My son has been seeking shelter from his friends for quite some time, and I plan to build him a house. Therefore, over the past few months, I have purchased iron sheets specifically for this purpose. I currently have seven iron sheets, and my goal is to eventually have twelve. For this month, I used $18 to buy two pieces of iron sheets, and I believe very soon I will put up the house. I was also able to buy a goat for $20, which will be of help to me in the future. Once they increase in number, I can sell them and sort out any issues at the moment. Additionally, I was able to pay $5 in fees for my son, and I am glad he is now in school. Knowing he is receiving an education brings me immense relief and hope for a better future for him. I also saved $10 in my merry-go-round chama to renovate my house by the end of the year once my money had accumulated. As a jobless widow struggling with health issues, managing daily needs has been a constant challenge. The $50 I spent on food has sustained us for a couple of weeks, easing the daily burden and providing us with much-needed nutrition. I am profoundly grateful for the support, which has allowed me to not only improve our living conditions but also plan for a more stable future.

By the end of this year, my primary goal is to build a new house for my son and renovate my own house, which desperately needs a new roof due to persistent leaks. This project is of utmost importance to me because it breaks my heart to see my son seeking shelter at friends' places, unable to have a stable home. I want him to have a secure and comfortable place to call his own, where he can feel safe and nurtured. Additionally, I am determined to fix my own house, starting with replacing the old, leaky roof that has been a source of constant worry. Once these tasks are accomplished, I will finally have peace of mind, knowing that both my son and I have solid roofs over our heads. Another significant goal I have is to own goats. I believe having goats will be incredibly beneficial, especially during the lowest moments, as they can provide us with income through their offspring. These goats would represent not only a practical asset but also a step towards greater self-sufficiency and resilience in challenging times.

After my husband passed away, I was left with the responsibility of raising our eight children alone. After his passing, I became the sole provider for my children, taking on the responsibility of both their financial support and education. This was the biggest obstacle I faced, and I had to take up menial jobs that were difficult to come by and, more importantly, didn't pay well. I used to do casual jobs like fetching firewood and selling it to earn a living. However, despite my efforts, I often struggled to pay for my children's school fees. Sometimes, they would even be sent home and stay for more than a month before I could fully pay off their fees. To make matters worse, I developed chest problems, and I was advised not to engage in physically demanding jobs anymore. Thankfully, GiveDirectly came to my aid. Their monthly transfers have been a lifesaver for my family. I am now able to educate my children and take care of their basic needs. With my recent transfer, I spent $68 on paying for my children's school fees and buying new uniforms for two of them who were joining junior high school. Additionally, I also managed to save some money and used it to buy a goat for $45. This goat is an asset that I can sell in the future to cover any financial needs that may arise. Finally, I used the remaining amount of the transfer to buy food for my family. Having enough food has been a huge relief for us, and we are now able to live comfortably.

My main priority right now is to provide education to my six children and support them through their academic journey. Unfortunately, I am currently unable to work due to my illness, and as a widow, I do not have any external financial support. However, I have recently joined a local savings group where I plan to save money every month and access credit whenever I need to pay for my children's fees. Despite facing financial challenges, I am hopeful that this program will enable my children to achieve their educational aspirations and witness their success in school

After my husband's passing, life became exceedingly difficult for both my family and me, and I found myself losing all hope. To make ends meet, I embarked on the laborious task of selling firewood. Unfortunately, this endeavor has taken a toll on my health, leading to persistent chest pains for which I require frequent medication. Fortunately, Give Directly has provided much needed relief by enabling me to afford medication and support my children's education. I allocated $48 to settle a school fee debt, ensuring that my children's education continues without interruption. Additionally, I spent $44 to repay a loan I had borrowed, and wisely set aside the remaining $10 in our savings club, to be used in case of emergencies. I am happy that I can now afford a smile, all thanks to Give Directly.

My main objective for the upcoming year and beyond is to invest in the acquisition of goats for the purpose of rearing. As these goats multiply and mature over time, my intention is to sell them, thereby yielding a profit. This venture holds significant importance as it will not only facilitate the education of my children but also provide a stable source of income to cover our daily expenses. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Give Directly for their invaluable assistance, which has not only transformed my own life but has also contributed positively to the well-being of my entire community.

I am a widow, and I do not have a formal job or regular income. Therefore, I constantly make charcoal for sale to sustain my eight children even though it is strenuous work. Since the passing of my husband three years ago, this has become my source of livelihood. I used my most recent transfer to pay my sent-home child's school fees because I feared she could miss some lessons. I spent $7 on fee payments. I also spent $6 on her school uniform because she did not have one. She always goes to school well-groomed and smart, and I feel happy seeing her in that state. Additionally, I spent $17 on food, which I put away for later. I am grateful that the transfer saved me.

If I continue to receive my monthly transfers, I intend to utilize them to cover my children's school fees because I am a widow and I do not have a steady source of income. Through this, those passionate about pursuing their academic interests will be able to do so and succeed. I also intend to use my transfer to buy food for my children to meet their nutritional needs, especially during these unpredictable seasons marked by climate change and protracted drought. I hope this will lighten my burden unlike before when I had no alternative source of income.

I have been a widow for the past two years. Although I struggle to support my eight children's educational needs, the burden has been too much for me as a sole breadwinner. Unfortunately, I am unemployed, and I must rely mainly on charcoal burning to feed my family. I occasionally feel overworked because this is such strenuous labor. But ever since I got enrolled in the program, my life has seen tremendous transformations. For instance, I had to spend $5 on my older daughter's sixth-grade school fees from my recent transfer. I am happy to see that she is making positive academic progress. I also bought two hens for $8. The rest of the transfer of $21 helped me to acquire food that lasted my family for more than a week.

Because I do not have any alternative sources of funds to support my children's education, my goal with this year's transfer is to build my savings. I aim to be spending those savings on paying school fees so that they do not miss any classes. Their success in academics will be my pride as a mother because, through that, they will be able to later on be responsible people without having to rely on external support. In addition, I shall also be buying a few hens in order to run a small-scale poultry project.

I am a widow, my husband died in 2020 and left me with eight children. Three are in school and five are at home since they have not attained the legal age to go to school. On the weekend especially on Saturday when they are not in school, I go and sell charcoal in the market. I make a profit of $8. The money is not enough to take care of my family but I am thankful my mother-in-law helps me out with some of my bills. I used the most recent transfer to pay school fees of $5, and food and water of $25.

Givedirectly does a great job helping widows like me. God bless the organization.

I'm a widow and the only provider for my family of eight children. I make a living by selling charcoal in the village. The last three months have seen a decline in the business earnings. My meager income (KES 350 per bag) from my work does not cover all of my expenses. I haven't been able to enroll five of my children in school because of my dire financial situation. I frequently rely on my eldest son, who works as a casual worker constructing houses for others, to assist me in paying the household costs. When I got my first transfer, I bought a lot of food for the family with KES 700. We survived on one meal a day for a full month since I struggle so much to provide for my family. Some of my kids show significant indications of malnutrition, which is mostly brought on by a lack of food. Along with purchasing food, I also invested KES 500 on a hen. This is a wise long-term investment as I can sell some of the hems once they start to grow in quantity. I'm happy because at the beginning of the next year, I'll have a large number of chickens that I can sell and utilize the proceeds to pay for my kids' school enrollment.

I'm glad the transfer had such a significant impact on my life and the lives of my family. I was really straining to provide food for the family as the lone provider. The meager income I receive from the business is sufficient to feed my entire family for one meal. I'm glad I spent the money to feed my family by purchasing food in large quantities.

When I was giving my smaller kids a bath at 7 o'clock in the evening, I saw a text message on my phone. Because I couldn't read or write, I gave my oldest son my phone, who confirmed that I had had my first transfer. I was quite startled because I had not anticipated receiving such a sum. I ululated to the top of my lungs because ecstasy was pouring out of my heart.