I would also like to buy a new mattress costing around $80 USD because the one I currently have is old, and I want to provide a comfortable and healthy environment for my child. In addition, I will use some of the money to ensure that I have enough nutritious food during and after pregnancy so that both my baby and I can stay healthy. I also hope to save part of the funds to start a boutique business with approximately $210 once my child is about six months old. This business will help me support my family, meet daily household needs, and create a more stable source of income for the future. Furthermore, the support will reduce some of the financial stress I am currently facing and help me prepare better for motherhood and my child’s well-being.

However, I am now happy because of this project (Mothers and Babies) as I believe it is going to improve my living conditions.

My immediate focus is to make proper preparations for my baby and ensure that I am fully ready for a safe delivery. Equally important is my need to address my current health crisis. This financial support will allow me to purchase wholesome, nutritious foods like fruits and other healthy meals that my body can comfortably tolerate and keep down, helping me regain my strength. Looking to the long term, I plan to purchase a cow in the name of my baby. This is not just a commercial choice, but a symbolic and lasting investment dedicated entirely to my child’s future. By establishing this asset, I will ensure a foundation of financial security for my growing family, turning this period of struggle into a legacy of stability.

In the past, we rarely talked deeply or shared personal matters, but recently we have been communicating more often, and this has given me a lot of emotional support and encouragement during difficult times. Through our conversations, my father has been guiding and advising me in a positive way. One piece of advice that touched me deeply was when he encouraged me not to sit and depend fully on my spouse’s income, but instead to look for something productive that I can do to earn my own income as well. He reminded me that as my first child continues to grow, family responsibilities will also increase, and having my own source of income would help me contribute towards buying household essentials and supporting my child’s needs. His encouragement has given me hope, confidence, and motivation to think about rebuilding myself financially again. It has also made me happy knowing that if I become stable in the future, I will not only support my own family but also be able to send a little money home to assist my father in paying school fees for my younger brothers. These conversations with my father have strengthened our bond and given me emotional strength, hope for the future, and the determination to work towards improving my family’s life.

My immediate priority for the first transfer is to purchase essential items for my baby, ensuring I am prepared for their arrival. Beyond these immediate needs, I have a clear vision for long-term stability. As a nursing graduate, I am eager to put my skills to use by starting a business—specifically a chemist (pharmacy). This would allow me to utilize my professional training to provide for my family while serving my community. Finally, this support will be life-saving for my own health. It will ensure that I can afford the medication and professional care I need throughout my pregnancy journey, allowing me to manage my current physical complications safely. To me, this money represents the chance to transition from a patient in need to a professional and mother who can provide.

I will then be able to sell some of them and improve our living standards. My second plan is to open a shop. This business will help me support my family of four in addition to selling vegetables and sardines.

My first priority is to improve our living conditions; our current house has a leaking roof, and repairing it is essential to ensure a dry, safe, and dignified environment for my growing family. Beyond immediate shelter, I plan to invest in our future financial independence. I intend to purchase a female cow as a long-term investment, which will provide both nutritional security and potential income. Additionally, I plan to open a small kiosk to sell shop items. Having a steady business of my own will break the cycle of depending on irregular casual labor and provide the consistent income we desperately need. Most importantly, this support ensures a safe path to motherhood. It will allow me to make proper arrangements for a safe delivery in a health facility and give me the financial freedom to seek medical attention immediately whenever I feel unwell. To me, this money isn't just a payment; it will be the seed for a healthier life, a secure home, and a sustainable future for my child.

One of my first priorities will be preparing for my baby’s arrival. I plan to use about 10,000 KES (approximately $77) to buy baby items such as clothes, blankets, diapers, and other essentials so that I can be ready for delivery and avoid struggling during that important period. I also plan to invest about 20,000 KES (approximately $154) into boosting my grocery business. Before my health challenges during pregnancy, the business helped me support my family in small ways, but due to limited capital and my condition, it became difficult to sustain it properly. Expanding the business would help me stock more goods, attract more customers, and earn better profit. What encourages me most is knowing that even after the cash transfers end, the business can continue operating and supporting my family long-term. I want to proudly join my husband again in providing for our home instead of depending on him alone. Another important plan is improving my children’s sleeping condition. Currently, my children sleep on the floor, which is very uncomfortable and painful for me as a mother to see. I would like to buy them a bed so they can sleep in a safer and more comfortable place. I also hope to buy sofa sets worth around $154. At the moment, I only have five plastic chairs in the house, some of which are already broken. They are not enough for my family, and it becomes embarrassing whenever visitors come to my home because we do not have proper seating. Having decent furniture would restore comfort and dignity in my house. Lastly, I plan to save about $77 for future emergencies. Life has taught me that unexpected situations such as sickness or urgent family needs can arise at any time, and having some savings would give me peace of mind and help protect my family during difficult moments. My goal is to use the cash transfer in a responsible way that creates both immediate relief and long-term improvement for my family’s wellbeing and future.

I also paid my hospital bill for safe delivery.