My family is currently facing a difficult and trying time. My eldest son, who is our primary breadwinner, was involved in a terrible motorcycle accident. As he continues his recovery, my immediate priority is to support him with the medical bills and provide food for our family using my transfers from GiveDirectly. His well-being means everything to me, and I am committed to supporting him until I see him back on his feet. I am also working toward securing a stable future for my family. I have been developing a plot of land which is by the roadside where I am building rental houses. I envision that this will be a dependable source of income especially when this program eventually comes to an end. To achieve this, once my son is back on his feet, I plan to save a portion of my transfers through our local savings group so that I may use the accumulated funds to purchase additional building materials and continue construction until the project is complete. This vision fills me with hope and determination. I know that with careful planning and perseverance, I will achieve this goal, creating a legacy that will support my family for years to come. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for their support during these challenging times. Their assistance has not only provided immediate relief but also renewed my hope for a brighter and more secure future.

The recent transfers from GiveDirectly arrived at a time when my family was navigating incredibly challenging circumstances. First, my beloved daughter fell ill, and she required urgent medical attention. I used $14 of the transfers to take her to the hospital, and I am deeply relieved that she is now recovering and feeling much better. On top of that, my eldest son, who is the backbone of our family and our primary breadwinner, was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him seriously injured. His condition required hospitalization, and I sent him $20 from the transfers to help with his medical bills. Although he is not yet fully recovered, I am grateful for the progress he has made so far and continue to pray for his full recovery so he can regain his strength and independence. With my children’s education being a top priority, I also used $14 to pay their school fees. It brings me comfort to know that they can continue attending school without the fear of being sent home due to unpaid fees. In addition, I am also working toward a sustainable future for my family. I have been developing a plot of land to construct rental houses that I can rely on for a steady income. I therefore saved $20 from the transfers to purchase building materials to bring this dream closer to reality. Each step brings me closer to achieving this goal, and I am filled with hope for what lies ahead. Finally, with hunger looming over my family, I spent the remaining $34 on food to ensure we had enough to eat. Knowing that my family will not go hungry during these trying times brings me immense relief. I am profoundly grateful for the support from GiveDirectly. It has been a lifeline for my family, allowing us to address both urgent needs and work toward a more stable and hopeful future.

I’ve always wanted to keep goats, and currently, I have twelve of them. My goal is to expand this number significantly. I plan to build up my herd so that, in the future, when my daughter transitions from primary school, I can sell some goats to help cover her education costs. By the time she finishes her final exams, I hope to have a larger number of goats, which will ease the financial burden when she starts college. As a widow, this plan gives me confidence that I can manage her education and our needs. I’m determined to make this dream a reality.

My youngest daughter is in seventh grade at the nearby school, but paying her fees on time has been a challenge. As a widow with four children, I rely on the charitable business to support us, and sometimes she would be sent home to collect fees, causing delays in her studies. I recently paid $30 for the previous term, and I’m relieved she can start the new term smoothly since they are currently on holiday. This has motivated her, and I believe it will enhance her performance. I also bought a goat to keep at home, which will serve as an asset. Once it matures, I can sell its offspring for additional support. Additionally, I spent about $26 on food items, which has ensured that we no longer go to bed hungry. I started a project to build a rental house in a nearby town but ran into financial difficulties. I saved $34 from the recent transfers to buy materials and complete the construction. Once finished, the rental income will provide a reliable source of income, easing the financial burden of caring for my children.

I am currently in the process of building a rental house on my piece of land, and the monthly transfers have played a significant role in its construction. Previously, I couldn't afford to buy the necessary building materials, but with the help of the transfers, I'm grateful that I started the construction. I've been buying the materials gradually, as soon as I have saved enough, and my goal is to see this house come to completion. I'm assured of earning some rental income once it's complete, which will supplement my income. So far, I've been surviving on fetching and selling firewood, which doesn't pay much. I believe that earning some rental income will not only transform my household's living standards but also help me pay school fees for my children.

I have always wanted to have a stable source of income to support my family. Ever since my husband passed away, I have been struggling to make ends meet with casual jobs that don't pay well. Despite being financially drained, I have taken on the full responsibility of educating my two children who are currently in high school. To make things work, I have been collecting and selling firewood, which is a difficult job. My husband left a piece of land in our trading centre, which was meant for constructing rental houses, but it remained unused for years after his death because I was not financially stable enough to undertake the project. However, when I started receiving my monthly transfers, I decided to revive the project. After paying for my children's fees, I began saving a portion of my transfers and managed to accumulate the necessary building materials like sand, cement, and bricks. With my recent transfers, I ordered two truckloads of sand and bricks that cost $120 and also bought some bags of cement to help with the construction. Now, I am in the process of building a six-room rental house that I believe will attract tenants and eventually generate rental income when it's completed.

Before my husband's passing, he had acquired a parcel of land intending to build a home. Regrettably, he was unable to realize this plan. My objective for the upcoming year is to initiate the construction of our family home on this property. I've diligently saved the financial assistance I received, accumulating resources to purchase necessary building materials. I am optimistic that construction will commence in the coming year. The prospect of having a permanent residence holds significant meaning for my children as they will have a place to call their own, a lasting legacy in honor of their late father. The anticipation of realizing these goals brings me immense joy, and I eagerly look forward to the fulfillment of this heartfelt endeavor.

Five years ago, my husband tragically lost his life in a road accident when he was hit by a car. In an instant, life underwent a profound transformation for me and my seven children, as I assumed sole responsibility for their well-being. Meeting their needs became exceptionally challenging due to the struggles my soap-selling business was facing. Despite my determination to provide education, it proved to be a big struggle. Fortunately, GiveDirectly came to my rescue through financial transfers, enabling five of my children to complete their schooling, with only two left to support. Using the funds received, I allocated $39 to purchase a goat and two chickens as a contingency for emergencies. Additionally, $27 went towards acquiring food for my family, as our supplies had depleted. Recognizing the importance of self-care, I allocated $12 for new clothing, replacing worn-out and tattered garments. The remaining amount was wisely saved for future use in purchasing building materials. I am grateful for the invaluable support I have received.

The ongoing financial challenges I'm facing are prompting me to explore opportunities in income-generating endeavors. One of my intended projects involves the construction of a rental property, with the goal of securing a consistent monthly revenue stream. This additional income is expected to provide substantial relief for certain expenses that currently exceed my means. I find solace in the fact that the assistance provided through these transfers will empower me to realize this aspiration.

In July, $20 of my transfer was allocated to settling my son's secondary school fees; he is currently in Form 2. He had been asked to leave school temporarily due to an outstanding debt of $5700 that he owed. Lacking the necessary funds at that moment, he remained at home for three days until I eventually received my transfer, prompting me to send him the required funds. I hold deep appreciation for the invaluable financial assistance that has enabled me to foster my son's education. The remaining $14 was utilized for purchasing food supplies. My role as a casual laborer engaged in charcoal sales fails to generate sufficient income to adequately provide for my two children, who are financially dependent on me following my husband's passing. Consequently, I've been compelled to take on significant loans as an attempt to fulfill my children's needs. Nonetheless, with the aid of the monthly transfers, I am gradually but surely navigating this challenging situation, and for that, I am truly thankful.

When my husband passed away, he left me a piece of land near the trade center in Guruguru, where he had planned to build a rental house. The hardships that followed his death hindered me from picking on the task from where he had left. It was until I started receiving the cash transfers that I got the motivation to build the house. Since we had already acquired the bricks, I only need to save money for irons sheets and other building materials alongside labor compensation. I plan on building a six-room rental structure. 

Being a widow, keeping three children in school has been a real challenge to me. Before the cash transfers, I used to rely on charcoal burning to provide for the needs of my children. The physical demands of the activity were becoming unbearable and my body could handle any more pain. Gladly, the cash transfers were enough motivation for me to take a break from the practice, Ever since, I have used these funds for my basic needs. However, recently, I decided to spend $23 on acquiring a goat because if I focus on covering my needs alone, I may never build something out of the cash aid program. Rearing livestock will establish a solid income foundation, which can help settle my bills in the future. Also, I spent $10 to buy school uniforms for my daughter who joined junior high school two months ago. All along, she had been attending classes in uniforms from her previous school because I could not raise money for the attire by then. Am happy that she appropriately dresses for school these days. 

For the last couple of years I have been a widow and therefore I have had to hold the burden of the finances concerned with my children's education and well-being by myself. This has been quite tough and that is why I am grateful for the generosity I've received from the organization because through the funds I can take care of my children's health their clothing, basic needs and necessities that they need for their day-to-day life.

At the time I happened to receive the funds I was extremely grateful for it especially since my daughter had been ailing for quite a while to the point where she had been admitted to hospital. The debt at the hospital had accumulated for KES 14,000 and yet I had no penny on me. That is why I was extremely joyful to receive the funds when I did and I immediately went ahead to spend the entire money which was KES 3,400 on trying to pay for the hospital bill.

I was overjoyed when I learned that I had received my transfer. I had to rely on my helper. After all, I could not read or write because I never went to school. My assistant is dependable and always willing to assist me. We had slept hungry the day before the transfer because we had run out of food. I didn't have enough money to buy more food. It was 6 p.m., and I had confirmed the recipe for transfer at that time. I was home alone with the disabled son because the others were still at school.

My children almost missed their exams because I could not afford to pay their fees. With the transfer, I was able to support them. A situation, that alleviated my initial concerns. I feel good and happy seeing them leave for and return from school every day. In addition, as a result of the transfer, I now have a hen. I did not have one at first because I could not afford to buy a chick. Whatever little money I could scrape together went straight to food.

I am a widow and a mother of four children. Among them, three are school-going while one is disabled. I always struggle to cater to their needs because I do not have any income-generating activity. Mostly, I am at home looking after my disabled son, Peter Rodgers. Therefore when I received my transfer, I spent $5 on examination fees for my three children, Samuel, Susan, and Mapenzi. I am glad they sat for their exams courtesy of the transfer. I also used $2 on a hen. Lastly, I used $5 on food that lasted us for two days.