a dream come true for me. In January I also bought a goat at $28 and chicken at $6. December most of the money went into the festivities, we got clothes at $14, I bought cooking oil, sugar and toiletries at $22 and also two chicken at $12.

As I said, I am a seasonal farmer, only farming when the weather is good. I am working towards building a different source of income for me. I would love to support my husband financially especially since we are just starting out and have a very young family. I have been redirecting portions of my transfer to animal purchase and plan to keep this up until I can be able to have enough to breed and sell for money. This will allow us educate our child and even do improvements in our home that my husband's income cannot cover.

With the generous support from GiveDirectly, I was able to make a significant investment in securing a more stable future for my small family of three. Given the unpredictable climate in our region, I decided to establish a chicken rearing project as a means of sustainable income. The transfers that I have been receiving had been of great help with the recent transfers allowing me to purchase chicken worth $18 to expand my existing flock. Additionally, I wisely invested $16.70 in restocking our food supplies, ensuring that my family would have enough to eat. GiveDirectly's assistance has made a meaningful difference in our lives, and I am profoundly thankful for their support.

My primary goal is to expand my chicken rearing project by incorporating other livestock, specifically goats, in order to diversify and enhance the sustainability of my farming venture. To achieve this, I've devised a strategic plan to allocate my future transfers wisely, dedicating them to purchasing goats and additional chicken alternately. This approach will not only allow me to broaden my agricultural activities but also maximize the benefits and income generated from my livestock.

I used my recent transfers to buy food for my family and livestock, which includes a goat and chickens. I've struggled to feed my family, but the transfer has helped. The current difficult economic conditions have had a negative impact on me because I have no income to rely on. I was heavily reliant on subsistence farming, which always ensured that food was plentiful, but in recent years, drought has made farming impossible. My husband is skilled in electrical installations, but he has never had a steady job since graduating from college. He is now surviving on menial construction jobs that pay very little in comparison to the numerous household needs. I am relieved that, despite these financial difficulties, my family did not go hungry because I was able to purchase a bale of maize flour and cereals. This allowed my children to eat three meals a day. Aside from that, I added a goat and three chickens to my already existing livestock. I now have three goats and nine chickens that I keep on my homestead. Owning them is a saving for the future of my children's education because I intend to sell them to cover their tuition. In addition, when I have a financial need, I can rely on these livestock as they reproduce and increase in number.

For a long time, I relied on my husband for everything, despite the fact that he does not have a stable job. He works casual construction jobs that are unpredictable and low-paying. Some days he can stay without a job, making it difficult to feed our children. To lessen his burden, I plan to buy more chickens every month until I have a fully operational poultry project in the coming year and beyond. It's easier for me to manage on my own and doesn't require much expertise. I've bought a few chickens so far and hope to buy more as time goes on. I can easily sell the chickens to fund my children's education as well as other financial obligations.

I am a farmer, but this is the second year in a row that we haven't had any rain, therefore my crops aren't producing. I invested a portion of the transfers from the previous three months to purchase three hens for $21 and two goats for $50 in order to increase my source of income. They are more profitable because they multiply more quickly. In addition to that, I spent $20 on shoes and clothing for my child and $13 on groceries, laundry detergent, and personal care items for my family members. Being accepted into the program was an honor since it helped me raise my standard of living.

As scones are typically in high demand in the morning, that is when I now sell them. My income has decreased because farming, which is my secondary source of income, is currently struggling owing to the drought. My goal is to grow the firm by starting a small restaurant that I will run throughout the day. Since I will be selling different types of food all day, this will draw more people and boost profits. In addition, I want to raise additional poultry and reach a goal of six goats by the end of the year. My husband works in construction, but it is unreliable, and there are times when he goes weeks without having any work. When our child starts school, we won't have any trouble paying for his tuition because we will have a reliable stream of income thanks to the cattle and business.

I used $14 to buy food for my family and used the remaining amount to buy clothes for my child and myself. I made a decision to buy myself clothes and food for my family because my husband works as a casual worker and I needed to help him out now that I benefit from the transfers and he does not. He is a trained electrician but he has not secured a job anywhere and he has had to resort to building and construction work in order to put food on the table for us. I am a young mother of one and looking forward towards making more money by starting a new business.

In my opinion GiveDirectly does very well by giving support in form of cash and doing so unconditionally. The fact that the money was not conditioned gave us the liberty to choose how to spend and I am so pleased with what I have been able to do with the money so far.

I am a subsistence farmer and casual laborer - I burn charcoal for income generation and plant maize for subsistence. I have a family of three. Seven months ago, I delivered a baby boy but owing to our unbearable life situation, I never took a break from burning charcoal to raise money to buy him clothes and food because my husband’s income could not cater to all our basic needs. He is an electrician but has no permanent job. The money from GiveDirectly was like a godsend because it came when I was in dire need. Using the money, I bought clothes for my baby and me for KES 800 and spent the rest on food and other household items. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the timely support.

The greatest difference in my life is the ease of buying clothes and food for my seven months old son and myself. My son and I had no decent clothes hence the need for new ones. In addition, we did not have enough food as my husband’s income was unreliable. I have been burning charcoal with the hope of accumulating enough money to buy clothes and food for my baby in vain until GiveDirectly came to my rescue. The income from the sale of charcoal was never enough to make my dream a reality. The burning of charcoal while breastfeeding was not an easy task. It was hectic and tiring. I kept on pushing despite the fatigue and low charcoal yield. Buying new clothes using the transfer from GiveDirectly made my son look smart and made me feel happy as a mother. I thank GiveDirectly for supporting me.

I was in my house at around 730 p.m. resting as I was waiting to prepare supper. I received a message and was hesitant to check. Upon opening my phone, I realized it was an M-PESA message. I felt so happy when I confirmed my balance and found there was some money in my account.