"My house has become quite cramped since my grandchildren and I are now living here together after their father's passing. The limited space has made it difficult for all of us to be comfortable. To address this, I’ve set a new goal: to add another room to ensure we have enough space for everyone. Right now, some of my grandchildren have to sleep in uncomfortable places, and I want to change that. To achieve this, I've decided to save approximately $10 each month. In a few months, I hope to have enough funds to buy the necessary materials. Even though this may take some time, I’m confident that I can reach my goal since I am fully committed to it. Once the room is completed, I will feel relieved knowing that my grandchildren and I can live comfortably together under one roof."

"I have an important goal that has been giving me headaches for a while: renovating my roof. Currently, it's a grassy one, and it has been a constant struggle, especially during the rainy seasons. We end up getting rained on as if we were outside, leaving me with no peace at all. My belongings have been repeatedly damaged, and it’s been beyond my control. Now, I’ve decided to save a portion of my cash transfer each month, putting aside $10 for this purpose. Even if it takes years, I’m determined to reach this goal. Once I accomplish it, I won’t have to worry about the harsh weather anymore, and I’ll have peace of mind about my family's safety at home."

"My house has become so worn that whenever it rains, water leaks in due to the old and damaged roof. This situation has caused me sleepless nights, as I worry that my family and I will be exposed to rain and cold nights during the long rains. I have set a goal to renovate the roof and install a new one. To achieve this, I plan to save a portion of my monthly cash transfers and receive additional support from my sons. In a few months, I plan to complete the renovation. This will ensure we stay dry during the rain and protect my family from future risks, such as physical harm due to the deteriorating roof."

"I have established a small animal farm, where I currently raise chickens, sheep, and goats. Unfortunately, while my poultry project was thriving, an outbreak occurred that wiped out almost all of my chickens, leaving only two survivors. At present, I have 5 goats and 3 sheep as part of my livestock project. Both my goats and chickens have had offspring. My plan is to prepare for the future as I have a two-year-old child who has not yet started school. I anticipate needing funds when she does, so I aim to build a larger herd that will allow me to sell animals to ensure she can enroll in school and complete her education, even after the Givediretly program ends. Therefore, in the coming year and beyond, I intend to use my transfers to invest in livestock, focusing on goat and sheep farming alongside poultry operations."

"Waking up in the morning, I felt a spark of excitement as I checked my phone and confirmed that I had received the money. It was like a cow had just given birth—full of joy and promise! I quickly called my wife to share the good news, and she responded with enthusiasm. She immediately suggested that we should buy iron sheets since we had been living in a house that was not suitable for our family. Her words made me realize how this money could truly change our living conditions. I felt grateful to GiveDirectly for this opportunity to improve our lives."

"My plan is to continue farming. After harvesting the butternut, I will replant maize to ensure a steady income. With the income I receive, I will purchase more livestock to enhance our farming efforts. This will help us secure food for our family and provide additional income through milk and future sales. I am determined to improve our lives and create a better future for my family. By investing in farming and livestock, I believe we can achieve our goals together."

"In our community, livestock is important for survival, so I decided to invest in sheep with my unconditional cash transfer. I bought six sheep, both male and female, for $310. This investment means I’ll have milk for my family and a way to earn money when they multiply. Livestock has always been our best option, and this purchase gives me hope for a more secure future. Additionally, I used $50 to pay the school fees for my child, who was behind on payments. Education is important, and I wanted to make sure my child could continue studying without any problems.I also realized we had no food at home, so I spent another $50 to buy essential groceries. As a farmer, I used to grow watermelons and vegetables to sell for fees, but after the floods destroyed my crops and wiped out all my livestock, I struggled to provide for my family. The floods took away everything I worked hard for, including my three acres of maize. However, I am determined to rebuild our lives step by step. Lastly, I used the remaining money to buy clothes for my family since we had none left. It feels good to have decent clothing, especially when visiting friends and neighbors. My wife and I work hard together on our small farm, and we rely on each other to get through tough times. Life is still challenging, but with these new resources, I feel relieved and hopeful for a better future for my children and us."

"Life had become challenging, especially after the floods destroyed our farm, which had always been our main source of income. With eight children to care for, we depended on farming to pay school fees, but the floods took away that option, leaving us with no alternatives. When GiveDirectly’s cash arrived, it felt like a lifeline; I immediately used $240 to cover my children’s fees. Knowing that they could stay in school brought me relief and hope for their future. Education is important to us, and we didn’t want our children’s studies to be interrupted, so having this support at the right moment felt like a true blessing.In addition, I set aside $50 for farming, hoping to rebuild by planting maize. Having a reliable source of food and potentially a small income from any surplus would help us recover from the loss. Farming has always been unpredictable, but I believe that restarting with this fresh crop will bring some stability back to our lives. Furthermore, I used $50 to buy a sheep, which I see as a small but meaningful investment for our family. Over time, it can provide us with milk and can even be sold if we face any urgent needs. With the remaining funds, I purchased curtains to make our home feel warmer and a few food items to carry us through. This money has allowed us to address both immediate and future needs, and it’s a comfort to know we have a start toward recovery. Farming is not easy, with its seasonal changes and risks, but this support has given us renewed strength to keep going. My husband and I are grateful, as we now feel better equipped to care for our children and keep our family moving forward."

"In the coming years, my main goal is to invest more in livestock, as it’s something I can manage well. The animals I initially bought have already started to multiply, which gives me hope for a stable source of income. By growing my livestock, I’ll be able to support my family better and even cover school fees for my children as they grow. Each new birth feels like a step toward a more secure future, and this motivates me to keep working hard. I know that by focusing on livestock, I’m building a foundation that will benefit us for years to come. My dream is to eventually expand the herd, providing both food and income to meet my family’s needs."

"At 6 am, I woke up and casually checked my phone, only to see a message that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I felt a rush of happiness and couldn’t keep it to myself immediately woke up my wife to share the good news. "Look," I told her, "we’ve received the money!" She checked the message herself, and we both felt such relief and excitement. The first thought that came to mind was finally buying goats. Buying milk every day had become a real strain, both financially and physically, and I knew having goats would help us save money and ease that burden. We were grateful, knowing this transfer would bring such a big difference to our daily life."