In the next year, I aim to construct a small house. I plan to use the money I receive through the GiveDirectly transfers to save up for building materials. Currently, I have 14 iron sheets, but I still need to gather building poles and save for the wages of the construction workers. With each transfer, I'm getting closer to realizing my dream of having a place to call home.

As a small-scale farmer, I've been carefully planning how to use the quarterly transfers from GiveDirectly to improve my life. With $30, I bought 3 iron sheets, laying the foundation for the house I dream of building; currently, I endure the discomfort of a leaking grass-thatched house. Allocating $4 for a hoe will ensure I'll be ready for the upcoming season, as farming is my main source of livelihood. Investing $15 in 3 hens holds promise for the future; I hope to sell their offspring and eventually purchase a goat, providing financial security. Another $20 went into preparing my land for farming, tilling it with an ox plough in anticipation of the next season's crops. With the remainder, I bought food to sustain myself, as I am alone without a family to support me. As both a subsistence farmer and a casual worker, earning a meager income from charcoal burning, these transfers are a vital lifeline in my journey towards a better future.

My top priority for this new year is to successfully finish the ongoing renovations on my house. I've dedicated all my transfers to support this endeavor, and I'm content with the positive strides I've made so far. My aim is to complete the renovations by March, allowing me to shift my focus to purchasing goats. The plan is to raise and later sell them, anticipating a profitable return with the assistance of subsequent transfers. The prospect of having a secure living space and the addition of goats to my possessions holds the promise of a significantly improved quality of life, and for this, I am sincerely grateful.

Relying on farming for my sustenance, life posed challenges in the past when I engaged in physically demanding work such as extracting tree stumps and selling charcoal to make a living. I am pleased that my circumstances have improved significantly. Currently, I am actively involved in the renovation of my house, which had deteriorated due to recent heavy rains. Severe leaks prompted the urgent need for repair, leading me to acquire 14 roofing sheets with the entire $102 received through GiveDirectly transfers. The decision to invest in this crucial upgrade was driven by the unbearable living conditions caused by the relentless downpours. The ongoing enhancement of my living space not only ensures a secure shelter but also provides a sense of peace and well-being. I am genuinely content with the positive changes in my life, expressing gratitude for the transformative impact of GiveDirectly transfers.

In the upcoming year, my primary goal is to complete the construction of my house by finishing the roof. Thanks to the previous transfers, I have already acquired eight pieces of iron sheets, which will be crucial in achieving this goal. In addition to investing in livestock, I am also considering purchasing livestock as an alternative source of income for the future. This investment has the potential to provide me with a sustainable and reliable income stream. I cannot overstate how grateful I am for the financial assistance I have received thus far. It has played a significant role in enabling me to pursue my goals and improve my overall living situation. The support I have received has been instrumental in my journey, and I am truly appreciative of the positive impact it has had on my life.

Using my August transfers, I made a few strategic purchases to improve my living conditions. Firstly, I invested $20 in two pieces of iron sheets. This was a necessary step as my grass-thatched house was experiencing severe leaks. By completely renovating the roof, I aim to resolve the issue of a leaking roof once and for all. Additionally, I allocated $10 to till and prepare my land for farming. This investment proved fruitful, resulting in a bumper harvest. The abundance of food harvested will sufficiently sustain me throughout the coming year, reducing the need to spend a significant amount on purchasing food. To expand my future prospects, I utilized $4 to acquire two hens. This small investment has the potential for growth as the hens multiply. In case of any unexpected emergencies, I can sell some of the hens to address the situation promptly and effectively. I am incredibly grateful to the organization for providing the financial assistance that has greatly contributed to the improvement of my living standards. These investments and improvements have brought me immense joy and a sense of security for the future.

I currently burn and sell charcoal but due to the persistent drought, we do not have customers like we used to. Life has become so difficult and challenging because most people do not have jobs to earn themselves income. The ones with jobs, do not have customers. After completing my house building project, I am planning to start my poultry farm and also buy goats, and start taking care of them. I believe with goats it is easy to sell them when they have grown and one can get a huge cow that you can feed and invest on, and sell it later at a profit. I believe every idea one has, provided they get the funds, they can put it into action and better their tomorrow. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for believing in us.

I made a promise to myself that, every transfer I receive from GiveDirectly, I will use it in a way that will not only better my life but also the lives of my family as well. I currently have no wife nor any children and everything I do is for the betterment of my present and my future. I live in a mud made house that makes me feel so embarrassed when I get visitors. The moment I received my transfers, I started buying metal sheets for building myself a new house. As of now, I have bought eight metal sheets that make me feel excited about the future. With the recent transfers, I spent $10 to purchase one metal sheet to add to the existing ones. I spent $14 to purchase food and stock it at home for myself. I believe if one eats well, their immunity can easily resist illness and they can be strong and well enough to chase their dreams and goals in life. The remaining amount of $10 I was able to buy two chicken so that I can easily start my poultry farm with the monthly transfers that I receive from GiveDirectly.

Everyone should have a cozy home, but in my situation, this has not been the case. The insects that fall from my roof prevent me from ever getting a restful night's sleep.The roof of my house is constructed of grass, and it has bothersome insects in addition to leaking every time it rains. I want to build an iron-roof house this year. It is strong and can last me more than 20 years. To do this, I will need a total of fourteen iron sheets. I've so far purchased six pieces, and I'm hoping that by the end of the year, I will have acquired enough to build the roof. I wouldn't have been having such a dream if it were not for the payments because my charcoal business doesn't bring in much money

I've been saving money from my previous transfers for a while to buy some iron sheets. I bought one iron sheet with my recent transfers at $10 and now have six in total. My tiny, grass-thatched, mud-walled house is severely leaking as a result of the large openings that are present at the top of the house, so I intend to use the iron sheets to repair it. The ironsheets are durable, so once I've completed the renovation I won't need to replace the roof anytime soon. The final $24 I had was used to purchase food (mother, sisters, and brothers) for my family in addition to the roof. As the family's sole provider, my income is entirely based on the sale of charcoal. I am unable to consistently put food on the table for my family because the business is not doing well. Thanks to the transfers, my family never went without food and I'm grateful for that.

Two months ago, my house, which was in a dilapidated condition, collapsed due to the heavy winds blowing in the village. I built a makeshift structure made of polythene bags, sacks, and grass to use as shelter. I depend solemnly on farming to earn income, but this has not happened for the past three years since the drought began. Currently, I raise other people’s livestock for pay. The little I earn is only enough to buy food and nothing is left to save or invest. When my house collapsed, it was a nightmare for me since I did not have the money to build a new house. Therefore, when I received my transfer, I spent KES 850 on buying one piece of an iron sheet that I will use to build a new house. In addition, I bought food in bulk with the remaining amount of money worth KES 2150. This was to ensure that I do not run out of food.

In my opinion, the selection process on areas to work on was perfect. GiveDirectly came at the time when we needed support the most. We usually do not experience long rains but for the past two years, we have faced terrible famine that has led to triple the normal prices of the food items. This was caused by the prolonged drought. Allowing us to make spending decisions on the cash they give us has brought back life in our area since have spent their cash on their most pressing needs. There is nothing the organization is not doing right and everyone in the village appreciates the support.

I bought a piece of an iron sheet at KES 1000. My current house has a leaking grass thatched roof that has to the destruction of most of my household by the rain. I do help people out on the farms at a maximum of KES 300 a day which is not enough to meet both daily household expenses and also afford the cost of constructing an iron-roofed house. I, therefore, bought a piece of an iron sheet at KES 1000. I will be purchasing one whenever I receive my transfers till I get to the target of 14 pieces. KES 1000 I used to hire oxen for plowing my farm. Over the years I have been working on my own but since I do not have much energy I could only do a small piece. I am glad I will be planting half an acre piece of farm and hoping for an improved harvest. The other KES 1000 I spent mostly on dry foodstuffs is enough to take for some period before budgeting for more. I appreciate the support and pray for the organization to support more needy people.

I was filled with so much excitement when I received these funds. At that time, I was at home resting and worried about where I would get my next meal. I did not have the funds to restock my house with food. The climate also was not favorable for planting. Being a farmer, this only meant I would not be having a salary come end month as my crops would be destroyed.

It was hard to manage my needs using the KES 3000 monthly earnings I get as a farmer. Therefore, this money has boosted my finances. I also got to buy some food for my mother (who depends on one) and I. I desire to renovate my thatch roof house to an iron sheet roof house. This will relieve me from the stress of monthly maintenance. Plus, in rainy seasons, my clothes and other belongings will no longer be drenched in rainwater as the roof leakage will be resolved.

I am a small-scale farmer with a monthly earning is KES 3,000. From this, I get to support my mother. Even though I am yet to take a wife, it has been hard to meet all my needs. At the time I was receiving these funds, I had run out of food in my household. So, I used it to buy some maize flour sugar, and white flour.