"My house was very old, and the aged roof, full of holes, was a constant source of distress due to leaks during the rainy season. The rest of the house was also on the verge of collapsing and slowly falling apart. Determined to build a new house for myself, I devised a strategy to save money. I saved my transfers in a local savings group to eventually take out a substantial loan for the building. I'm happy to share that I finally acquired the loan, and my house is making great progress. It will soon be complete. Once it's finished, I plan to continue saving my transfers in our group to repay the loan and then acquire another loan to buy goats. I'm hopeful that these goats will multiply and increase in number and value, providing me with a reliable source of income, especially when this project comes to an end."

"Financial constraints are the greatest challenge. I am a single mother and raising my children has been an uphill task since I depend on casual jobs. I have a differently abled child and a young one hence going a whole day for work is not possible because they require my attention. Sometimes I have to stay home to look after them forcing me to borrow from neighbors."

"I was doing my house duties at home alone. My husband had taken our goats to the grazing field, and my children were at school. My mother-in-law had come home earlier that day and told me she heard people had received GiveDirectly money; I confirm hers, which she had received. I continued my work, and later a message popped up confirming I had received the transfer. This was indeed the happiest news. A lot was bothering me at that period, and I knew I could finally sort out my problems. I patiently waited for my husband to return home and shared the news with him. He was happy and told me to call GiveDirectly immediately to say thank you, which I did."

"I was on my way to the nearby center to sort some things when I heard a message. After checking, I confirmed that I had received $183 from GiveDirectly. I was expecting the transfer but didn’t know the exact date. This warmed my heart. I immediately called my father to confirm if he had received his, and he did. We were both equally happy and felt this was indeed a blessing from God. Returning home that evening, I informed my wife, who was so excited. This gave us assurance of fulfilling our intended plans. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"I used $111 to buy three goats, fulfilling a long-standing wish. Goats are a great asset because they are drought-resistant and can be sold during emergencies, such as for food or school fees. This investment is not just about immediate needs but also about securing a more stable future for my family. With $200, I purchased a heifer, another significant investment. The plan is to sell surplus milk once the heifer calves, and eventually, the herd will grow. The income from this will help pay school fees for my five children, ensuring they have access to education, which is a priority for me. I used $70 to settle a debt in a savings and loaning group, which allowed me to qualify for another loan to build a kitchen. Additionally, I paid $120 towards my children's primary school fees. The rest of the money was used to buy household food items, which was essential given the recent difficulties in food access due to poor weather conditions. This has ensured that my children can come home to a nutritious meal, giving me peace of mind."

"On that particular day, I had taken my two cows and two sheep to a distant forest for grazing. I returned home around 4:00 pm, feeling extremely exhausted and hungry. Upon arriving home, I went straight to the kitchen to light a fire and prepare tea to ease my hunger. While tending to the fire, I heard my phone beep with an SMS notification. I quickly checked to see whose message it was. To my immense joy, it was an Mpesa SMS informing me that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. The happiness that filled my heart was immeasurable. This meant I could send my son, who had been home for a week due to unpaid school fees, back to school. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for bringing hope and relief to our family."

"In the coming year and beyond, I have a dream I hope to achieve: expanding the rental house I own. This project will not only increase my income but also strengthen our financial stability. To fund this expansion, I’m relying on the monthly savings I contribute to our merry-go-round savings group through cash transfers, along with my husband's savings. Once the expansion is complete, I’m confident that the additional rental income will make it much easier to pay for my four children’s fees and meet their needs without struggle. I’m optimistic that I’ll be able to start this project within the next few months."

"I separated from my husband about five years ago, leaving me with four children to care for. Life was very hard, and I struggled a lot, doing casual jobs that paid only $3 per day, which wasn't even enough for a day's meal. We often collected vegetables from the bush and bought maize flour. Sometimes, when I couldn't find work, we went to bed hungry. I tried to balance it by working on my own farm, but the major problem was the need for a generator to pump water to the fields. Sometimes, I couldn't access a generator, and my farm would dry up, causing me to lose all my crops. So, when I received my transfer, I used $160 to purchase a generator. I had only one chair at home, so I spent $16 to buy two more, so visitors would have somewhere to sit. I also bought shoes for my kids for $10; they are very happy now, having nice shoes like other children. Lastly, I used the remaining amount to buy food to ensure we have enough at home. Thank you so much, GiveDirectly, because I see a better life through your support."

"I currently own six goats and intend to invest further in them so that as they multiply, I can eventually exchange them for cows. Cows will be valuable assets for me as they can help in tilling my land and I can also rent them out to my neighbors for additional income. In addition to raising livestock, I sell vegetables to my neighbors to generate income. My goal is to increase my earnings to enhance my family's quality of life and ensure my children have a smoother time studying."

"I am currently building my own house—a two-room stone structure that fills me with hope. My old mud house is falling due to heavy rain damage, so this new project holds significant meaning for me and my family. Once it's finished, we will finally have a stable and comfortable home to call our own. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I have been able to purchase materials for construction, and I am confident it will be completed soon."