My aim is to open a grocery shop within our village, providing essential goods hence generating an income for my family. Additionally, I intend to expand my livestock rearing, to increase our income generation which in the end will contribute to our financial stability. I will also ensure that my children continue with their education to the highest level possible. I'm happy and grateful with the support GiveDirectly has given us.

With the monthly cash transfer from GiveDirectly, I managed to provide basic needs for my family. I spent $38 on my four children's school fees and bought additional school requirements. My husband's income as a casual laborer fluctuates, often making it challenging to meet these expenses alone, but with GiveDirectly's support, our children were able to be in school. I then bought a goat for $30 with a plan to rear them and eventually acquire a cow that will help us with ploughing our farm. Lastly, I spent $34 on buying food for our family, ensuring that even during tough times when my charcoal business may struggle, we won't go hungry. The assistance from GiveDirectly has been of great help to us, providing stability and hope for a better future amidst financial uncertainties.

I am delighted that the cash transfers have enabled me to own goats, a goal that was previously unattainable. The limited income from making and selling charcoal could barely cover my children's school fees and provide daily food. Now, thanks to the cash transfers, I have four goats. I aspire to grow this herd to ten goats by the time the cash transfers come to an end. Owning goats brings me assurance and happiness, and I am grateful for this opportunity provided by GiveDirectly.

Apart from the cash transfers, both my husband's and my other sources of income, involving casual jobs such as making charcoal and selling chewing sticks are unreliable to provide for our seven children. I have always desired to own livestock as they serve as assets that can be used to generate funds in times of need, providing a sense of security. That's why I invested $60 to buy two goats for rearing. Additionally, I allocated $19 to buy myself clothes, including skirts, blouses, and khangas, as my old clothes had become torn from repetitive use, and I lacked confidence in wearing them. I am happy that I now have new decent clothes to wear especially when stepping out of my home. Unfortunately, I also suffered from a fever at some point and I had to spend $15 on medication, as there were no other saved funds. The remaining $8 went towards buying food.

My goal is to send each of my seven children to college. I intend to do this by using the transfers I have received to invest in farming and animal raising. I'll consider this to be a major accomplishment.

My legs have been affected by a condition, making it difficult for me to move around. As a result, I was forced to cease selling charcoal, and I'm now seeking for housekeeping so that I can support my family. I'm happy I spent $30 on a goat that I will raise and use to produce children that I can sell to make money.With the $15 from the transfers, I also paid my tuition.

Selling charcoal is a hectic job that requires alot of moving around and this has been a limiting factor during my time of illness. My plan this year is to get a business that would not require me to move as much as well as have better earnings. I hope to use my GD transfers to start a grocery business whose earnings will go into taking care of the needs at home and educating my 5 children currently at school. I also hope to add some more animals that I aim I will use as my emergency fund. I will buy Goats which I will sell when their is need and they will also reproduce ensuring more goats to sell when their is need.

I have been nursing illness for a while, I have had stomach issues which have made me unproductive. I am a charcoal seller and my husband makes local Tooth brushes which he sells. I make approximately 6 dollars daily on a good day while my husband makes about 3 dollars daily. I however haven't been doing much due to illness and so the GD transfers have been helping in a big way. My December transfers when into preparing my kids for school, $20 went into paying school fees for two of my children in primary school and buying them books as well as buying shoes and uniform which cost $13. In January I bought a goat and bought a few toiletries for the home. The goat was $30 while the toiletries cost about $4. In February I bough an additional goat at $30 and bought myself a nice dress at $4.

GiveDirectly does an excellent job of enrolling all of us in its financial aid program. Many lives have experienced positive transformation since it began operations in our area. Because the program is five years long, many more lives will experience more transformation. As a recipient, I have benefited greatly in meeting an immediate need. For example, when my son got an accident, the transfer came in handy to help cover medical expenses when I did not have any cash. It has no control over our spending habits, which allows us to prioritize our needs. So far, there is nothing GiveDirectly does not do well.

Unfortunately, the day I received my transfer my son, Harrison, got injured while riding a bicycle. His right leg got swollen, and he could hardly walk. I was worried and sad to see him in great pain. Since I did not have savings, I resorted to spending $30 on his medication. I cannot hide my joy to see him strong, stable, and able to go to school. Without the transfer, I do not know how I would have raised money for his medication since I do not have a regular source of income. Unfortunately, my husband does a business selling traditional sticks for brushing teeth, from which he makes as low as $1.5 a day.

At around 5 p.m., I had just come home from fetching water when I received a message alert on my cell phone. When I went through it, I discovered that my first payment from Give Directly had arrived. I felt a surge of relief wash over me since the money would prove useful in clearing school fee arrears for my three children that had accumulated over the previous two months.

The earnings my husband and I generate by selling chewing sticks and charcoal are barely enough to fulfill anything beyond food for our family of nine. For the last couple of months, some of our children were being sent home frequently to collect school fees because we lacked enough funds to clear them. Fortunately, Give Directly’s cash transfer timing was perfect. I spent the entire amount to clear the debts and unlike before, my children have never been sent home again. 

My spouse and I both contribute to meeting the family's basic needs. The little he earns hawking chewing sticks in Mariakani and what I make selling charcoal barely covers anything beyond food for our seven children. Therefore, paying for the children's school tuition, for instance, has been difficult during the previous two months. This is why, when I got the transfer, I prioritized settling the pending fee balances of three children who had been dragged out of class that morning to collect the amounts.