"I planted 1.5 acres of maize, but it was swept away by recent floods. Since then, I have been unable to resume farming due to financial constraints. Farming was crucial for providing food, but now we rely on charcoal burning, which only brings in about KES 300 daily which is insufficient in covering our basic needs like food and other essential items. Moreover, our house was destroyed by the floods, I currently lack the funds to rebuild a house for my family of seven. This poses a significant challenge, especially during rainfall seasons."

"After our house was destroyed by floods, my family of 9 is now living in a tent. We don't have the funds to build a proper structure. Our livelihood depends on fishing, but the daily income of KES 300 isn't sufficient to cover food expenses and school fees for my 2 secondary school children. The floodwaters swept away our household items, bedding, utensils, and the children's learning materials. Due to financial constraints, we're unable to replace these essential items."

"Currently, I own twelve goats. My goal is to save enough money to buy more goats and allow them to multiply. Eventually, I aim to sell them so that I can acquire cows. While I would have started buying more goats earlier, my priority has been paying off my children's school fees. I still owe over $180 in school fees debt, but I am determined to clear this before the end of the year. This will enable me to focus more on expanding my goat farming venture towards achieving my long-term goal of owning cows."

"My biggest goal is to ensure that my children continue attending school so that they can help me in the future. Currently, I make and sell charcoal, but I want my children to have a better life than mine. I plan to buy yams from the market and sell them at a fair price to my fellow villagers. By saving from my business and with the help of transfers, I aim to raise enough money to help me start this business. This will enable me to pay my children's school fees on time and without any difficulties."

"My husband and I decided to buy a piece of land, three acres in size, where we are currently growing maize and vegetables. The harvest from this land has already brought us great joy, as we have earned $350 from selling the maize that we have harvested. We are working hard to pay off the $1000 cost of the land; so far, we have paid $810. By the end of the year, we hope to purchase more land where we can build our own shop. There, we plan to sell a variety of goods, making it a valuable investment for our family's future."

"I am currently away from home attending tailoring college. I finished my form four in 2022, and because we are a large family and my parents are unable to support all of us financially, I have taken on the responsibility of paying my own school fees. I see how challenging life has been for my older siblings who have completed their education, and I am determined not to face the same hardships. My dream is to complete my tailoring education and open my own shop where I can design beautiful dresses for my community. By doing so, I hope to not only fulfill my passion but also create opportunities for myself and contribute positively to my family's financial stability."

"I currently have four chickens, and I plan to exchange them for goats, ones they multiply. Though I don't have a stable job, I often work at construction sites. Once the chickens mature and hatch, I will trade them for goats to fund my house construction. My dream is to build a large room because I currently live in my brother's house. Each time I receive my transfers, I buy a metal sheet. So far, I have purchased ten metal sheets, but I need sixteen in total. I aim to have my own house so that when my brother marries, I can easily transition to my own place and the whole process will be seamless."

"I have had a goal of building my flock of animals. Last we spoke I only had two goats. Now I have three goats. I sold the chicken I had to buy a kid which has joined the other two. I have also added chicken which now are 6 and I plan to increase their numbers which will allow me to meet my goal of buying more goats and in turn buying a cow. I also now have the plan to complete my solar payments so I do not have it reclaimed and continue to enjoy the comfort it affords us. I can continue working on this dream thanks to Givedirectly."

"I started a business over a year ago selling groceries. I have been building this business and it is now able to bring in $100 per month. I would never have had a chance to make this much money as I would have taken a house help job which would make me $5 per month. My father and mother do not make much. My father is a cobbler and my mother is a farmer. Their work earns them less $5 monthly which cannot cover my siblings school fees of $120 monthly. My earnings now can cover their school fees as well as feed the family. I plan to continue building this business further to make me more money."

"I am deeply saddened by what happened to my farm. I put so much effort into growing maize on my 1.5-acre plot, hoping it would provide food and income for my family of two. Unfortunately, the rivers nearby flooded and washed away everything I had planted.To make matters worse, I had taken a loan from Kenya Seed, expecting to repay it with the harvest in August 2024. Now, all my plans are ruined, and I am afraid of the financial burden this loss will bring. It is a difficult time for us, and I am not sure how we will recover from this setback."