My goal in the coming year and beyond is to save more money through the savings group I joined. When it is my turn to receive the money, I plan to use it to purchase more goats. Their ability to reproduce and multiply quickly makes them a valuable investment opportunity. In the future, I can sell some of the goats to raise money in times of need. I am very appreciative of the financial transfers, as they have provided me with something to depend on for generating income, unlike before when I had nothing and relied heavily on my son, who is a casual laborer.

In a bid to maximize the benefits of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, I joined a savings group consisting of five members. Each month, we contribute $20, and the collected amount of $100 is equally shared between two members on a rotational basis. Last month, it was my turn to receive the money, and together with my transfers, I had a total of $74, which I used to purchase a goat. In total, I have contributed $40 to the savings group so far. Currently, I own four goats, all purchased with the money from the transfers. These goats represent a future investment for me. Even after the financial aid ends, I will have something to depend on, which I can use to raise money in times of emergencies. I also spent $10 to get specialized treatment at the hospital after I fell ill. I am glad that my health has since improved after visiting the hospital. As an elderly woman, I no longer have the energy to work and earn income to take care of myself. When I receive money, I purchase food in bulk, ensuring that I have enough to last the whole month. Recently, I spent $18 on food. I am very appreciative of the financial support, which has allowed me to purchase goats, take care of my health, and secure my future financially. The goats will help me raise money whenever I am in need.

In the coming year and beyond, my vision is to establish myself as a successful livestock farmer. After learning about the reliability and resilience of goat farming in our region compared to traditional cow and crop farming, I set my sights on building a thriving goat farm. To turn this dream into reality, I have taken proactive steps, such as joining a merry-go-round saving group with five others who are beneficiaries of the GiveDirectly program, where we will contribute $20 each month. By December 2024, I'll have accumulated enough funds to invest in more goats, laying the foundation for my livestock farming venture. This journey fills me with excitement and determination as I pursue a livelihood that aligns with the natural conditions of our area and promises greater stability and prosperity for my future.

As a widow reliant on occasional work to make ends meet, I made a bold decision to invest my recent transfers wisely. With determination and hope guiding me, I chose to allocate the entirety of the last three transfers, amounting to $102, towards purchasing three she-goats. Although the cost of the goats was slightly higher at $108, I supplemented the remaining $6 from the proceeds of my charcoal-selling venture. The sacrifice was worth it, for I saw in these goats not just animals, but potential for a brighter future. Now, with one of the goats expecting, my heart swells with joy and anticipation. I firmly believe that this is just the beginning of a prosperous journey. With faith in the resilience of life and the promise of growth, I envision a flourishing herd. My ultimate goal is to exchange this growing wealth for a cow, a symbol of stability and abundance in my community since five grown goats are equivalent to a mature cow. In my world, where every resource is precious, this exchange represents not just a transaction, but a significant step towards securing a better tomorrow. With each passing day, my resolve strengthens, fueled by the belief that through diligent stewardship, even the smallest investments can yield the greatest rewards.

My objective is to persist in saving within our group for the upcoming year and beyond. The intention is to utilize these savings to acquire building materials, including iron sheets and building poles, to construct an extension for my house, addressing its limited space. Additionally, I aim to invest in livestock, particularly goats, as a reliable financial resource. Currently, I own three goats, but my goal is to expand my livestock, rear them, and eventually sell them to meet my financial requirements.

I faced a distressing situation when my four grandchildren were sent home due to unpaid school fees, causing concern about the potential impact on their education. Fortunately, upon receiving recent funds, I promptly settled their fees, bringing relief as they resumed their studies. Additionally, I have been diligently saving $20 from monthly transfers with the dual purpose of expanding my cramped house and acquiring goats. I plan to allocate the funds toward purchasing building materials like poles and iron sheets for the house extension. I currently own three goats, which serve as valuable assets with potential income upon sale. Consequently, I intend to expand my herd by acquiring more goats. The recent financial support also coincided with my farm preparations, and I spent $40 on hiring an oxplough to plow my two acres. With hopes for a bountiful harvest, my goal is to achieve food security within my household. This will not only provide sustenance but also reduce the need to purchase food, contributing to overall financial stability.

Using the funds from the transfer, I have acquired two goats, which serve as the beginning of my livestock investment. My intention is to expand this venture by purchasing additional livestock, as they have the potential to multiply and increase my initial investment over time. This livestock investment holds long-term significance for me, extending beyond the five-year limit of the program. It serves as a safety net for any challenging circumstances that may arise in the future, providing me with a reliable fallback option.

I utilized $25 from my August transfers to purchase a new phone for myself. Unfortunately, my previous phone had become damaged and stopped functioning properly. This presented a significant challenge, as it hindered my ability to communicate with my relatives as I had done before. Since I began receiving financial support from Give Directly, the phone has become an essential device for me. Out of the remaining $9, I gave the amount to my grandson, who was returning to school last week. It brings me great happiness to see him back in school, continuing his education and pursuing his dreams. Typically, I rely on my son for financial assistance and support, as well as to fulfill my needs. However, the transfer I received has been immensely beneficial. It has allowed me to address certain needs independently, reducing my dependency on my son. I am sincerely grateful for the support I have received, as it has provided me with a sense of self-sufficiency and the ability to take care of myself more effectively.

I am planning to buy livestock, which is a good investment for me. I rely mainly on subsistence farming, and buying some goats, rearing them, and letting them reproduce will supplement my sources of income. To achieve this, I will continue to save Ksh. 1500 in my savings account and later buy the goats.

I have been saving KSH 1500 of the transfer every month in my savings account. This was an increase in savings compared to when I was not in the program. I could only save about Ksh 500, and at times I lacked the money to save. My aim is that by the end of this year, I will be able to invest these savings in profitable projects like buying livestock, rearing them for some time, and then selling them at a profit. Apart from savings, I spent a portion of the transfer on paying school fees for my grandchildren, who were in turn allowed to continue with their studies without interruptions on fees. Lastly, the transfer also helped me hire labour services at Ksh. 2000 so as to plough and prepare my farm for planting, and also buy enough foodstuffs for my family.

My four grandchildren and I share a home, and regrettably they have been sleeping on a small mattress on the ground for a few years now. Consequently, I had hoped that I would be able to buy them a bed this year so that they could finally be more comfortable. In addition, I want to help their mother pay for their tuition because it has been difficult for her to raise kids alone since their father died. For this reason, I step in and help out wherever I can. Additionally, I'll use the funds to ensure that I take care of my nutrition and save some cash for a rainy day.

My last born son broke his hand a day after receiving my December transfers. He was in excruciating pain, and I was compelled to use $19 of the $34 I had been given to hurriedly get him to the hospital for treatment. I'm glad he isn't in any pain anymore and that his recovery is going well. I formed a savings group with 10 other people and saved the last $15 in the group. Later this month, the savings group will give me $100. I am thrilled because I intend to use this money to buy at least five goats. It was a wise decision to invest in goats because they will multiply in number over the coming months, doubling my initial investment. I am completely dependent on my two older sons to help me financially and to take care of my other needs, like purchasing food. My dependence on my sons, who are also struggling to take care of me, will be lessened as a result of investing in goats, which will generate a new source of income.

At the time I was receiving the transfers my three grandchildren had actually been kicked out of school. I took it up to myself to aid their parents into the settling a part of the tuition debt and that's why I ended up paying KES 600. Afterwards I decided to deposit KES 1,000 into a savings committee that I belonged to. Lastly I was left remaining with about KES 1,400 which I ended up spending on nutrition by purchasing seven packets of maize flour since there was hardly any food in the house.

In my opinion, I feel that GiveDirectly is doing extremely well in helping poor individuals in society with the direct cash transfer program. What they did well was holding up a sensitization meeting to inform us about the program before enrolling us in the program. In addition, the enrolment was free and everyone was enrolled in the program.

I spent most of the transfer on putting up a door for my house. For some time now, I have not been residing in my house due to fear that I might be attacked since it lacked a door. I used KES 2500 to purchase the door and pay the labor charges. I also used the remaining amount to acquire food for the family because I did not have food remaining in my store. I am planning to use my next transfer to purchase a new mattress. Currently, I am using an old, torn one that is not comfortable to use. Likewise, it is not big enough for me and my 4 grandchildren with whom we are sharing it.

I received my transfer at around 9 am, I was in my house plastering my house with mud since I had not completed the construction. My phone was with my helper who came to my house and informed me that I had received the transfer that I was promised by GiveDirectly. I felt extremely happy for receiving my transfer.

The biggest difference in my life is that I am positive that I will be able to relocate to my new house once I obtain and put up the door. This will restore the privacy that I had lost for a very long time. In addition, I will no longer have to seek shelter from my neighbors something that I am grateful for.

I spent most of my recent transfer on food. I used KES 600 to purchase foodstuffs like rice, flour, spaghetti, and cooking oil. This is because we are experiencing food shortages due to the persistent drought conditions in our area. I am very happy that I can now meet my needs, especially food without much strangling. I also used KES 500 to pay off a debt that I had borrowed from my neighbor sometimes back. I am planning to use my next transfer to purchase a door for my house. I have not been able to acquire one due to insufficient finances. I completed the construction of my house a year ago, and I had not been able to start living in since am afraid due to security reasons. I was forced to seek shelter from my neighbors. In addition, I am planning to purchase a new mattress because I am currently sleeping on a small torn one which is not comfortable.