In the coming year and beyond, my greatest goal is to build my own house. Currently, I live in my son's house, and while I am grateful for his support, I long for independence and pride in owning my own home. Through diligent saving, I have already managed to buy 21 pieces of iron sheets, which brings me closer to this dream. To achieve this, I will continue setting aside $20 monthly, ensuring steady progress toward my goal. Having my own house will give me a sense of stability and fulfillment, motivating me to keep pushing forward.

I am a widow who depends on the support of my daughter, who works as a house help in town. When I received my most recent three transfers, totaling $102, I knew I had to plan carefully to make the most of this blessing. My priority was to save $60, as I have committed to saving $20 monthly from these transfers. I am determined to build a house one day, and this saving habit brings me closer to that dream. It gives me hope and a sense of accomplishment, knowing that I am taking steps toward creating a secure future for myself and my family. The remaining amount was used to address my immediate needs. I spent $30 on food for my family, ensuring we had enough to eat and could stay healthy. Additionally, I used $14 to buy detergents to keep our home clean and maintain good hygiene. These purchases were essential for our daily lives, and they helped me manage my household with dignity and care. The transfers have been a lifeline, allowing me to balance saving for my dream while taking care of my family’s current needs.

Later this year, my main goal is to build a new house because I am frustrated with the leaks in my current dwelling during the rainy season. I’m tired of this issue and feel it’s time for a change. I’m confident this plan will succeed since I have started saving from the monthly transfers for this purpose. With my ongoing efforts, I expect to achieve this goal soon. Once completed, the new house will provide me with full privacy and ample space to store my belongings.

I have longed to sleep under an iron-roofed house, as I am exhausted from living in a small, grass-thatched house for years. Despite its size, the house has leaked badly, causing sleepless nights, especially when it rains. Additionally, living with my daughter and granddaughter has left us with no privacy, and we are often cramped together. I needed a larger home that could accommodate my entire family comfortably. As a widow with no current income, this dream seemed out of reach until GiveDirectly came to my village. With the support of GiveDirectly, I joined a merry-go-round with my trusted friends to work towards building a new, spacious house. In the last quarter, I saved $60 and am hopeful that this goal will soon be realized, bringing relief and a comfortable living environment. I also used $42 to purchase enough food to sustain my family, which has been crucial for us.

Starting this August, my main goal is to construct a new house. Every rainy season, I endure the frustration of leaks in my current dwelling, and I'm just plain tired of it. It's time for a change. I'm confident that this plan will succeed. With determination and hard work, I'll make it happen. A new, sturdy home will not only provide shelter from the elements but also offer a sense of security and comfort for me and my loved ones. I envision a future where I no longer have to worry about leaks or structural issues, and where I can relax and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with owning a safe and reliable home.

I joined a merry-go-round with my trusted friends from the village, united by a common goal: to uplift our living conditions. With determination, I diligently saved $60 towards transforming my dilapidated grass-thatched house. As an elderly widow reliant on farming for sustenance, the prospect of constructing a new home seemed like a distant dream amidst the grip of poverty. However, thanks to the collective effort of the merry-go-round and the unconditional cash transfers, I am now on the brink of realizing this dream. The leaking roof that once plagued us will soon be replaced by sturdy walls, offering comfort and security for my family. Apart from that, I took a moment to ensure the well-being of my family. Allocating a portion of the funds towards purchasing sufficient food brought a sense of relief and contentment. No longer do we struggle through days with empty stomachs; instead, our meals sustain us and nurture our health. As I revel in the newfound security and health that accompany our improved circumstances, I am filled with gratitude for the support that has allowed me to rebuild not just a house but a brighter future for myself and my family.

I am focused on finishing the construction of a new house for my son. As he has reached adulthood, it is essential to provide him with a home to enable him to start his independent life. This endeavor will also afford me the opportunity to preserve my privacy and lead a dignified life. In the upcoming transfers, I intend to procure the remaining building materials, including poles and nails, to initiate the construction of the house. I am genuinely thrilled and grateful for the support from the transfer, which has significantly enhanced my quality of life.

During the holiday season, I allocated $34 to procure food and celebrate with my family of four. The presence of ample food allowed us to strengthen our bonds and enjoy memorable moments while contemplating our aspirations for the upcoming year. In addition to acquiring food, I utilized the remaining $68 to purchase iron sheets for constructing a new house for my son. Previously, we resided together in the same house, but as he has grown older and is yet to secure employment, I am assisting him in building his own residence. I am deeply grateful for the financial assistance from the transfers. It has significantly enhanced the quality of life for both myself and my family.

I hold a strong desire to build a new house in place of my current dwelling. Since the commencement of the cash transfer program, my primary goal has been to construct a new house. However, persistent constraints such as limited food and lack of money for food have impeded my progress in realizing this objective. Presently, with the ongoing harvests, my confidence has grown that we will have an ample food supply for the upcoming months. This newfound stability in food provision allows me to allocate the transfers toward the construction of the new house. The current structure, made of a roof thatched with grass, succumbs to leaks during rainfall. I aspire to erect a dwelling with a durable tin roof. As of now, I have managed to procure 16 iron sheets, leaving me with 4 more to commence the construction process.

Since the inception of the cash transfer program, I had been consistently saving through a merry-go-round club, aiming to amass funds for the construction of a new house—an endeavor I had been eagerly anticipating. Typically, I would set aside $20 from the transfers, leaving me with $14. However, this financial allocation fell short of meeting the food requirements of my family. There were instances when I endured entire afternoons without sustenance and even went to bed with an empty stomach. In fact, my family had gone to bed hungry the previous two nights before I received the transfer. This growing concern for my well-being prompted me to redirect the entire recent cash transfer toward procuring food. I am relieved that ever since I allocated the full amount to food expenses, my family has not experienced hunger or gone to bed without a meal. This decision, however, does not signify that I have abandoned my aspiration of building a new house. Rather, I have temporarily deferred this goal to prioritize the immediate need for food. I am appreciative of the fact that the recent planting season has enabled us to yield a harvest, effectively alleviating our food security concerns for the upcoming months.

My top priority at the moment is to completely renovate the roof on my house. Living under a roof made of rotten grass has been a source of great difficulty and stress for me. The harsh weather conditions have made it challenging to harvest the grasses that we use to make our roofs. As a result, I have had to think outside the box to find a long-term solution to this problem. Thanks to the help I received from the transfers, I plan to purchase iron sheets and repair the roof. This will give me peace of mind, knowing that my property and family members will be safe and secure during the rainy season. I am grateful for the opportunity to finally solve this problem once and for all, and I look forward to living in a house with a strong, durable roof that will protect my family from the elements.

"I am extremely grateful for the monthly stipends I receive from GiveDirectly, as they have been a financial lifeline during this difficult time. I earn a living by rearing livestock, with only five goats standing between my family of five members, including two sons and two grandchildren, and extreme poverty. Providing three meals a day has been a major challenge due to the limited income I earn from rearing livestock. When I received my April transfer, I spent $14 on purchasing food for the family, including five packets of 2kg maize flour, 1kg of beans, and 1kg of sugar, as well as some water for my own use at home. The remaining $20 was saved in a home savings group consisting of six members. Each member contributes $20 every month, and the total amount of $120 is given to one member to undertake a big project that they desire. My plan is to use the saved money to buy new pieces of iron sheets and repair my grass-thatched house. The grass on the roof is in a terrible state, leaving wide openings that allow rainwater to seep in. Building a new roof with iron sheets is a long-term solution, as they last longer. I am thrilled that with this money, I will finally have a decent house that I have been longing for, for a very long time. Once again, I would like to express my deep gratitude to GiveDirectly for their continued support, which has significantly improved my family's well-being.

Sleeping in a structure covered using grass is unsafe for me. Since I had no alternative and my wedge from charcoal burning could not sustain me, I had to cross my fingers till morning. During the rainy season, I am rained on, and the grass leaks profusely. Currently, I came up with a plan that would see me in a good house by the end of the year. This plan came after getting an assurance of the GiveDirectly transfers every month. My six friends and I formed a merry-go-round group where we pool together $30 per head every month and give it to one of us to invest or do as how they wish. So per month, one of us gets $210 which is a good amount to start something big with. Since the time we started, I have aimed to construct a decent and secure house. Currently, I have 12 pieces of iron sheets and I plan to build a two-room mud-walled house that requires 24 pieces of iron sheets. Through this plan, I am optimistic about having constructed a house by the end of this year. I am very grateful to GiveDirectlly because if it were not for you I would not have reached this far of accomplishing my dream.

The roof of my current house is made of grass thatch, however it is leaking. Due to the current drought, it is difficult to obtain grass for renovation, which raises the cost of maintaining such a huse. As a result, I joined a savings group in the village where we put aside $20 each month as we get transfers with the intention of using my shares to help build a new house. So, over the past three months, I have saved $60 while only spending $30 on food for our family. Without GiveDirectly's help, I never would have taken such a big step. I make a living doing occasional labor, but the $2 I make each day from it hardly covers a day's meal for the seven of us.

I chose to save all of my recent transfers on the merry-go-round immediately after I received them. When it is my turn to receive my savings, I will use them to buy new iron sheets for a new house. I am currently residing in a small old grass-thatched house. Because I have been inconvenienced for a long time, as soon as I get some money, I shall build a house. This will be beneficial to everyone in my household. In addition, I spent KES 1,000 on groceries for my three-person family.

Our area is drought-prone with minimal economic activities. This has exposed most of the residents to poverty especially the aged who can not engage in most of the economic activities. Everyone in the village can not hide their happiness because of the support we received from GiveDirectly. Letting individuals make the spending decisions crowned it all. We are regaining our health because we can at least afford two meals a day currently. So far, there are no complaints about the organization.

I have saved KES 500 in a monthly saving and loaning group so that when I earn my shares I will use them to purchase building materials for constructing a new house. I have a singled room house which is grass-thatched house with a leaking roof. At my advanced age, I am not able to engage in most income-generating activities. Instead, I practice subsistence farming but I usually get low farm produce because I cannot afford to hire people to help me on the farm. I am glad I am now assured of some money at the end of the month. KES 2500 I spent on both foodstuffs and other personal care products that I did not have.

I was relaxing at home when I received the transfer message and I was overjoyed because I needed money to to buy food that day as there was no food at home.

Previously, I was not in a position to provide three meals per day for my family and we sometimes ended up sleeping hungry. Right now, I have enough food for my family and I don't have to be worried and that allows me to focus on other things such paying school fees.

I am a widow and I have been taking care of six of my children ever since my husband passed. It hasn't been an easy journey as I usually do any kind of manual jobs such working in construction sites, farms and fetching water to provide for my family. For the longest time, I have been wanting to roof my house using iron sheets as I have always been forced to replace the grass roof every two years. Due to the prolonged drought, it hasn't been easy to get grass and sometimes we end up being rained on because I cannot afford to buy grass to replace the rotten one. When I was enrolled into program, I decided to join a sacco where I can be savings KES 1000 monthly so that I can be able to buy iron sheets after a while. I saved KES 1000 in the sacco and spend the balance to buy enough food to take us for a month.