I take on various part-time jobs, such as washing and serving in hotels, to make ends meet. In addition to this, I run a grocery business to support my family. In the coming year and beyond, my goal is to have a spacious separate house where I can have some peace. Currently, we are living in the same house as the goats, in separate rooms. This situation isn't healthy at all. I also have skills in tailoring and would like to start my own tailoring business. However, my major challenge is that I have not been able to afford a tailoring machine, and I am also looking for a suitable business premise. Therefore, I have started saving a portion of my GiveDirectly transfers in our merry-go-round group. This savings will help me acquire the sewing machine and set up the business premise. I am truly grateful for the financial support, as it has helped me to progress to a higher level.

I want to express my gratitude to GiveDirectly for their ongoing financial support. It has enabled us to establish a merry-go-round group where we pool our resources and invest in meaningful projects. Without their support, this wouldn't have been possible. Upon receiving my most recent transfer, I allocated $48 to my monthly merry-go-round contribution, this is gered to investing in buying goats for future finacial security. Additionally, I saved $30 in our merry go roung group towards purchasing a sewing machine to utilize my sewing skills. I also spent $3 on food for my family, as we were lacking supplies at the time of the transfer. With the remaining funds, I allocated $18.6to purchasing an iron sheet for my future house, used $4.7for medications when I fell unwell, and spent the remaining $70 on a leso, as I didn't own a presentable one.

After completing my tailoring class in 2018, I faced the challenge of not having enough money to buy a sewing machine. Determined to pursue my dream, I joined a merry-go-round to save up for the machine. Additionally, income from selling fish allows me to set aside funds towards this goal. My plan is to create new designs and offer them at affordable prices to my neighbors, leveraging my passion for tailoring. I am confident that with dedication and hard work, I will thrive in this field and achieve success.

As a single mother of a four year old child, currently undergoing treatment for a leg issue in Machakos, my priority is ensuring my child receives the care he needs. I spent $28 on transportation to and from the hospital, and $14 on food to sustain us during this challenging time. Utilizing NHIF for his treatment is crucial to aid his recovery so he can walk again. To strengthen our future, I have ventured into selling fish, investing $28 to expand my stock and increase profitability. This business provides stability for us. Additionally, I bought a pair of shoes for $2, bringing me joy amidst the responsibilities. With the remaining $32, I purchased a goat, adding to the two I already had. These goats bring me immense joy because they can multiply easily, providing opportunities to sell them and further expand my business. This signifies hope for a better future for my child and I.

Although I am a trained tailor, I haven't been able to practice my craft due to not owning a sewing machine. My aim for this year is to purchase one, enabling me to earn an income to support my son. Presently, I have three goats, and my strategy is to sell them when they reach five, allowing me to afford the sewing machine. The prospect of having a steady source of income brings me great joy and assurance. I am sincerely thankful to this organization for the assistance they have provided me.

A few years ago, I separated from my husband after our child suffered a minor leg injury that led to a disability, leaving him unable to walk. Currently living with my parents, I do not have any source of income and fully rely on their support. I am happy to say that GiveDirectly has been a source of hope for me and my son, and the transfers have facilitated his treatment since he requires frequent physiotherapy sessions. For this reason, I allocated $34 for transportation to Portreitz Hospital in Mombasa, where we attend regular clinics. Additionally, I used $38 to purchase a goat and a chicken, which I plan to sell in case of urgent needs. The remaining funds were used to buy clothes, shoes, and food for our Christmas celebrations. I am immensely grateful for the assistance, as it has granted me the freedom to allocate the transfers according to our needs.

My aspiration is to establish my own tailoring shop, as I possess the necessary skills to operate one proficiently. My target is to kickstart this venture by January, as my current situation of working at someone else's place is not ideal for me. It has been challenging to maintain consistency in my work, as I often do not have the opportunity to fully apply my skills. To make my dream a reality, I am diligently planning to invest in a new sewing machine, which is estimated to cost around $100. I firmly believe that this investment will enable me to become self-employed and self-reliant. Operating my own tailoring shop will provide me with the independence to serve my own clientele and generate a stable income. I am excited about the prospect of putting my skills to practical use, as such opportunities are relatively scarce in our region. With this endeavor, I am not only pursuing financial stability but also fulfilling my passion and contributing positively to my community through my expertise in tailoring.

As a single parent with one child, I have faced significant financial challenges over the past few years, mainly relying on casual jobs to make ends meet. I've always aspired to improve my circumstances, and to that end, I pursued and successfully completed a tailoring course. Upon completing my training, my ultimate goal was to establish my own tailoring shop. However, the primary hurdle I faced was a lack of capital. To overcome this obstacle, I began using a neighbour's sewing machines, but the opportunity to work consistently was limited. With the recent monthly transfers I received, I made a firm decision to save diligently, with the aim of purchasing a new sewing machine that costs $100. Currently, I have managed to save $68, and my plan is to acquire the machine, procure textile materials, and start my very own tailoring shop. This venture promises to generate a stable income for me, allowing me to leave behind the uncertainty of casual jobs. In addition to investing in my tailoring dream, I also spent $64 to purchase two goats. These animals represent valuable assets that I can rely on for my future financial needs. My objective is to let them increase in number, eventually selling them to finance my needs. With the remaining amount, I purchased essential household items and toiletries, addressing some of the items I previously lacked.

Depending on my father who is a traditional healer is not easy. His work is seasonal and he earns so little that the most he sends us daily is $2. I want to be able to become self sufficient. My hope is to first increase the number of animals I own to a sufficient level. I also want to start a business selling food to people, I want to save and reach $50 so I can start and slowly add to the business as such a business will require such a huge amount of money to reach my goal.

I am a single mother with a three year old child. I have been unable to feed and clothe my child due to my not having a source of income. I depend on my father for cash and he sends about $2 daily for the family to eat. We usually combine our finances with the rest of the family members to buy bundles of flour for the family to survive on for the month. So in March, April and May I gave $10 towards buying the flour bundles. I bought a number of dresses for my child in April and March and african fabric for myself in April and March. We combined finances in may and hired a plough and cows to help plough land and plant.

I am completely dependent on my parents right now because I do not have any other means of earnings. I need to come up with a solution to meet my child's needs before she enrolls in school because I have one that will start there shortly. I shall thus be buying and raising at least twenty hens this year. In order to raise money to buy goats, I will sell some of them after a year because they increase more quickly and are therefore more profitable. I'll sell some of them later, after two years, to raise money so I can start a business. Even though I still don't know which company to invest in, I think I will have decided by then.

Our family, which consists of my parents, siblings, and daughter, totals eleven people. My mother burns charcoal for sale, and my father, who is the major breadwinner, stays in town and runs a business selling medicinal herbs. Before we were enrolled into the program, they had been having a hard time supporting the eleven of us. My mother, my brother, and I are all program participants, so whenever we receive money, we all chip in a little bit for food. I contributed to our family's meals with $48 of the money I got over the past three months. We also gave $20 each, which we put toward plowing our land and buying the maize seeds we sowed. Other than that, most of the clothing I and my daughter owned was ripped, so I spent a total of $26 on new clothing. I spent $8 on two hens to raise because I had no other income.

From the time GiveDirectly began to work in our area, it does well in promoting development within the community. From the transfer, I can attest that currently, I am not borrowing the African traditional fabric when attending ceremonial functions or shoes to wear. My neighbors have all changed their lifestyles and their living standard.

I am a mother of one child and recently separated and moved back home. Unfortunately, my family has been having financial issues, hence being the eldest am expected to take up some responsibilities. As soon as I received my recent transfer, I prioritized spending $20 on food. The previous night, we had no food to make a meal for the family. In addition, I used $3 to buy a hen. The remaining balance of $ 7 is used to buy a traditional African fabric, “leso” which is ideal for a woman at home. I am glad that even after moving back home and adapting to my new life I am so grateful to have made an impact on my family through GiveDirectly.

Having finished doing my house chores, I decided to chat with my mother as usual. While still at it, I heard my phone beep a clear indication that I had received a message. I quickly checked and indeed confirmed that GiveDirectly had sent me my portion of the cash transfer. With my heart melting with joy, I did not hesitate to share the good news with my mother and together we uttered some blessings for GiveDirectly. Since it was noon time, I held on my horse till 4pm after which I made some withdrawal . I am glad that the cash was instrumental in solving part of my other cash related challenges.

The biggest difference in my daily life is witnessing my daughter's health improve tremendously after attending regular clinics as per the dictate of the doctor without failing. For sure I can breath a sigh of relief for my father was relieved of the duty of taking care of my daughter's medical bills. Thank you GiveDirectly for coming through financially for us.

I also bought food for the eleven family members to help my dad who sell traditional medicine. Thanks to GiveDirectly...Since my daughter got involved in an accident that led to her leg being broken, we have had lots of hospital visits just to seek medication for her affected leg. The last doctor's appointment almost failed due to lack of money. However, I am grateful that GiveDirectly came to my rescue at the nick of time by sending me my portion of cash transfer which immediately facilitated her hospital visit and later on her medication. I could have depended on my father who had been footing all her medical bills but by that time did not have money. Being a single parent with a sick child has never been a walk in the park. I really appreciate the financial support that GiveDirectly extended to me which has seen my daughter's health improve tremendously. Besides, I also bought food for our extended family of eleven members thus assisting my dad who sells traditional medicine as way to make ends meet.