I have one simple goal: to renovate my house, which is currently in poor condition and on the verge of collapse. One of its rooms is wide open after it collapsed a few days ago. I have been worried that this will affect the whole house and cause it to collapse since it is very weak. I am planning to start saving soon for this purpose, and I am certain that I will soon be able to buy the materials needed for the renovation. Once I achieve this, I will no longer live in worry or fear of being left homeless or having my property damaged. By early next year, I trust that I will have started this project as I will have saved enough resources for this matter.

Being in a polygamous marriage, life has been quite a challenge for me, as I am the first wife and my spouse has become too old to take care of me. Due to that, food insecurity has been a continuous problem for me because I can no longer work, and the farms have been dry for a while now. Going to bed hungry used to be normal, and I can't praise this organization enough because, ever since it came into my life, it has been rare for me to go without food for a day. Recently, I used around $68 to buy enough food to sustain me and my husband for a while as I wait for the next transfers to come. Now, my health has improved, and I am no longer like I used to be; I am stronger due to the healthy meals. Additionally, I used $34 to buy a goat that I am now keeping at home. I trust that this goat will be of help to me since, as days go by, it will reproduce, and I will have many of them. In the future, this will help me, as I can sell one or two to sort out any issues that may arise.

For years, I have held onto the dream of owning a home. After my previous house collapsed in the rain, I have been relying on my son's shelter. Now, that chapter is ending as I have finished constructing my new two-room house with iron sheets. The only thing left is to install the door, which I plan to do in the upcoming months, marking the final step before I can move in. The financial transfers have played a crucial role in making this dream a reality, and I could not be happier with how they have transformed my life for the better.

I am an elderly person who relies on my son for financial support. However, his income from casual labor jobs is inconsistent, often leaving us struggling to meet our basic needs, including food. The financial transfers from Give Directly have been a lifeline, transforming my life and easing our financial burdens. With the assistance, I was able to build a two-room house, which is nearly ready for occupancy. I allocated $34 to plaster the inner mud walls, ensuring the house is safe and comfortable. Additionally, I invested $20 to plow my one-acre farm in anticipation of a successful maize harvest during the current rainy season. The remaining $34 was used to purchase food, ensuring we have an ample supply. Thanks to this support, I no longer solely rely on my son, and I am able to take care of my own needs. I am deeply grateful for the assistance from Give Directly, which has significantly improved our quality of life.

Looking ahead, my intention in the forthcoming months is to utilize my transfers to finalize the remaining tasks on the walls and acquire a new wooden bed and mattress. The replacement of my broken sisal bed and the addition of a mattress are essential to alleviate the back pains I have been experiencing. I am profoundly thankful for the financial assistance, which has played a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of my life.

For a considerable period, I have relied on the hospitality of my son's house in Mombasa, where he works and resides. Despite my longstanding aspiration to own a home following the collapse of my previous residence, financial constraints have posed a significant obstacle to achieving this dream. Upon joining the program, I held onto hope that I would finally be able to construct and possess my own house. I am overjoyed to have ultimately realized this long-term dream. By conscientiously saving my previous transfers, I procured iron sheets, timber, and building poles, enabling me to complete the construction of the house last month, including the installation of a door. Only minor work remains on the walls to safeguard them against erosion by rainwater in the future. It is challenging to express the depth of my happiness and gratitude for the financial support I have received from Give Directly, which has empowered me to fulfill my enduring aspiration of homeownership.

When I first began receiving the cash transfers last year, I took the initiative to construct a separate kitchen area for cooking purposes. This was a significant improvement since I had previously been preparing meals inside my sleeping quarters, leading to the inconvenience of soot from the firewood. Unfortunately, the recent heavy rains took a toll on this kitchen structure, particularly because its walls were constructed from mud. My immediate plan is to repair this section of the kitchen to restore it to a usable state and also to utilize it as a storage area for the maize harvest I recently gathered. Following this, I intend to invest in acquiring a quality wooden bed and a comfortable mattress. The current bed I use is made with sisal ropes, which tend to wear out and loosen over time, resulting in discomfort. Upgrading to a more durable and comfortable bed is essential for my overall well-being and comfort.

When I received the cash transfer, I had already paid $100 towards the purchase of a cow and was just $10 short of reaching the full selling price. I decided to use the cash transfer to top up the amount and fully own the cow. I believe that raising this cow and allowing it to reproduce to increase the herd size will help me create wealth to support my family's needs. Given my advanced age, this form of investment will reduce my dependence on my son, who takes on casual jobs in town to support me. I also set aside $14 from the money intending to accumulate enough funds to hire someone to repair a wall on my kitchen structure that was damaged by the recent rains. This kitchen structure serves as my cooking space, and I built it last year to replace cooking inside my sleeping house, which was inconvenient due to the soot from burning firewood. I plan to double this structure as storage for the maize I recently harvested, as my current room is running out of space. Additionally, I saved the remaining $10, which I have been slowly spending on ‘posho’ mill charges when I take my maize produce for grinding. I am very grateful for the cash transfers, as they have allowed me to make these improvements in my living conditions and invest in assets like livestock, which will contribute to my long-term financial security.

Even though I just completed building my new house, the one room is not enough for my two grandchildren, my herdsman, and me. I wish to expand one more room, which the three will be occupying. To accomplish this, I wish to set aside some of the upcoming cash transfers to start buying building materials. I will be happy if this is completed within the next year to give room for other goals as well.

I spent the past few years staying in my son's house until Give Directly allowed me to build my own. Sharing a space with my child and his family made me feel as if I was depriving them of their privacy. Besides, as an elderly woman in my community, sharing a house with the young ones is not always a respectable gesture. When I started receiving the cash transfers, I made it a priority to build a new house. The construction was just completed two weeks ago. I spent $14 to clear the building labor charges, which hastened the completion. Also, I set aside $20 for food. By that time, the household had run out of maize flour and there were no means to obtain more food. Am so grateful that I now occupy my own house and that my family has enjoyed regular means.

I would love to own a cow by the end of this year. Seeing my son raise his herd of cattle has motivated me to follow the same path. Years from now, the cow will have multiplied and increased my wealth, which I could sell and make enough money to support the needs of my family, such as food and my grandchildren’s school fees. I hope the monthly transfers propel me toward realizing my dream.

For my family and I, this holiday season was the happiest and most memorable yet. As a farmer, last year was difficult because the severe effects of the drought prevented us from harvesting much from the farm. I was unable to accumulate enough savings to purchase food and clothing for my family. I was happy to receive my December transfers because I used them all to buy food for my family and me to eat throughout the month of December. Five packets of maize flour, two packets of wheat flour, five kilograms of rice, one kilogram of sugar, and a liter of cooking oil were all purchases I made. Like our neighbors, we eat well, which made my family members happier.

I've been living in my eldest son's house for the past three months after my dilapidated house collapsed. As soon as I got my transfer, I spent KES 3,000 on three pieces of iron sheeting. I really would like to buy iron sheets with the additional funds I'll be saving from my transfer. After that, I'll purchase poles, sand, and stones. When I acquire all the necessary building supplies, I will hire a mason to construct the house. I am appreciative that I will have a larger, more durable, and permanent home as a result of the moves.

Give Directly work well by giving out financial assistance. Through the transfers, many dreams have a chance to actualize. Were it not for the cash aid, I would have not realized a possible breakthrough in my house construction mission. Throughout their enrollment stages up to now, I have not seen anything wrong with Give Directly.

I saved the entire transfer amount of KES 3,000 for a house construction project. For a very long time, I have been staying in my son’s house. However, when he is home, I am forced to seek shelter elsewhere and give him some privacy because the building only has one room. The idea of asking for space from relatives whenever he visits does not sit right with me. Before the financial program, he promised to build me a separate structure but has been unfruitful due to the financial instability. Besides, the family highly depends on him for the provision of basic needs like food and I would not wish to keep pushing for a new house. Therefore, I seized the opportunity to build the shelter to completion through the transfers. My intention is to put up a two-bedroom house with mud walls and an iron sheet roof.

I was overjoyed when I found out the this organization had sent out the funds because I really needed the financial assistance. My age barely allows me to work and occasionally I relied on my children who barely had jobs to support me. So I was glad that I can also fend for myself and not worry my children about my needs.

This funds have given me an opportunity to be more independent and worry my children less about my needs especially with matters concerning nutrition because that is one of my biggest problems. I am glad that it will take me quite some time before I have to worry again about when my next meal will be.

As soon as I received the funds from GiveDirectly I instantly made up my mind that I would cater o matters concerning nutrition especially since having a meal was quite challenging due to drought and with old age the only place I could afford to work was my farm. I took KES 1,200 and used it to by a bag of maize flour which obtained a dozen packets, bought four kilograms of sugar worth KES 480 and five kilograms of beans worth KES 600. I was left with KES 720 which I left as part of my savings because I wanted to be prepared for any emergency I had and in case I ran out of food again I would be prepared in advance.