In the upcoming year, my biggest wish is to add an extra room to my one-room mud wall house. This space is shared with my three grandchildren, and it's starting to feel cramped for all of us. I've been diligently saving money through my merry-go-round group, and these funds will help me achieve this goal. I've already been able to purchase the iron sheets, which was a significant step forward. Now, all that remains are the building poles and rafters. As I continue to save, I am confident that, bit by bit, I will gather everything needed to complete the room.

I am a widow responsible for taking care of my three grandchildren, who are orphans. Life has its challenges, but I’ve found strength in the support I receive from GiveDirectly. To secure our future, I joined a merry-go-round group with four other GiveDirectly beneficiaries. Each month, we contribute $20, pooling our resources and giving the cash to one member. With the most recent three transfers, I saved $60 for this group, ensuring that when my turn comes, I’ll have a solid amount to invest in something meaningful for my family. The remaining $42 was spent on food to sustain us, as we heavily rely on my son, who does casual jobs to provide for our household. His wage is unpredictable, and having enough food is always a priority. These transfers have allowed me to keep my grandchildren well-fed and healthy while contributing to the merry-go-round, which will bring us future benefits.

My aim for this year is to finish the construction of the additional room, which will provide ample space for all four members of my family. I am grateful that with the modest income I earn from selling firewood, I will be able to realize my goal of completing the house construction. I deeply appreciate the financial transfers that have been instrumental in helping me reach my objectives.

Living with my three grandchildren in a small one-room house poses challenges as the space also serves as storage for our belongings. Recognizing the need for additional room, I embarked on the journey of constructing an extra space to accommodate all four of us comfortably along with our household items. Commencing my savings at the beginning of the year, I have been able to purchase six iron sheets, with $40 from my transfers contributing to the acquisition of four of these sheets. I am pleased with the progress made thus far. Moreover, I invested $15 in building poles, with plans to procure more using upcoming transfers. Additionally, I saved $20 in a savings group, aiming to accumulate funds for the labor costs associated with the construction project. In late February, I allocated $10 to plow my land for planting maize, taking advantage of the heavy rains. I also purchased seedlings and herbicides to nurture my crops. Furthermore, I acquired a duck for $5, which has proven to be a fruitful investment. With the aid of transfers, I purchased food worth $9, ensuring that our meals were never compromised. I am grateful for the financial support received through transfers, which has played a pivotal role in my endeavors to enhance our living conditions.

Living with my three grandchildren in a small house has presented numerous challenges, as the limited space often forces me to sleep on the veranda to ensure their comfort indoors. My primary objective for this year is to complete the room extension I've been working on, providing us with the much-needed additional space to live comfortably. To accomplish this, I will utilize the funds from the transfers, supplemented by the income I generate from selling firewood. Furthermore, I have invested in goats and chickens, with the hope that this venture will flourish, offering an additional source of income to support my family. The support I have received fills me with profound happiness, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities it has provided.

Upon receiving the transfers, I spent $20 to purchase building poles to expand my house and create additional living space to accommodate my three grandchildren, as our current space is inadequate. This arrangement became necessary following the death of their father, after which their mother relocated to town for work. I allocated $20 to buy food supplies and another $24 to settle a pending school fees debt for my grandchildren, ensuring that their education continued uninterrupted. I also acquired two ducks worth $10, intending to raise and sell them at a profit in the future. The remaining funds were saved to hire a construction worker to complete the house extension. This project has brought transformative changes to my life, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities it has provided.

My foremost ambition is to purchase goats. However, before I can embark on this endeavor, I must first complete the ongoing project of adding another room to my house. This expansion is crucial for accommodating my growing family and creating a comfortable living space. Once this project is successfully concluded, I eagerly anticipate the prospect of acquiring goats. These animals represent more than just an investment; they signify increased financial stability, a means to provide for my family, and the potential for sustainable growth.

The recent unconditional cash transfer has been a turning point for me and my family. I dedicated $18 to purchase two pieces of iron sheets, a step toward fulfilling my long-standing dream of expanding my humble one-room house. As my family has grown to three, the space has felt increasingly cramped, and I have been acutely aware of the lack of privacy for my children. This investment in building an additional room not only provides much-needed space but also a sense of security and comfort. It's a tangible symbol of progress, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make my home a better place. While investing in my home was a priority, I also recognized the importance of financial security. I set aside $10 to save on the merry-go-round in my village, ensuring that we have a safety net for any unforeseen expenses or emergencies. With the remaining $6.7, I bought vegetables and other household items that we had been going without for a while. It's a relief to know that not only are we improving our living conditions, but we are also taking steps towards a more stable and comfortable future for my family.

I pray that this planting season brings forth a fruitful harvest, and provides my family with food, as it will allow me to utilize the cash transfers for purposes other than food. After investing a significant part of the recent cash transfers in farming, I have high hopes for good returns. Having enough food will enable me to venture into livestock keeping, particularly goat farming. As I lack a reliable source of income, raising goats will create valuable wealth in the future. I can sell them to fulfill various household needs, including supporting the education of my three grandchildren.

The cash transfers have been instrumental in enabling me to prepare my land and purchase seeds for planting during the current rainy season. Without the financial support, relying solely on the income from splitting firewood would not have made this activity possible. From the recent cash, I allocated $10 for plowing a half-acre of land and another $10 to buy maize seeds, which I planted on the same plot. I am delighted with the progress of the crops so far, and I attribute their growth to the assistance provided by the cash transfers. I hope that this planting season will yield a bountiful harvest, alleviating the hunger situation in my family. Furthermore, I utilized $10 to purchase two iron sheets. Since the beginning of the cash transfers, I have been gradually accumulating iron sheets intending to extend my house and build an additional room. Currently, my three grandchildren and I share a one-room shelter, which I believe is inappropriate given the age difference. The extra room will provide each of us with our own space while maintaining our sense of privacy. The remaining funds, $4, were used for some maize flour.

I had hoped to save up a sizable sum of the transfers this year, and when I did, I could use the money to add extra room to my home. This is due to the fact that I share my home with my grandchildren, and since my small room cannot accommodate me and the three of them, some of them must sleep on the floor. We also occasionally struggle with nutrition, therefore I also intend to use the money on food.

Back in the village, one of our main problems has been nourishment, which has almost brought us to the point of starving. Because of this, as soon as I received the transfers, I found myself spending KES 1,400 on groceries, a kilogram of sugar, and five packets of maize flour. I then went ahead and spent KES 1,000 on two chickens because I planned to invest in a poultry family. Because I currently live with my grandchildren and they occasionally get kicked out of school due to a lack of funds, I made the decision to save the remaining KES 1,000 instead to help my daughter pay their school fees since she is a widow.

GiveDirectly, in my view, does a good job of raising awareness about its program through sensitization. As a result, almost every member of the community participated in the program and received their transfer. With this assistance, it has been simple for parents to pay their children's school fees. Some children who had dropped out of school have been re-enrolled, and this is a joy in the community. Therefore, children's attendance at school has gone up in recent times. Lastly, our lives are improved because we can always get food. So far, there is nothing that GiveDirectly does not do well.

I had been struggling to get food because of the famine that had struck our area. As a widow, I am always overwhelmed by the educational need of my four children. I have been chopping and selling firewood that does not have a good reward. As a result, we had been hungry for two days before transfers were sent. When I received the transfer, I spent $20 on food. I also saved $10 since I have planned to use my savings to buy a goat. I desire to raise animals that will be useful to me in the future.

I was relaxing at home at around 6 p.m. when my daughter-in-law (also my helper), ran towards me asking if I had received money from Give Directly, as she had. Because I cannot read, I requested her to confirm from my phone. I felt a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The money would help me put food on the table after starving throughout the day and the previous night.

Due to a lack of a stable source of income, hunger has been a major concern in the household. Since the month started, till the date I received the cash transfer, my family had gone to bed hungry at least four times. Gladly, the narrative changed after I used the money to buy food. My family enjoyed regular meals until we ran out of food just yesterday. I could never be more grateful.

I rely on splitting and selling firewood for a living. Due to the low demand, I can only make up to KES 600 per week from the sales. This amount barely provides enough meals for a week, considering the high food prices. Sometimes, things get so rough that I ask my two sons, working as hawkers in town, to chip in for food. When I received the transfer, my household had run out of food the previous four days and I had gone to bed hungry consecutively. As a result, prioritized purchasing food worth KES 960. Also, I spent KES 100 on a chicken to mark the start of investment through the cash transfer. When this bird breeds, I will sell the chickens to meet my financial obligations. Finally, my two grandchildren were sent home to collect examination fees two days after I received the money. Since their parents were yet to raise the funds, I gave them the remaining amount to clear the debt and take their tests.