"This year and beyond, I want to continue farming. I know it depends on factors like the availability of rain and the risk of floods. Despite these challenges, I still plan to move forward after carefully assessing the situation. Farming will help feed my family, and I can sell any surplus to pay school fees for my children. The thought of having everything in place makes me feel hopeful and excited about the positive changes it will bring to my life."

"When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I was overjoyed because this money would help protect my family from the devastating effects of floods. I used the entire amount to pay a deposit for a piece of land on higher ground, away from the flood-prone areas. During the floods, my family of four was severely impacted, with the cold affecting us and our farm being destroyed. I believe that buying this new land will permanently shield my family from future floods. I plan to continue using my current land for farming during the dry season, utilizing water from the nearby river for irrigation. This way, I can still benefit from the land while ensuring my family’s safety by living in a more secure area."

"This year and beyond, I plan to continue farming in partnership with Kenya Seed Company. This will be crucial as it will allow me to comfortably support my children's education and meet other household needs. Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I am determined to approach farming differently this time. I plan to buy water pumps, something I didn’t have before. With these, I will be able to irrigate my farm, reducing the risk of a poor harvest. This will make my farming venture sustainable, as I will no longer rely solely on the rains to grow crops."

"Upon receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I was excited, as it was finally time to put my plans into action. I used $250 to buy a cow, something I had always needed but never owned before. This cow will provide my family with milk and, as it multiplies, will create additional avenues for income generation. Additionally, I spent $100 to buy two sheep. Owning livestock has always been a dream of mine, and now that I have these sheep, I can confidently face emergencies, knowing they will grow and provide income that will help educate my four children. With that done, I turned my focus to the farm, which had been destroyed by recent floods. I wanted to restart farming, so I used $30 to prepare half an acre of land for planting maize and beans. This farming effort will not only solve my family’s food challenges but will also allow me to sell the surplus to pay school fees for my children. Lastly, I spent $50 on food, as the floods had left us without a harvest, making it difficult to put food on the table. This money allowed us to have enough food during a difficult time. I am incredibly thankful to GiveDirectly for the support, which has significantly improved our lives."

"My six children have been accommodated in my small house with only two rooms for a long time. However, because we had been squeezing into the same space, I felt like I was denying my children their privacy. Therefore, I thought they needed a new home. They faced many challenges because they did not have a comfortable environment in which to study at night. The rooms we used to sort ourselves were too small, and our belongings would often be left outside. Life was unbearable, and we hoped for a financial breakthrough that would end this struggle. The arrival of Give Directly in my life has become our turning point. Our lives have been completely transformed. I managed to build a decent and spacious house for the children, which is not yet complete. I no longer have to worry about their privacy, as they now have ample space to study at night and do other personal things. As a parent, this has restored the dignity and joy that I had missed before."

"Water is the biggest challenge that we continually face as a family over the years. We fetch water from Lake Baringo which is about 7 km. Water usage per day is about 100 liters. One can only carry 20 liters of water per trip, it is approximately 40 minutes to and fro. This has made our lives difficult, we ration the water a lot so that it's enough. It also means we cannot plant vegetables due to lack of water."

"My current dream is to expand the number of animals I own. These animals have proven to be a reliable way to cope with extreme weather, allowing us to sell them for school fees and food. We currently have 8 chickens and 8 goats, and I plan to grow this by purchasing more animals through my monthly transfers. I also intend to breed my goats to increase their numbers, which will provide financial support in case I face any challenges. This is a dependable way for me to improve my living standards, especially as the transfers come to an end. I also run a motorbike taxi business to help support my family, along with the assistance from GiveDirectly."

"Looking ahead, my goal is to save more money through the savings group. Currently, I am saving $15 each month, but I plan to increase it to $20. This will allow me to save a larger amount, which I can use to buy more livestock, like hens. Once they multiply, I’ll sell some for profit, and the income will help me take care of my family’s needs. I also plan to use the savings to build a proper cooking place, which will make cooking more convenient and enjoyable. I am deeply appreciative of the support from GiveDirectly, which is helping me work towards these goals."

"As the year comes to an end, I plan to use my future transfers to clear the remaining school fee debts that my children still owe. This will allow them to attend school without any further interruptions. Additionally, due to the harsh weather conditions in my village, farming is no longer a reliable option for growing food. I aim to use the transfers to buy food in bulk for my family, ensuring we have enough to last through these tough times. The support from GiveDirectly has been crucial in helping me take care of my family, and I am very thankful for it."

"In the coming year and beyond, my main goal is to complete the construction of the house. I plan to save my future transfers to fully pay the mason’s labor fees, ensuring the work can continue smoothly until the house is finished. Moving into our new home will be a moment of great pride and joy for me. After the house is completed, my next goal is to invest in livestock. Currently, I have two cows and five goats, and I hope to grow my herd. As the livestock multiply, they will provide a good return on my initial investment, and I’ll be able to sell some for income in the future. I’m incredibly grateful for the financial support from GiveDirectly, which has been instrumental in helping me move closer to my goals and secure a better life for my family."