"In the coming year, I hope to venture into poultry farming, a step towards financial security for my family of eight. My plan is to start with six chickens, a modest yet promising beginning, with $30 in capital that I have diligently saved. This small poultry farm will not only provide us with eggs and meat but also generate income for our family's needs. The profits from the poultry sales will play a crucial role in covering expenses such as school fees for my children and providing food for our family. This new venture is more than just an income source; it is a pathway to a brighter future where we can better meet our family's basic needs and aspirations. To concentrate on this endeavor, I intend to take a break from herding, a change that signifies my commitment to making this poultry farm a success. I am excited about the opportunities it will offer my family. This new chapter represents a chance to secure our family's well-being and create a more stable and fulfilling life for all of us."

"Receiving my transfers was a turning point in my life. I made a conscious decision to invest in my daughter's education by saving $350 in a bank account. It is for her admission to grade 10 next year, a milestone I have eagerly anticipated. I also allocated $30 to purchase chickens, as they thrive in our region, and $90 for goats, knowing they breed rapidly, ensuring a future source of income. The remainder of the money went into providing food for our household. My family of six relies on maize farming as our primary source of livelihood, and this additional support has allowed us to cover school fees for my children, a burden that used to weigh heavily on my shoulders. The transfers have eased our financial struggles, bringing stability and hope back into our lives. Looking forward, I am excited about the potential income we can generate from selling the goats, eggs, and chickens once they breed and mature. As a single parent, every opportunity to secure additional income is a step towards ensuring a better future for my loved ones. The transfers have given us the chance to not only meet our immediate needs but to invest in a brighter, more secure tomorrow."

"My three grandsons were sent home from school due to unpaid fees, and I couldn't find peace knowing they were missing out on their education while their peers continued to learn. My son has been struggling to cover their expenses due to his irregular and uncertain employment in construction. In response, I decided to pay $26 to clear their fee arrears, and I'm delighted to see them back in the classroom. During the past few months, I've also managed to invest $73 in acquiring two goats and three chickens, which I'm currently raising. I'm pleased to say that I now own four goats, and I consider them valuable assets. I believe that as they multiply, I'll be able to sell them to meet my financial needs since I currently lack a stable source of income. In addition to these efforts, I've joined a savings group, which I recently started by contributing $10. My goal is to save up for building a new house, as my current residence is in poor condition. I plan to use the savings to purchase essential building materials such as iron sheets, timber, and building poles. Finally, I used the remaining funds for some much-needed household shopping to address items I lacked in my home"

"I allocated $30 from my recent transfer to cover school fees and purchase various items for my son, including stationery, new uniforms, and shoes. This ensured that his education would not be disrupted due to financial constraints, as he was beginning a new term. In addition to supporting my son's educational needs, I had the joy of welcoming a new baby girl into our family. The transfer proved invaluable in helping me purchase essential items for her, such as clothing and other necessities, which amounted to $10. Furthermore, I ventured into a small business, selling sardines and various food staples like sugar, flour, and vegetables. Although the profit margin has not been substantial, it has helped us meet our basic needs, such as food, with ease. With the recent transfer, I invested $30 to expand my stock, with hopes of increasing sales and consequently boosting our profits in the future. I also faced the challenge of covering my father's medical expenses when he fell ill and required hospitalization. Thankfully, the transfer came to my aid, allowing me to contribute $34 towards his medical bills, alleviating my worries. I spent the remaining amount to purchase two chickens and acquire some much-needed household items that had been missing from our daily necessities."

"I've encountered various challenges when it comes to covering the expenses of my six children, all of whom are currently enrolled in school. Considering the modest income I earn from my occasional jobs, my children would be facing frequent interruptions in their education if it weren't for the support we receive. I'm grateful that, despite my financial hardships, my children continue to attend school without disruptions. For the recent transfers, I managed to pay $45 to settle the outstanding school fees on time. Additionally, I operate a small shop where I sell sardines and various food items. I invested nearly $70 to replenish the stock in this shop. Although it hasn't fully taken off, I'm pleased to see at least a $5 profit, which supplements my earnings from the casual jobs and helps cover some household expenses. I'm hopeful that I can expand the shop further and diversify my products to increase profits. I also purchased a chicken for $5 and added it to my existing poultry. I used the remaining transfer to buy essential food items, ensuring that my family was adequately nourished."

"My current residence lacks the necessary space to comfortably accommodate my six children. Consequently, they frequently find themselves seeking shelter from our neighbors during the night. This situation has been a source of significant concern for me, as it affects their ability to focus on their studies since they are all attending school. For a considerable period, my primary objective has been to construct a larger and more accommodating house for my family. I am immensely grateful for this program, as it offers hope that I will soon be able to achieve this goal. Recently, I used $40 of my monthly transfer to purchase five iron sheets, moving me closer to my target of acquiring 16 sheets and the necessary building poles for the construction project. Building a new house will alleviate the stress and inconvenience my children face when searching for alternative shelter at night. In addition to this, I allocated $60 to cover the school fees for my six children and provided them with new school uniforms. This has allowed them to attend school comfortably, granting me peace of mind as I prepare to pay for the next term's fees. Furthermore, I also invested $12 in purchasing four chicken, which I have added to my poultry project. My ultimate goal is to establish an income-generating venture through this poultry project. I spent the remaining transfer on purchasing essential food items, ensuring that my family had a sufficient supply of food."

"By the end of the transfer period, my goal is to have a growing herd of goats and chickens. If it weren't for the hunger we faced in my household over the past year, I would have been able to secure more goats by now, but I'm grateful for the one I recently acquired. In the future, I'm confident that I'll be able to sell these animals to generate funds that I can use to contribute to household needs, including food and school fees for my grandchildren. I never want to see them struggle in school due to a lack of tuition."

"In the past, I used some of the initial cash transfers to buy chickens for rearing. I was hoping they would reproduce and increase our flock, but unfortunately, they all perished from coccidiosis. Ever since I have been hesitant to get more chickens as the disease is still prevalent in the community. Instead of buying more chickens now, I'd like to switch to goats. Raising goats is one of the surest ways to continue generating income for me in the future, even after the cash transfers end. This will enable me to buy food for my family and help support the education of my two grandchildren."

"My son used to be the main provider for my family until June of last year when he fell ill with Tuberculosis-like complications, which led to him losing his job. I then took on the responsibility of providing for my eight grandchildren by engaging in charcoal burning. However, I had to temporarily pause this activity to focus on farming, making the cash transfers our primary source of income. Each month, I allocate $15 to reduce the tuition debts for my grandchildren, which can include fees for exams, sports, or remedial classes. Carrying this financial burden alone is challenging, and I'm grateful for the cash transfers as they have lightened the load. Before our recent crop harvest, I used the $19 every month to buy food to ensure my family didn't go hungry while waiting for the crops to mature. After the harvest, I spent $8 from the remaining monthly amount to purchase two chickens for raising, and the rest went towards posho mill charges. This was my first opportunity to buy chickens since the cash transfers started, and I'm excited to finally own livestock. In the future, I can sell them to generate funds for my grandchildren's school fees."

"My two sons are the main breadwinners in the family. They work as casual laborers in house construction and one of them works in a garage to provide food and support their children's education. There are days when they return home empty-handed after unsuccessful workdays. Before the planting season began, this often forced us to rely on food credit or even go to bed hungry. However, I'm relieved that the recent rainy season allowed us to grow our food, freeing up some space in our budget to use the cash transfers for other needs. I used $40 to buy a goat and $12 for five chickens. The cost of buying goats has been increasing, but I'm grateful that the cash transfers have made it possible for me to own some. I understand that in the future, after the cash transfers stop, I can sell these goats to contribute to household expenses like food, instead of depending solely on my sons. I also spent $7 to buy a pair of ‘khanga’ because my previous clothing had worn out from repeated use. Additionally, before our harvest, we experienced hunger in our household, so I spent $43 to buy food that sustained my family until the crops were ready."