"The nature of my job as a charcoal vendor is what has exposed me to this hardship in life. This is because the income I get is very minimal to sustain all our household needs. Although I have a spouse, we still have the same challenges because we are in a polygamous family. This means his support is very limited. From this job, I usually make $40 per month when luck becomes a portion of that month. For this reason, we have lived a very pathetic life with my 5 children. In most cases, we miss food, children are sent out of school not forgetting the state of my house which is open to the walls. Hence, these become the challenges that I am currently facing."

"Moving forward, my primary goal is to embark on a livestock rearing and selling business. The abundant rainfall we have recently experienced promises an ample supply of food for my family in the coming months. Consequently, I plan to invest a significant portion of my subsequent transfers in acquiring as many goats as possible. By doing so, I aim to build a valuable asset for the future. If the need arises for extra funds, I can easily sell some of the goats to support myself financially. This venture holds the potential to provide both sustenance and a potential source of income for my family and me."

"My most significant achievement for the upcoming year is the realization of owning my own home. Despite a prolonged search for accommodation in my son's house, I am thrilled to announce that I will soon have a place I can call my own. Apart from securing a house, I am eager to fulfill another lifelong dream, which involves investing a substantial portion of my funds into establishing a livestock rearing venture. Having my very own livestock has been a long-standing aspiration of mine, and I am excited to make it a reality."

"In the upcoming years, my most significant achievement will be acquiring livestock, particularly goats. Goats are relatively affordable, and I can easily purchase them using my monthly stipend. My ultimate aspiration is to possess bulls, which will assist me in tilling my land during the rainy season and even generate income by tilling other people's land. I am confident that this endeavor will be prosperous, especially now that we have an abundance of food after the harvest. I intend to dedicate my monthly stipends to acquiring and investing in livestock, ensuring the success of this project."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, my primary focus and greatest achievement will be directed towards significant investments in livestock rearing. The recent rainfall has been favorable, allowing us to plant maize, and we are grateful to expect a bountiful harvest this month. With this upcoming surplus, I intend to redirect my expenses from food purchases and instead allocate the funds towards acquiring livestock. This strategic move aims to provide a safety net for any unforeseen emergencies, as I can sell the livestock and utilize the funds to address urgent situations as they arise."

"I have been suffering from pressure and ulcers for over five years now. I can not engage on any hard activities due to this problem. This has limited my sources of income and as a result sometimes I go without food. Healthy issues is the challenge I am currently facing in life."

"I allocated my first transfers towards purchasing 9 iron sheets, costing roughly $96. I am formulating plans to construct a decent two-room house for my family. This new dwelling will provide us with an opportunity to relocate from our current, quite unsafe structure, which has aged significantly and offers limited space for my family. I then spent the remaining $90 on restocking our food supply, which should last approximately a month."

"It was around 3:00 pm, and I was in my shamba, trying to chase away livestock that were getting into my maize farm because the fences were weak. Just then, my phone buzzed with an incoming SMS. I quickly reached for it out of my sweater pocket and was thrilled to find a Mpesa SMS verifying the receipt of a GD transfer. I was so happy because now I could fix the pressing issues that were facing me, such as reinforcing a strong fence around my farm to stop the animals from ruining my crops."

"Living with my elderly mother has been a constant struggle, especially with the irregular work I do, earning just $2.5 on fortunate occasions. It's tough to make ends meet, but the recent transfer brought a glimmer of hope. I used $50 to ensure we have enough food to sustain ourselves, and I also invested $20 in weeding my maize farm, hoping for a good harvest that will benefit us. In addition to our daily challenges, I've always dreamed of a better home than the small hut my mother lovingly built for us. But my financial constraints made that dream feel out of reach. Thankfully, the recent transfer has changed everything. With $100, I purchased 10 iron sheets, a significant step towards building a better house. I plan to build a two-roomed house made of iron sheet walls. With $10 remaining from the transfer, I wisely invested it in repairing my goats' shelter, which had holes that the small ones could pass through. This improvement ensures our livestock will be safe and secure."

"Receiving the transfers was a significant relief for me, especially as I am the sole provider for my three children after separating from my spouse some years ago. My current job, herding my neighbor's livestock, only pays me $30 per month, which is barely enough for our basic needs. However, with the transfer, I was able to prioritize my family's well-being. I used $90 to buy essential food supplies to ensure that my children had proper nourishment. Another important investment I made was to build a new and better house for us. With $280 of the transfer, I purchased iron sheets and iron rods as materials to start off the project in order to replace our small and leaking hut. I am happy that my long-desired dream of having a more comfortable dwelling has come true, and I plan to start the construction process soon after receiving the third transfer. Paying $80 of my child's school fee using the transfer was also a significant relief. My child is in secondary school, and I have been struggling to keep up with the fees, leading to her being sent home on several occasions. Being able to clear part of the arrears has alleviated my worries and made me feel like a better parent. I am grateful for the support that the transfers have provided, enabling me to improve the quality of life for my family."