I have been complaining about my back pains for a long time because I have been sleeping on a traditional bed made of ropes. At my old age, this has been quite tough, as I need some comfort when I sleep, but that has never been achievable. Therefore, I have decided to save $10 each month from the transfers so that the money can accumulate for me to purchase better bedding. Once this is achieved, I will be the happiest soul, as it will be my first time sleeping on a modern bed since I was born, and I can't wait to enjoy this comfort. I also believe I will be more active and healthier compared to now, where I have been waking up with a lot of pain and, therefore, have been unproductive.

I have been using candles or sometimes staying in the dark for a while because I didn't have the cash needed to buy better gadgets. This was due to the poverty that has affected me for a long time, and it used to stress me a lot because, whenever darkness came in the evening, I wasn't comfortable at all. Therefore, upon receiving my recent cash, I used around $54 to buy a modern solar panel. Now, everything has changed. I can have light at night and charge my phones and those of my neighbours for a fee to generate some income. Gone are the days when there was no security at my homestead due to theft issues, as it was always dark. I also saved $30 in the Merry Go Round initiative to buy better bedding, such as a modern bed and a mattress, as I have been sleeping on a traditional bed made of ropes. I have been enduring a lot of pain at night, and in my old age, it has been even worse. I feel that once I own the bed, I will no longer have to worry about the pain. Finally, with the remaining $18, I bought enough food to last me for quite a long time as I waited for my next transfer date.

Having completed the construction of my house, my next goal this year and beyond is to purchase a bed and a wooden mattress. Currently, I own a sisal twine bed, which is not comfortable and often leaves me with severe body pains. Acquiring a new bed and mattress will ensure that I get good sleep and alleviate my body aches.I am very happy and deeply appreciative of the financial support. It has greatly helped me achieve one of my long-held goals, and I look forward to further improving my quality of life.

Three years ago, my tiny one-room mud house was washed away by floodwaters from heavy rains, leaving me homeless. I took refuge in my eldest son's house, living with him and my daughter-in-law. Despite intruding on their privacy, I had no other option, as I am very old and financially dependent on my son. When I enrolled in the cash program, I set a goal to use the transfers to buy building materials like poles, iron sheets, and timber to build a new house for myself. Today, I am very happy to say that I have achieved this goal. Last month, I moved into my new house after more than three years of living in my son's home. I spent the entire $102 to purchase three pieces of iron sheets, timber, and to pay off the arrears to the mason who built the house. Words cannot express how happy I am to have achieved this goal and finally have a place to call my own. When my house collapsed three years ago, I was traumatized and stressed. Today, my heart is filled with joy, and I cannot thank Give Directly enough for the financial support I have received from the transfers.

I am on the verge of realizing my dream, and it evokes mixed emotions within me. The journey has been long, spanning over 10 years, as I patiently waited to construct my own house. Now, as the year begins, I find myself at a loss for words to adequately convey my gratitude to Give Directly for making it possible for me to own a home once again. My current objective is to utilize my transfers to acquire the remaining building poles and ensure the completion of the house.

I have made significant progress toward realizing my lifelong dream of owning a home. The collapse of my previous house occurred when heavy rains washed away its mud walls. As an elderly woman, I now rely on my relatives for support, as I am no longer able to care for myself. For the past decade, I have been residing in my son's house, as he is rarely home, working in Mombasa. I have already purchased iron sheets and building poles, and most recently, I utilized my transfers to pay the mason $70 to begin construction on the new house. The construction is currently at the halfway point, and I am very pleased with the progress thus far. Although I am facing some difficulty in acquiring additional building poles, I remain optimistic that they will soon be available, allowing for the timely completion of my new home. I am filled with joy and eagerly anticipate moving into my new house in the next few months once the construction is finished.

My primary objective is to allocate the financial resources I am receiving from Give directly towards the construction of my new house. The prospect of finally moving into my own home after a prolonged period of residing in my grandson's house brings me great joy. I am currently working diligently to ensure that by January of next year, my house will be completed and ready for occupancy. At present, I am in the final stages of procuring the necessary materials for the roof, such as poles, nails, and timber. Acquiring these items is a critical step in the construction process, and I am dedicated to ensuring that I have everything in place to facilitate the smooth progress of the project. I am extremely grateful for the financial assistance that I have received, as it has played a pivotal role in making my dream of owning a new house a reality. With each passing day, I grow more excited about the prospect of moving into my own space and bidding farewell to the days of relying on the kindness of my grandson.

Last year, a devastating incident occurred when a strong evening wind caused my house to collapse. As a result, I find myself without a proper dwelling and have been relying on my grandson's house for shelter. However, he is currently away, working in the town. Fortunately, I am now in the planning phase of constructing a new house. Thanks to the transfers I have received, I have already been able to purchase fourteen pieces of iron sheets, which will be sufficient for the roofing of my new home. In addition, with the funds from my August transfers, I have acquired the necessary building poles. This progress brings me immense joy, as it means that in the upcoming months, I will have gathered all the required building materials for the construction of my new house. The anticipation of having a place to call my own is truly uplifting, as it will finally allow me to cease relying on the hospitality of others and provide me with a sense of stability and independence. The support I have received through these transfers has been instrumental in helping me rebuild my life and regain a sense of security. I am truly grateful for the assistance provided, and I eagerly look forward to the day when I can move into my own house, leaving behind the uncertainty of residing in other people's homes.

Right now my focus is on building a new house. This is what I wish to have accomplished in the coming years and below. I have been staying in my grandson's house and I feel like am depriving him of his privacy. Besides, in the event he gets married, that would make me a number one inconvenience in their house. I have been spending my transfers to buy iron sheets for my house. Since it will be a one-room structure made of mud walls and a tin roof, I intend to accumulate at least 14 pieces of iron sheets and secure building poles first. After that, I will get someone to build the shelter.

After my house collapsed a few years ago, I moved into my grandson's space where I have been staying to date. I had always wanted to own my house but I did not have the finances to construct one. The cash transfers allowed me to build a house. For the last three months, I have been spending the money on buying iron sheets for the structure. So far, I have accumulated six pieces of iron sheets. I plan to also spend the entire amount from the recent transfer to obtain three more iron sheets. My intention is to accumulate the building materials first, then hire someone later to construct the house to completion.

This has been my second transfer since I got enrolled into the program and I can generally say I am quite grateful for all the help I've received so far. Through this money that I'm receiving I will finally be able to build myself a better house, take care of my health since I'm quite old and quite often I fall ill and also be a great helping me cater for my nourishment.

I was honestly quite relieved to receive the funds when I did especially because at the time I was quite unwell and barely had any money to seek medical attention. Therefore, soon as I got the chance to withdraw the transfers I went ahead and paid KES 400 after receiving treatment. Afterwards I proceeded to save the rest of the money which was KES ,000 because I had the intention of buying iron sheets so that I could finally renovate my house. This would be a more permanent solution to the roofing of my house since at the moment it is grass patched.

I had already fallen asleep when my phone notified me of a text. Since neither I nor my daughter-in-law had any money, taking a nap was the only available treatment for my illness. My daughter-in-law informed me that I had received my first transfer while I was lying on the bed. My cheeks were dripping with tears of joy as I prayed quietly to the Lord in thanks for the miracle of the money.

By allowing me to visit the hospital and receive proper medical care, the money has greatly improved my life. I relied heavily on home remedies made of medicinal herbs for over two months. My health did not get better and kept getting worse. I'm happy to report that my health has improved since I received the transfer that made it easier for me to visit the hospital.

I used all of my transfer money to pay for medical expenses. The past four years have seen a decline in my health, necessitating frequent hospital visits. Due to my health issues, I am totally dependent on my daughter-in-law for both financial and physical support. My daughter-in-law works on casual jobs, such as washing other people's clothes and kitchenware, to support her family. She receives very little pay, so she struggles to pay for my expensive medical expenses. After missing the previous three checkups due to a lack of funds, I was ecstatic to receive my transfer because it provided a significant financial boost for me to seek proper medical treatment.