Right now, I have 32 goats and 2 sheep. My aim for the coming year and beyond is simple: to expand my herd by acquiring more goats. This growth isn't just about numbers; it's about securing a better future for my family, particularly my son. As he prepares to transition to secondary school and eventually college, I want to ensure that finances don't stand in his way. With an increased herd, I'll have the means to cover his education expenses without strain. Moreover, having a larger flock provides a safety net. In times of emergency, I can sell one or two goats to address unexpected expenses or challenges that may arise. It's all about laying a foundation of stability and opportunity for my family, and expanding my herd is a crucial step in that journey.

As soon as I received the unconditional cash transfer, I knew exactly where it needed to go. Clearing my son's school fees, amounting to almost $30, was my top priority. Being a widow, I've taken on the responsibility of providing for him alone, and ensuring his education is uninterrupted brings me immense peace of mind. With his schooling secured, I turned my attention to the future, setting aside $30 from my Merry Go Round savings to kickstart a goat-rearing project once the program concludes. With my health deteriorating due to ulcers, rendering me unable to work, this venture promises a sustainable source of income for my family in the long run. The remainder of the cash was allocated to immediate needs, primarily food and household essentials. Despite the challenges that come with my health condition, I find solace in knowing that I can still provide for my family's basic necessities. Each purchase, no matter how small, represents a step towards stability in uncertain times.

My ultimate goal is to support Kalume's education until he graduates from college. Understanding that the cash transfers may not continue for the entire duration, I plan to invest the funds in livestock. By doing so, I aim to create a sustainable source of income for the future. Selling the livestock will provide the necessary funds to cover Kalume's school fees even after the cash transfers cease. I am thankful for the progress made, having bought two goats with previous transfers, both of which gave birth, growing the herd to seven goats. This assures me that Kalume's education will be supported even beyond the cash transfer period. Given my stomach ulcers preventing active work, creating wealth through livestock becomes a valuable means of sustaining our needs.

Whenever I receive cash transfers, my top priorities are paying school fees for my son, Kalume, and ensuring there is enough food on the table. Currently, I lack an active source of income due to stomach ulcers, which restrict me from engaging in strenuous activities. As a widow without a robust support system, cash transfers play a crucial role in meeting the basic needs of my family. In the past three months, I allocated $60 to settle school fees for Kalume, contributing to his continued education and improved academic performance. Additionally, I spent $32 on food, ensuring that we had at least one meal every day. The consistent support from the cash transfers has significantly improved our living conditions, and I am grateful that we no longer go without a meal. I also saved $10 through a savings group, intending to use this money for Kalume's future school fees, as he is currently in eighth grade.

Thanks to the transfers I have received from Give Directly, I have been able to acquire four goats. The exciting news is that these goats are soon expected to give birth, effectively doubling my initial investment. Considering this positive outcome, I am eager to further expand my livestock holdings by purchasing additional animals to complement the four goats, four sheep, and ten cows I already possess. This decision proves to be a wise investment strategy as it provides a safety net in case of unforeseen emergencies. If the need arises, I can sell some of the livestock to address the emergency situation. Additionally, as the animals reproduce, my investment grows further. The financial support I have received has brought immense happiness during a challenging period in my life. It has not only enabled me to purchase food but also provided the means to pay for my son's education. I am truly grateful for this assistance, as it has been instrumental in alleviating financial burdens and ensuring the well-being of my family.

Upon witnessing a plentiful maize harvest at the start of August, I made the decision to allocate the entire amount of my August transfer towards paying my son's school fees. Previously, in times when food scarcity was a challenge, I would use the funds to purchase food, with only a small portion going towards school fees. I am relieved that these transfers have allowed me to address my needs, which were often unmet due to financial constraints. As a widow, my main sources of income involve tending to the farm during the rainy season and raising a livestock herd. Since receiving the transfers, I have acquired the skill of saving money. This enables me to ensure that my son can continue his education, as I frequently allocate the funds towards his school fees. I am immensely grateful for the transfers, as they provide me with the assurance that my son will have the opportunity to pursue his studies, secure a decent job in the future, and eventually support me during my old age.

Reflecting on my childhood, I believe that receiving support from my parents to pay for my education would have been extremely beneficial for me. The lack of proper schooling has contributed significantly to the difficulties I face today. I do not want my son to have the same struggles as me, and receiving this transfer has been a significant boost in ensuring he receives a quality education. For the foreseeable future, and beyond, my goal is to provide my son with the best possible education. I want to ensure he has access to a conducive learning environment that will enable him to excel and pursue his desired career path.

After my husband passed away, I became a widow and the sole provider for my family. As a casual laborer selling charcoal, I earn only $3 a day, which is not enough to meet all of our needs. However, things started to improve when I joined two saving groups with 15 and 10 members, respectively, through a program I was enrolled in. I saved $10 in each group every month, contributing $20 from my transfers. Each month, one member from each group received $15 and $10, respectively, and could use the money for any purpose they needed. When it's my turn, I plan to use the money to pay for my son's school fees. Thanks to these savings groups, I no longer have to rely solely on my income to pay for my son's education. In addition, I spent $14 on food for my family, which ensured we never went to bed hungry. In the past, we often survived on only one meal a day, so the situation has improved. I am grateful for the support and funds provided by Give Directly.

Being a single parent has not been simple for me, especially since I don't have a steady income. I make a living by burning wood and selling charcoal. At $3 per bag of charcoal, the pay is appalling and the work is tedious. I can sell a maximum of three bags in a good week, netting me $9. This amount is not enough to cover all of my family's expenses, including buying food, clothes, and paying my son's tuition. The money from the transfers will assist me in achieving my main objective of sending my son to a university while also enabling me to purchase food for the house when I am unable to do so.

In my own opinion the funds could not have come at a better time than when they did and this is a specifically because at the time I was honestly very broke and it was the festive season. Therefore, the funds allowed me to spend on nutrition when it comes to my family at the time. I purchased a duck 1,000 then proceeded to buy seven packets of maize flour, two kilograms of wheat flour, two kilograms of sugar and a litre of cooking oil.

My son, a casual worker in house construction, is mostly the sole provider of my household of two people (my other son in grade six and I). However, sometimes I take on charcoal-burning tasks to supplement the little he sends home so we do not completely go hungry, a hustle that earns me around KES 500 per week. This amount can only provide for food, which makes clearing my younger son’s school fees on time a challenge. In fact, he was sent home the day I received the transfer due to an overdue tuition fee balance. I used KES 400 to clear it and he resumed his classes. Also, I used KES 1,100 to boost the food we had in store to ensure we had enough meals for the month. I saved the remaining amount through a self-help group. The aim is to raise a substantial amount of money by early next year to help my son join junior high school.

I am quite grateful for GiveDirectly and the generosity through the donations we receive. The funds have helped a great deal because they is much progress in my day to day life as compared to before. I have never witnessed such an organisation but I am glad I did because it is helping us move away from poverty.

After receiving the funds from GiveDirectly I immediately decided that I would begin by looking into nutrition. This is because drought had brought about a lot of starvation and on numerous occasions having a meal was a challenge. So I went ahead and bought nine packets of maize flour worth KES 1,215 in order for my family and I to have a meal. I was left with a balance of KES 1,785 which I used in buying a goat because I wanted it to be a long time investment. Previously I had bought another goat so now they were two. Farm animals were always marketable back here in the village and after they produced I would have more goats which I could sell when need arises.

Immediately I heard a message alert, I requested my son to confirm what it concerned. I was so excited when he said Give Directly had sent money. This transfer came in during my most needy moment. I am grateful because it helped to clear school fees and purchase food.

The biggest difference since I started receiving money from Give Directly is the ability to save more with my self help group. Before, I was inactive in contributing because of lack of funds. Now, am happy because the transfers allow me to save KES 400 weekly. This saving approach will enable me to cultivate a huge lumpsum, as income, towards the end of the year.

By the time I received the transfer, the school my child attends sent him to collect overdue school fees. So I prioritized paying the unsettled amount of KES 500, and he resumed classes. Also, I purchased food worth KES 1400 and three chickens for KES 600 to rear and sell later for an income. I saved the remaining amount, approximately KES 1200 through a self-help group.