"When my house collapsed some time ago, it felt like my world had crumbled with it. But thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to rebuild a new house. Although I constructed the new house, I had to use the old, rusty iron sheets from my previous home for the roofing because I needed to complete it urgently. Now, these iron sheets are leaking and deteriorating further. In the coming year, I aim to save the monthly transfers bit by bit, balancing it carefully with my family’s needs, to secure a new, sturdy iron sheet roof. This will make my home safer and more comfortable."

"This year has been a whirlwind of emotions. My house, battered by the relentless winds of this season, stands on the brink of collapse. Every night, I sleep with a heavy heart, fearing that the walls might not hold until morning. With the funds I will be getting from now on, my primary goal is to begin renovating my home. I want a safer house where my family and I can sleep peacefully, free from the anxiety of falling walls. Beyond this year, I hope to create a lasting refuge, a place that will protect us and become a symbol of our resilience and newfound stability."

"This year and beyond, I am filled with hope and determination to rebuild my poultry farm, which once thrived with over twenty chickens before coccidiosis wiped them out. With the support from GiveDirectly, I can start afresh, buying a hen each month for $5. This gradual approach balances my commitment to paying my children’s school fees. My vision goes beyond merely recovering; in the long run, I aim to exchange five grown cocks for a goat, steadily transforming my poultry into a herd of goats. This strategy will not only provide a more resilient source of income but also secure a better future for my family."

"Having just completed the construction of my new house, I feel a sense of accomplishment and gratitude, but my journey isn't over yet. My next goal is to buy a bed and a mattress, which may seem simple but means everything to me. Right now, I sleep on torn mats and pieces of empty sacks spread on the ground. It's uncomfortable and sometimes painful, but it's what I have. With the upcoming transfers from GiveDirectly, I plan to dedicate them to purchasing a proper bed and a soft mattress. This will transform my nights, allowing me to wake up rested and ready to tackle each day with renewed energy. In the coming year, I hope to create a more comfortable and dignified living space, and in the future, I aspire to improve my overall quality of life, step by step."

"This year and beyond, my biggest hope is to expand my small kiosk business. It all started with a single shelf of goods, but thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I can now dream bigger. My priority is to stock more essential items that my community needs, like food staples, toiletries, and school supplies. With a growing business, I will be able to provide everything my family needs without worrying about tomorrow. Most importantly, I want to ensure my children can go to school without the burden of unpaid fees holding them back. I dream of seeing their eyes light up as they chase their ambitions, knowing they have the support and resources they need to succeed. Expanding my kiosk will be a step towards securing a brighter future for my family, where my children’s dreams can flourish without limits."

"My goal this year and beyond is to find a new place to live. The recent floods in Baringo swept away my household goods, forcing me to seek refuge with neighbors on higher ground. With the final transfer from GiveDirectly and some surplus from my farm, I will look for a safer place to build a new home. This permanent relocation will protect my family from future floods. GiveDirectly has given me the means to plan for a secure future. Their support allows me to move to a safer area, bringing peace of mind and stability to my family. We are deeply grateful for their assistance, which has made it possible to dream of and achieve a safer, better life."

"The biggest challenge am currently facing is lack of a consistent source of income. Despite having arable land, am not always able to till and plant due to the high cost of farm input. I therefore depend mostly on casual jobs in people's farms which involve planting, weeding or harvesting. On a good day I get paid KES 300 which is hardly enough to meet the recurring daily needs eg food for my family of 6. Sometimes am forced to borrow from neighbours just so that my young children do not sleep hungry. As a father, the inability to fully provide for my family really makes me feel so bad"

"Recognizing that the financial support is for a limited time, I plan to invest my subsequent transfers in purchasing livestock, especially goats. Goats are a valuable asset, with their value increasing over time. Their ability to reproduce and multiply makes them an excellent investment option for growing wealth. Now that I have cleared all the school fee debt for my children and we have plenty of food from our recent harvest, I am in a good position to focus my future transfers on purchasing livestock in the coming months. I am very appreciative of the financial transfers, which have greatly improved our lives and provided me with this opportunity to invest in a more stable future."

"The biggest difference in my life is that I am now filled with hope and happiness, knowing that I was able to plant on time this season. Through the transfer, we managed to till our land on time and plant efficiently. We used a modern system of tilling the land with a tractor, something I had never used before. The entire process of tilling and planting was completed in a single day, which was a great achievement for us. Previously, my wife and I struggled to till the land manually by ourselves. This method was not only time-consuming but also exhausting. Additionally, we could not concentrate solely on the land because we had to take on casual work to ensure our children had food by alternating. This stretched the planting process over a long period and made it even more exhausting. I am grateful for the support that has made this possible."

"In the coming year and beyond, I have been thinking about starting an income-generating activity. This initiative will enable me to earn some money, no matter how small, to provide for my family's basic needs. I've been considering a vegetable business because it doesn't require a lot of money to begin. Furthermore, not many people in my area are doing it, so I am confident I will have ready customers. I plan to use part of my transfer to invest in this business, which will make it easier for me to support my family. As I had planned, I have acquired some goats and chickens, which will help me in case of a financial crisis in the coming years. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the support, as it has truly uplifted our lives."