"Floods wretched havoc in the village during the month of July this year. We lost our home and 2 acres of maize plantation. Forced to relocate to this location and build a one-roomed hat. It has made our lives really hard since getting food is difficult. The losses meant we have to seek alternative sources of income. We currently depend on fishing or burning charcoal to support our family of nine."

"Currently, I'm faced with the challenge of lacking food. Having cultivated my 2 hector land and planted maize in the month of April, I had hoped that I would have a good harvest. However, because of the rising water level of lake Baringo my whole farm ended up submerged with part of my crops. I only managed to get 2 bags of maize which is not enough for my family. This has stressed me greatly since I don't have enough money to buy more food. This has made life quite difficult for my family and I."

"My husband and I have lost 1 acre of maize farm to flush floods twice this year. We have had to sell some of our goats to sustain our family of 5. These devastating effects of climate change have caused a decline in our wealth by negatively impacting agricultural food production, posing a risk to food security."

"Currently we are facing a lot of challenges that make our life hard. However, the greatest challenge I'm facing currently is the lack of money to buy food and pay for my children's school fees. My husband and I depend on casual work which is not enough since we only get work occasionally. This makes life hard because we get stressed up whenever our children are sent home for school fees."

"I used to depend on farming to make a living but unfortunately I lost it all when floods happened two months ago. One acre of maize plantation was swept away leaving me with a big loss financially at the same time no food for my family. I was forced to start doing casual jobs and it drains me because I am not able to meet all my family's basic needs."

"Farming has been the main source of income for our household. Three months ago, the rains were heavy in the highlands. It led to the expansion of Lake Baringo, the Lake submerged our one acre of tomatoes. We were almost harvesting, this led to big losses to our household. We lost capital plus land to plant more crops. It has made our lives difficult. My husband now does a motorcycle taxi business or sometimes casual jobs just to support our family."

"My goal in the coming year and beyond is to ensure the successful enrollment of my son in college. He completed his secondary education last year, but financial challenges have delayed his admission. With the success I've had in my poultry project, I am now confident that I can raise the money needed for him to join college next month and pursue his favorite course in mechanical engineering. I am truly happy that the financial support I receive is helping me support the educational dreams of my children, and I look forward to seeing my son take this important step towards a brighter future."

"My primary goal for the coming year and beyond is to expand my goat-rearing project while using my transfers to invest in my children's education. I chose goat rearing because goats multiply quickly, providing a reliable safety net for future crises. In case of any financial challenges, such as school fees for my children—my top priority—I can sell some goats to cover the costs. This plan fills me with determination and hope as I work towards securing my children's educational needs. I've already managed to acquire four goats, and I'm striving to use part of my transfers to buy more. I know that even when these transfers eventually come to an end, I will have a lasting project initiated by this support, reminding me of the impact these monthly transfers have had. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for their support."

"In the coming year and beyond, I have two important projects to establish. First, I want to open my own hotel business to secure an income that can support my children and family. To achieve this, I joined a merry-go-round group where I save $20 every month, knowing that by December, it will be my turn to receive my savings. Currently, I live in Mombasa after separating from my spouse. I moved here in search of work and am currently employed at a hotel. This job is temporary as I focus on gathering skills and saving money to achieve my dream of owning my own business. Secondly, my next plan for the coming year and beyond is to buy a piece of land and build a home for my two children. Currently, I live in my parents' house, but I strongly feel the necessity of having our own space for the betterment of my sons. It's essential for their stability and well-being, offering them a sense of security and belonging. Owning our own home would not only provide us with physical shelter but also symbolize a fresh start—a place where we can create new memories and rebuild our lives together. This is a dream I've been nurturing for quite some time, and I'm determined to turn it into a reality, no matter the challenges that lie ahead."

"I still have school-going children who will soon transition to secondary school, so I’ve developed a plan to ensure I can cover their fees. Understanding that everything has a beginning and an end, I want to use part of my monthly transfers to invest in something long-lasting that will remind me of the support I received. In the coming year and beyond, I plan to start rearing goats. I chose goats because they multiply quickly and adapt well to our environment, making them resistant to diseases when properly cared for. Goats are also easy to manage and inexpensive to maintain, so even when the transfers come to an end, I’ll still have a source of income. If a financial crisis arises in the future, I can sell some goats to resolve it. Additionally, I hope to buy a dairy cow once my goat project is well-established. To achieve this, I plan to sell some goats once I have a good number and use the money to purchase a dairy cow. This is my goal for the coming year and beyond."