"I am a farmer, and although we own an acre of land, it is currently still covered by water due to the recent floods. To keep things moving, I have rented half an acre of land where I plan to start planting maize. My goal is to save money from charcoal production to prepare the land, buy seeds, and get everything ready for planting. By growing maize, I hope to not only provide food for my family but also generate some income to help with school fees. I also plan to continue expanding my farming activities, ensuring a steady source of food and income for the future." (Country: Kenya)

"I am a farmer, and I initially planned to use my second transfer to plant green grams on my half a acre of land. Unfortunately, after clearing the land, my plans had to change when my daughter fell seriously ill and was diagnosed with heart and kidney problems. This shifted my priorities, and I had to focus on her medication and treatment instead of the farm. However, I am not giving up on my farming ambitions. I am now planning to use part of my final transfer to plant something on the land, though I am still unsure which crop, since the season for green grams has passed. If I manage to plant successfully, I will dedicate the profits to further farming activities while continuing to prioritize my daughter’s medical needs." (Country: Kenya)

"Our house was swept away by floods, and we lost household items like our bed. As a result, my children and I had to move into my co-wife's house. While we stayed with her family, living under one roof with her three children, my two children, and our husband made the situation uncomfortable due to the limited space. After receiving my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I bought iron sheets and timber. I now plan to use my final transfer to purchase the remaining materials and begin construction so we can have our own space again. Additionally, I intend to buy essential items we lost to restore comfort and stability for my family." (Country: Kenya)

"My house is currently a small, one-room structure with a sloped roof and old iron sheets. My plan is to renovate it by installing a modern roof with better-quality iron sheets. I also want to expand the house to make it more spacious and comfortable for my family. Right now, I am in a better financial position than before, and I believe it is important to reflect this improvement in my home. I plan to use part of the proceeds from my upcoming tomato harvest to fund the renovations. Additionally, I will allocate some of the money to plant maize on another piece of land that I have already prepared, ensuring a steady source of income for the future." (Country: Kenya)

"My plan is to continue with my crop farming because it has proven to be a reliable source of income for me. I aim to use the proceeds from my maize, which I have currently planted, to complete paying off the balance on a plot I secured, which I am currently paying for in installments. Once I fully own the land, I will build on it to create a stable home for my family, away from future floods. Additionally, after securing my family’s future and continuing with crop farming, I will use the proceeds to officiate my marriage by having a wedding and paying the dowry for my wife. This will allow me to formalize our union and focus on growing and supporting my family further." (Country: Kenya)

"I constructed a kiosk and bought a few items to start with using my second transfer. However, I didn’t finish installing the shelves, which makes it difficult to display and store the items properly. Additionally, the limited stock, due to financial constraints, means we often run out of products that customers request. As a result, they come and leave without purchasing everything they need. I plan to use my final transfer to complete the shelves and add more stock, allowing me to better serve my customers and grow my business" (Country: Kenya)

"My priorities are currently changing due to my old age. I would like to be food secure and have a better shelter for myself and my 3 grand children.To achieve this,I will buy 6 goats each at a cost of KES 6500 and build a small decent house worth KES 30000. With these their safety will be paramount because of late they have been sleeping in an open space where they can be attacked by hippopotamus." (Country: Kenya)

"We have been living in a borrowed house for the last 2.5 years due to the flooding of Lake Baringo, and our house was completely submerged in water. I, therefore, intend to spend the first transfer on buying building materials for putting another house on a higher ground which cannot be affected by floods. This will be a means of achieving a fulfilling life for me and my children." (Country: Kenya)

"Our dream is to live in a better house but financial challenges have made us live in a grass thatched house. I am happy that the transfers from GiveDirectly will enable me to build a habitable house. This will cost $470 of our transfers. Our area is not arable and we are left to depend on livestock farming to support our family. I will spend $230 of the transfer to buy ten goats which will be our source of family income in the future.I will also spend the transfers from GiveDirectly to buy my family food and clothing." (Country: Kenya)

"Our two roomed house is not in a good condition. We need to cement the floor and install new iron sheets on the walls. Additionally, we plan to add an extra room for the kids. The health conditions for our family will be better and hence reduced respiratory problems due to dust. Our children will also have their own room and give us some privacy. I believe it can cost about $700 to do repairs and add one more room. We enjoy goat farming due to their suitability to this region and ease of marketability. We plan to spend the rest of the transfer to buy more goats. Hopefully we can acquire about ten goats. It will depend on the market price at that time. Bright future lies ahead in owning several goats." (Country: Kenya)