With my house construction in progress, my priority is to utilize my upcoming transfers from GiveDirectly to complete the building. I plan to use a portion of these transfers to acquire a few more building materials and pay for labor, with the goal of completing the house by September this year. Once the house is finished, I will allocate a portion of the transfers to pay school fees for my children, ensuring they can continue their education without interruption and also use a portion to address the hunger issue in our region by purchasing food until we are blessed with harvests to sustain us. By strategically allocating the transfers, I aim to provide a stable home for my family, ensure my children's education is not disrupted, and mitigate the effects of hunger until our crops are ready. I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, which enables me to make progress on these important priorities.

We are currently in a state where we are faced with drought and hunger. Due to the prolonged sun, our crops did not do well and all dried up, leaving us with no food. I therefore used $57 of my recent transfers from GiveDirectly to buy food for my family so that they would not go hungry. I am so grateful for this assistance, especially at this time when we are faced with hunger. I then spent another $15 to pay school fees for my children so that they would not be returned home for school fees but instead continue with their studies. Finally, my house collapsed, leaving me with no house. I therefore spent the remaining $30 to buy building materials for the new house that I am in the process of building, hoping that very soon it will be complete.

As the heavy rains approach, my priority is to utilize my upcoming transfers to procure the remaining four pieces of iron sheets required to fully cover the roof of my house. This initiative aims to prevent rainwater leakage into the house during the rainy season. I am immensely grateful for the financial assistance received, which has enabled me to fulfill essential obligations such as paying school fees for my children and ensuring the well-being of my family.

Relying primarily on farming, livestock rearing, and occasional charcoal production for income, the unpredictability of weather patterns over the past five years has posed significant challenges in meeting my family's needs. The introduction of the cash program has provided a much-needed sense of relief as the sole provider for my family. Utilizing a substantial portion of my transfers, amounting to $64, I cleared school fee arrears for my three children, ensuring their uninterrupted education, particularly for my eldest in secondary school. Additionally, I allocated $30 to purchase three iron sheets, intending to refurbish the roof of our home, which currently suffers from aged and rusty sheets. Lastly, $9 was dedicated to purchasing food, guaranteeing that my family remains adequately nourished. The financial support received has been instrumental in alleviating the financial burdens that previously stemmed from the lack of stable income from farming activities.

My objective is to finalize the complete refurbishment of my house's roof, providing my family with a more secure and comfortable home, free from concerns about the rain. Furthermore, I aim to contribute to my two children's education by covering their school fees. I am delighted that the previous transfers enabled me to finance my son's recent completion of secondary education and his pending results. Additionally, I am grateful that the transfer funds have facilitated the purchase of food for my family.

I am undertaking a complete renovation of my old, deteriorating roof, riddled with numerous holes. Whenever it rains, I grapple with water seeping into the house and causing damage to my property. Using a significant portion of my previous transfer, I purchased 19 iron sheets, with additional contributions from my wife. Subsequently, I acquired 18 more sheets and a few, less than 10, to fulfill the required quantity. The total expenditure on iron sheets from my transfers amounted to $68. During the festive season, I allocated $34 for food purchases and celebrated with my family, including my grandchildren. This family gathering was delightful and served to strengthen our familial bonds. I am sincerely grateful for the financial support provided through the transfers.

In 1996, I constructed my house, and since then, I have only carried out a complete renovation once. My primary occupation revolves around tending to my livestock, and during the rainy season, I engage in farming. As we anticipate the approaching El Niño phenomenon in the coming years, my utmost priority is to repair the roof of my house and ensure that it remains watertight. This is a significant accomplishment for me, as it will safeguard my home from potential leaks and damages caused by the heavy rainfall. I am incredibly grateful for the assistance that has enabled me to make progress towards realizing my aspirations.

Following a bountiful harvest from our farms, we are now fortunate to have an abundance of food. With the surplus funds from my transfers, I intend to address a pressing issue with the roof of my house. The current iron sheets are severely rusted and have developed leaky holes, allowing rainwater to enter. Utilizing my August transfers, I was able to purchase a single piece of iron sheet to initiate the necessary repairs. Additionally, I allocated the remaining $23 to cover the school fees for my son, who is enrolled at Mariakani Secondary School. I take great joy in knowing that he can focus on his studies without any distractions.

Apart from improving my family’s well-being by providing food and supporting the education of my six children, I wish to revamp the roofing of my house. Over the period, the tin roof has corroded and developed perforations, which let it water when it rains, thus dampening the space. I have acquired up to 16 iron sheets through the previous cash transfers, the aim is to secure at least 25 pieces. Once I complete the renovation exercise, I wish to go back to buying goats and cows to expand my existing herd of five goats and three cows. I believe that this will build me enough wealth to provide for my family in the future. 

As a farmer, the past three seasons have been tough because of the lack of rain to support the growth of food crops. During this period, I have mostly raised money from selling dairy milk, as I own three cows. Unfortunately, following the drought, my cows produce little milk, which yields low earnings. As a result, it is challenging to cover my family’s needs with such an income. Gladly, the cash transfers have supplemented my earnings and allowed me to pay school fees for my six children( three of whom are in high school) and provide regular meals for my family. Through the money, am also able to buy iron sheets to renovate the roof of my house that has corroded over the period. The picture of my monthly transfer expenditure always looks like that; paying tuition, buying iron sheets, and buying food. From the money that I received in the last two days, I intend to spend $20 to clear the school fee deficit for two of my children in secondary school and spend $11 on an extra iron sheet. The remaining $3 will go towards purchasing food to provide meals for my three elementary school children. 

At my advanced age, I cannot take on vigorous tasks to make money for basic needs like food and school fees for my three children. So, I rely on selling the livestock that I raise to get cash for these needs. However, whatever I generate is only enough for essentials, and it’s difficult to save enough to do other projects like building a better house. As we speak, the roof of my current house is in dire need of repair as it is corroded and perforated to the extent of letting in water when it rains. Courtesy of previous transfers, I have so far bought eight pieces of iron sheets for renovation. My plan is to continue buying iron sheets and hopefully repair my roof to completion by the end of the year.

My five school-age children attend both primary and secondary institutions of learning. While my eldest daughter attends Mnazimwenga Secondary School, my eldest son attends Mariakani Secondary School. Attending Ikanganga Primary School are the other three. I have to pay astronomical amounts in school fees each year for my children. My work as a peasant farmer is unable to meet these needs because there isn't nearly enough food harvested from our farms to sell in order to make a living off of; there is only enough for domestic consumption. In order for my two secondary school-aged children to take their end-of-term exams, I had to pay $14 in school fees after receiving my transfers. I purchased two sheets of iron sheeting with the remaining $22. My house has old, rusted iron sheets covering the roof, and whenever it rains hard, the tiny holes in the sheets allow rainwater to enter. I look forward to purchasing additional pieces until I have 30, which is needed to completely remake the roof. I won't have to stay up all night when it rains, which will make me feel more at ease.

I am alone responsible for supporting my six children's school expenses. Three of them are in elementary school, while the others are in secondary education. Since I make very little money from my work keeping animals, I struggle to pay their school expenses. My wife frequently contributes in to assist me pay my astronomical costs. She does, however, make so little that she can only afford to purchase food for the family. As a result, when I got my transfer, I spent KES 1000 on school expenses for my kid, who is presently in fourth grade and getting ready to take his final exams. I gave him more money than the others because I wanted him to stay in school and complete his education uninterrupted. In addition to paying the school fees, I purchased one piece of iron sheet to fix my old house. My property and my family's safety will be ensured by a total roof replacement because the house is dangerously leaking. In the end, I used the money that was left over to buy food for my family since for the previous three days, we had only been able to eat once a day.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in sending us a transfer each month. This has made our lives more easier than before since we are able to solve most of the financial challenges. In addition, the enrollment was free and fair to all which has reduced the complaints about the programs.

I spent KES 1000 to support my kid's education. Currently, he is in form four about to complete his secondary education, and was required to purchase some exercise books and use part as pocket money. In addition, I did not have enough food for the family so I spent 500 to purchase food for them. I remained with KES 1500 which I saved it. I am planning to add up with my next transfer to start up small-scale poultry farming a future investment for my family.

At the time I got money I felt so good. Immediately, almost all my stress related to lack of money went and I experienced some unexplained peace of mind. Although at that moment I was looking after my cows in the field, I was lacking concentration and at long last decided to come back home. While at home, I just requested one of my sons to look after the cattle so that I could go to withdraw part of the transfer that could help us obtain food.

The biggest difference in my life since I began receiving my transfer is the renewed hope to start again. I had lost over 30 goats as a result of drought. However, with the transfer, I am hopeful that I shall be able to save some money and use to begin buying more goats. Through this I shall rare more goats and in the event my children need school fees, I shall not be worried but rather sell a few.

Being among the victims of prolonged drought, I never had any harvest during the previous season. As a result, I have been struggling to acquire food for my household members. As soon as I confirmed receipt of my transfer, I spent KES 500 on buying some maize flour because that was my urgent need. I also prioritized saving KES 2,500. I shall be building up my savings in order to top up and buy a goat. At the moment, I only have 2 goats. I lost over 30 goats that died as a result of prolonged drought. I am aiming to raise meny goats because they are regarded as live assets among my community members.