"I am happy that I managed to construct a one-room mud-wall house through the previous months’ transfers, giving me a place to call my own. Now, my next goal is to buy a modern standard bed and a mattress so that I can sleep well. Currently, I sleep on a small traditional bed that is uncomfortable, and every morning, I wake up feeling exhausted. A good bed will improve my sleep, giving me the energy to work harder and take better care of myself. To achieve this, I plan to save $10 a month until I have enough to buy the bed and the mattress. Step by step, I am building a better life for myself, and this next goal will bring me comfort and rest, allowing me to focus on bigger dreams in the future."

"In the coming year, my biggest goal is to build a new house because the one I live in now is very old and leaks whenever it rains. It has been my dream to have a strong and comfortable home for my family, and I have already started working towards it. I have been buying iron sheets bit by bit, and so far, I have managed to get five pieces. I plan to continue saving and purchasing more until I reach my target of 20 pieces. With determination and the support of GiveDirectly, I am confident that by the end of this year, I will have enough materials to start the construction. A new house will bring my family safety, comfort, and peace of mind, especially during the rainy season. Beyond this year, I hope to improve our home further, making it a place where my family can live happily without fear of storms and cold nights."

"As I look ahead to this coming year and beyond, I am determined to continue using a portion of the transfers I will receive from GiveDirectly to pay my children’s school fees, who are in secondary school, ensuring that they are able to continue their studies and eventually complete them. I also plan to start saving a portion of my transfers so that once I have saved enough, I am able to start a clothing business. It is a dream of mine, and I believe that with hard work, I can make it a reality. Once the business is up and running, I will be truly happy, as it will provide me with something to rely on after the program ends. My husband is a retired teacher, and although he receives a small pension, it is not enough to fully support our family. Together with the transfers from GiveDirectly and the small profits I will make from the business, we will be able to provide for our children’s education and meet our basic needs. I am incredibly grateful for the support I receive from GiveDirectly. It has made a significant difference in our lives, and I feel hopeful for the future."

"At the moment, I find GiveDirectly doing better work. The fact that I had the opportunity to receive unconditional cash is something that I praise them for. I was able to spend the money on different projects that aimed at changing our livelihood for the better."

"Before the funds arrived, I had meticulously outlined a plan for how to use the money to enhance the well-being of my family. My primary goal was to bring joy to my loved ones and instill a sense of purpose and hope in their lives. To start, I realized that ensuring my family had enough food was the most crucial step. Having only managed to provide a single meal per day for my children previously was a struggle, but with a focused investment of $57 in essential food items, I was able to significantly improve our situation. Now, my family enjoys three nutritious meals each day, which has not only satisfied their hunger but also brought us closer together during meal times. In addition to food, I addressed the need for basic household items to create a more comfortable living environment. I purchased a new bed for $50, which has been vital for our rest and recovery. A modest table for $8 now serves as a gathering place for family conversations and activities. Furthermore, I acquired two plastic chairs for $12, providing extra seating that has made our home more welcoming. I also decided to invest in equipment for fishing. I spent $20 on a fishing net, enabling us to engage in this activity more effectively. Overall, every expenditure has been carefully considered to enhance not only our day-to-day living but also the happiness and togetherness of my family."

"About a year ago, my husband and I began building rental apartments as an investment for our future. We decided to embark on this project because we were struggling financially. My husband, a carpenter, often faced challenges earning a consistent income, so we wanted to create a sustainable source of revenue. Unfortunately, we ran out of money mid-construction and had to pause the project. When I received my transfer from Give Directly, I decided to use the funds to complete the rentals. With the first transfer, we had already made significant progress on the construction. For this second transfer, I spent $400 to finalize the roofing, plastering, flooring, and to pay labor costs. Additionally, I used $150 to pay my child’s overdue tuition fees after receiving a call from her school warning that she might be sent home due to unpaid fees. This ensured she could stay in school and continue her education without interruptions."

"have few months left and these transfer scomes to the end, i pay 8500 every month, took it through chama-paying back this loan-it is benefiting my family, my family depend on me. initially i did not have omne hence I used to hire for a fee focusing on edcation of my children have a total of seven children , six are all in school wife doing farming and small scale flour business"

"Since our village is prone to strong destructive winds, I have fallen victim to one which destroyed my kitchen by destroying its roof. What I hope to accomplish this year is to build a kitchen. Accomplishing this would mean so much to me because I will have a place to cook and also store my farm produce since I currently do not have a place to store my harvest. In the years beyond I hope to purchase more livestock. This is important from me to accomplish because it will be my source of income even after the transfers I receive comes to an end."

"My hope is to educate my children to the highest level and help them realize their dreams and lead a better life in future. I expect my 5 goats to multiply in the future and this will come in handy in meeting their education expenses."

"As a motorbike driver (bodaboda rider) getting money on a day basis has been difficult since there are less jobs. While I have so many needs in my family with me being the breadwinner life has been difficult. In the coming year, I plan to enroll in a college for Masonry studies. I believe that gaining skills in masonry will be of great significance in my life since my friends who are skilled have a chance to get a lot of work and money unlike my motorcycle business. Additionally, since I depend on an hired motorcycle for KES 200 per day, sometimes I'm under threat of losing my motorbike to the owner especially when I don't get the money to pay. With the masonry skills this will be a story of the past because I won't lack work to do."