I am the third wife amongst three wives. Since my spouse is aged I am the sole breadwinner in my house hence all responsibilities are on me. Therefore I have been doing casual jobs doubling up with farming to provide for my six children. Therefore when I received my most recent transfer I allocated $20 of my transfer towards paying fees for my six children, ensuring they continue with their education and pursue their goals without interruption. Additionally, I allocated $30 to my chama, pooling resources with others for collective financial support and investment opportunities, fostering community development,$400 went into farming expenses, essential for sustaining our livelihood and ensuring a steady income from agricultural activities. As for the $38 spent on food, it's crucial for meeting our daily nutritional needs and ensuring the well-being of my family.

In the upcoming year and beyond, my main focus is on building a new, sturdy house. The recent heavy rains have caused serious damage to our current dwelling, with walls collapsing and persistent water seepage posing health risks for my family. Despite attempting temporary fixes, it's clear that a more permanent solution is needed to ensure the safety and well-being of my children. With the help of GiveDirectly, I aim to save a portion of my transfer in our chama, pooling resources to work towards realizing my dream of a secure and resilient house for my family.

As I stood amidst the rubble of what was once my humble abode, I couldn't help but feel a surge of hope wash over me. With the $20 I had diligently saved in my Merry Go Round, I could finally embark on the journey to construct a new house, one that wouldn't creak under the weight of time nor crumble at the slightest gust of wind. The prospect of having a sturdy roof over my family's heads filled me with an indescribable sense of relief, especially knowing that I wouldn't have to turn away visitors due to a lack of space. The relief continued as I settled the daunting school fees for my four children, amounting to $43.7 in total. Education had always been non-negotiable, but the financial strain often threatened their academic pursuits. With GiveDirectly's assistance, the burden lightened, and the fear of them being sent home for unpaid fees dissipated. With $33.4 remaining, we embraced the joy of Christmas with open arms. The festive season, once a distant dream overshadowed by the toil of charcoal burning and the struggle to make ends meet, now radiated with warmth and abundance. As we gathered around the table, feasting on food bought with gratitude, and danced under the starlit sky, our hearts overflowed with thanks to GiveDirectly, whose support had transformed our lives in ways we could have never imagined.

My singular focus is on realizing a long-held dream: building a new house. Each month, I diligently set aside $10 of my earnings with this specific goal in mind. The urgency is undeniable, as my current dwelling is a constant source of frustration, its structural integrity compromised to the point of collapse, particularly during the relentless rainy seasons. The hardships endured within its dilapidated walls only serve to reinforce my determination to see this project through. With every penny saved, I edge closer to the day when I can finally provide myself and my loved ones with the safety, security, and comfort of a sturdy new home—a sanctuary from the elements and a symbol of hope for a brighter future.

To ensure my children's uninterrupted education, I allocated $30 to settle their outstanding school fees from the previous term. This payment has brought me great joy, knowing that my children can continue their learning journey without any interruptions. I firmly believe that education is the key to improving their lives and future prospects. In addition to this, I saved $30 within a local savings group called "chama," which consists of six members. My intention is to utilize these savings to purchase iron sheets and embark on the construction of a new house. The current state of my house, in a dilapidated condition, has been a significant source of stress for me. I remain hopeful and prayerful that, with the support of the unconditional transfers, I will be able to fulfill my dream of building a decent and secure home. Recognizing the importance of proper school attire, I invested in new school uniforms for two of my children. The previous uniforms had become torn and worn out, necessitating their replacement. Additionally, I incurred a hospital bill of $7 after seeking medical attention for an illness. I am grateful that the financial support has contributed to a significant improvement in my health.Lastly, I allocated $14 towards purchasing food for my family, ensuring that they are never left hungry. This provision of essential sustenance brings me comfort and reassurance in fulfilling their basic needs.

Building a new house is my main objective. The sight of my current dilapidated house fills me with stress and unease. To achieve my goal, I have devised a plan to save a portion of my monthly stipend specifically for purchasing the necessary building materials. Accumulating these materials will allow me to commence the construction process. The financial support I have received thus far has been instrumental in improving my quality of life, and for that, I am immensely grateful. It has provided me with the means to work towards my aspiration of having a better and more secure home. With each passing month, I am filled with renewed hope and determination as I inch closer to realizing my dream.

My friends and I joined hands with six other members and formed a savings group. We promptly enrolled into the savings program with the goal of accumulating a substantial amount of money. Our intention was to utilize these funds for ambitious undertakings such as constructing houses, acquiring livestock, and initiating business ventures. In May, I set aside $10 from my transfers specifically for the purpose of building a new house. The state of my current residence is deteriorated, with a roof covered in old, rusted, and leaking iron sheets, and walls that are broken with numerous cracks. Additionally, I allocated $10 towards paying the school fees of my four children who are enrolled in primary school. Another $6 was dedicated to preparing a 1/4 acre of land for planting. Since I had previously purchased hens, $4 was used to buy animal feed for them. Furthermore, I purchased 3kg of maize flour to provide sustenance for my family, as we had very little food remaining due to my inability to produce any charcoal throughout the entire week for sell. I am grateful that the transfer arrived at a crucial time, when I was facing difficulties in meeting the needs of my family.

Living in a deplorable state, my one-room house is a worse place to live in particularly during this rainy season. I constantly shift my belongings to prevent rainwater from causing severe damage. My main objective before the year's end is to purchase sufficient iron sheets and building poles using the money I will receive from the savings group in July. These materials will enable me to start constructing my new house. Within my current dwelling, I share space with my children, hens, and utensils. The cramped living conditions underscore the need for a more spacious environment, which would greatly benefit my family and me.

In order to save money for the building of a new house, I joined a savings group. I have been saving money for the last three months, and when my shares are earned, I will use them to buy the supplies I need to build a nicer house. In addition, I spent $36 on my child's education and $6 on a chicken that I would raise. I bought food for my family with the $24 I had left over. Being the primary breadwinner in my family, I am appreciative of the transfers because they have allowed me to avoid going bankrupt.

My objective is to build a new house so that I may upgrade my current one, which has mud walls and a leaky grass-thatched roof. With three wives and an advanced age, my spouse is unable to engage in economic activity. The income from selling charcoal was insufficient to support the six of us, so I was unable to pay for the expenses associated with constructing a new house. God bless GiveDirectly for saving me. I anticipate completing the building of a new home this year with the assistance of the upcoming transfers.

I spent $10 on purchasing two hens. I have always wished to start poultry keeping, and I am so happy because this has started. This will be my source of income since I will be selling eggs to get some money to meet other household basic needs. Besides that, I spent $10 on purchasing food for the family since we did not have enough in the store. The remaining $10 I saved in merry go round group that we have started in our village. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.

GiveDirectly has enabled most people to build better houses and even own livestock which was not easy before because of lack of money. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.

I do not make enough money to sustain my family from the business of burning and selling charcoal. Being the sole breadwinner, it is challenging providing for a family of six. I am glad because through the support from GiveDirectly, I was able to pay for my children’s school fees, and they were allowed back in school. I would not wish to expose them in future to the kind of poverty we are experiencing and the only way to deliver them from it is through education. With the subsequent transfers, I will be able to pay for their fees on time.

I have a family of six. Three of my children are in primary school and one has not joined yet. My husband is aged, and he can not engage in any economic activities and thus I am the sole breadwinner. I have always tried to provide the best I can for my family with the meager income I earn from the charcoal business but I get overwhelmed in most cases. At the time when I received the first transfer, the children owed the school arrears of KES 640 which I cleared with part of it and used the remaining KES 530 to purchase foodstuffs for them. The money was a lifesaver and I am grateful.

I received a message confirming the receipt of the first transfer at 7 pm. We had nothing, no money and foodstuff hence we spent the whole day without a meal. I was devastated as a parent knowing that my children would go to school the following day again on empty stomach. You can imagine how excited I was when I received the money. It was already late and I could not leave home at that time but I could not wait until morning to withdraw it so that I could buy some food for my children before leaving for school.