"We fetch water from the canals of river perkera which is not safe and healthy for domestic use. This nudges me to prioritize a plastic water tank worth KES 35000. Our area is conducive and suitable for livestock keeping, I will invest KES 50000 to purchase a cow and five goats."

"we bought a cow because we needed to take milk"

"For many years, our village endured a severe drought, making it hard for me to afford basic necessities like water and food. To make ends meet, I resorted to selling charcoal, but the business did not do well. However, the intervention of GiveDirectly brought about a remarkable transformation in my life. Through their support, I joined a savings group, enabling me to purchase a cow and chickens. Furthermore, I allocated $24 to buy books and uniforms for my grandchild, who was joining Junior Secondary school. Another $20 was wisely saved in our local savings group, to be used later on to buy iron roofing sheets. Additionally, $34 went towards buying storage bags to safeguard the maize I had harvested, which was at risk of spoilage due to lack of proper storage. The remaining funds went towards replenishing our food supplies, which had run out. GiveDirectly has brought a renewed sense of hope to my family, for which I am deeply thankful."

"Every morning, I wake up and take my goats and cows to drink water. By noon, I'm back home. One day, some people from Givedirectly came to visit me. I didn't know about it before, but I accepted the free money after they explained it to me. I'm really happy and grateful because now I have extra goats and cows that I can sell if I need money in an emergency. Please keep doing your good work and helping people get out of poverty."

"I spent $100 to buy two goats. Goats do really well here and they multiply easily. I decided to get two more goats, so now I have 32. I love having lots of goats. They don't need much help during dry seasons, unlike cows and sheep. I also spent $40 on food. I used to rely on my son, who has a hotel at Maoi center, but now I can take care of myself. With the rest of the money, I finished building my house. It's just one room made of iron sheets, and I still use my old house, made of grass and mud, as a kitchen. I'm really happy and thankful for everything."

"I'm really happy and thankful for what Givedirectly did for me. With the money they gave me last time, I made my home safer by putting up a fence with barbed wire and metal wire. I needed this because hyenas kept coming in and attacking my goats. Before I got the money, they even killed four of them, which stressed me out because my goats are how I make money. Also, I used some of the money to pay £130 for my grandchild's school fees at Tenges secondary school. Usually, I sell my cows to pay for this. Lastly, I spent £140 on food. I used to sell goats to buy food and other things we need, but now I have 70 goats and 6 cows, so I'm keeping them and using the cash for our family of four, including me, my husband, and our two grandchildren."

"When I received my most recent transfer of $450, I used $300 to purchase goats that I now keep in my farm. This was a top up from the other three that I had bought using the first transfer. It is an investment that I have always wanted to achieve because I was taking care of someone else's goats for a pay. I had always wanted to have my ownbut I had no capacity to raise enough funds to be able to do this. Receiving this money provided me with an opportunity to invest in this manner and I am so glad of my achievements so far. Initially, I used to own cows but they were not favoured by the hot weather that we experience in here and they ended up dying. This prompted me to have a second thought on the type of investment that we have or we could make. By December this year, I project that I will be having more goats and that I can finally take care of my own goats while I leave the ones that I have been taking care of to be taken care of by their owner."

"In my current work, I am engaged in selling and burning charcoal to sustain my family. Concurrently, I am nurturing four goats with the intention of increasing their numbers through breeding. This strategic move will facilitate the sale of some goats, enabling me to procure a dairy cow. With this acquisition, I aim to launch my own milk-selling business, catering to the needs of my neighbors and expanding my income streams. My goal is to secure a substantial profit, ensuring my children enjoy an uninterrupted education and fostering an improvement in our living standards."

"My goal this year is to start a goat-rearing business, which holds great promise, especially if the goats multiply. This venture is well-suited to our area, and if successful, I plan to trade some goats for a cow. I will use the saved transfers to kickstart this business. Having an additional income source will ensure my family's well-being and enable me to comfortably educate my son. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of this program."

"I've been saving up and planning to get some goats. It might seem like a small step, but it's a big one for me. These goats will serve multiple purposes. Firstly, they'll act as my financial security. I can sell them or exchange them for a cow later on, which will be a significant asset for my family. Secondly, having my own livestock will bring me a sense of ownership ,happiness and pride. It's not just about keeping animals for others; I want to have something that's truly mine. Currently, the little I earn from selling milk only covers the smaller needs of my family. But with goats of my own, I'll have a sustainable source of income that can help us thrive in the long term. It's a simple dream, but one that holds immense importance for me and my loved ones."