"My goal in the next year is to build a new brick-walled and tin-roofed four-room house to accommodate my three co-wives and me. Our current shelter is in poor condition as the mud walls are almost collapsing and the tin roof is rusted and perforated, which lets in water whenever it rains. In the short range, the goal is to assemble the building materials first and then hire a mason later to bring the project to completion. Having already bought 10 pieces of iron sheets, my plan is to use each monthly transfer to buy at least two pieces. I will be very happy if the construction project succeeds in a year’s time."

"I made the decision to spend my December transfers on purchasing livestock in the interest of progress and leading a better life free from poverty. Livestock gain value over time and become more profitable once they proliferate because the initial investment is doubled. Being the only provider for my family, I have struggled to make a living through farming. It has proven challenging to harvest any crops from the farm due to the harsh climatic conditions. Due to his advanced age, my husband can only afford to care for the small amount of livestock in the field for grazing and transport them to water sources. In a few months, I'm hoping the goat will proliferate, doubling my investment. I can sell the goat in case of an emergency and use the proceeds to care of it."

"I hope to start a grocery business and a salon . I had already build 4 shops so I'll keep 1 for myself . I have chosen grocery and salon business because I see there is ready market here . I'm not sure about the exact capital , maybe I will ask my friends who are already in the business but with $500 I'll be able to start small and expand later . I'm not in any merry go round group nor saccos , so I cannot say that I'll take a loan , I will try to save from my water and charcoal businesses to see if I'll raise the capital ."

"My husband and I assist each other in fending for our family of 8 children . He owns an electronics repair shop while I own a grocery shop , I also sell street food like 'githeri' . I really wanted to start goat keeping , so I spent $180 on 2 does which were being sold at $90 each . The does have since given birth and I'm already enjoying their milk . Later I can sell their kids when financial needs arise . I didn't have a water storage tank and this made me suffer during drought seasons , so I spent $30 on a 320 litre water tank . Also I used to feel embarrassed because my house had old fashioned chairs , I'm happy I was able to buy modern 6-seater sofa sets which did cost $50 . Right now my house looks presentable . So I took the old chairs to my kitchen and we now have enough space to sit while cooking . My 2 children who are in secondary school had arrears of $240 which I cleared . Finally I bought a nice dress worth $10 for myself because it had been long since I wore a new dress . Thank you so much Give Directly because without your money , I would have not achieved all these . May God bless you ."

"First of all , please accept my gratitude. Give Directly has benefitted me and many others in my village . It has changed the lives of people . People have bought livestock ,water tanks for water storage , paid school fees and build new houses . Your way of disbursing this money was well organised and you ensured that we received the money was sent directly from you since maybe if you send a different person , it would have been deducted . I'm contented with how you handled everything hence I see no area of improvement ."

"I'm a casual labourer , I prepare land for people and also sell charcoal . My husband is a chef , he works in a good hotel in town . He is the bread winner of our family but his income is not enough to sustain us . When I received this transfer , I went direct to the market and paid $240 for 1 bull and $120 for 1 heifer . This had been my long term goal and I was so happy to have achieved it . I now use the bull commercially whereby it digs land for people and they pay . I also hope the heifer will start giving me milk in future , I can use some at home and sell the rest . I also spent $64 on 2 female goats . I just love livestock because it is an investment , after they multiply, I'll be able to sell some when need arise . Previously , I used to sleep on a floor mat , so I bought a bed worth $70 and a mattress worth $65 . Thanks to Give Directly , I can now witness what it is like to sleep comfortably . We had no food in the house , so I spent $60 on 1 bag of maize and used the rest of the money on small house hold items like soap and water ."

"My top priorities for this year are to buy livestock and upgrade the condition of my home. I put up with my house's rusty iron sheets being in bad shape the entire previous year. Every time it rained, my mother-in-law and I would spend the entire night shifting furniture around the house to keep it from being ruined by the rain water seeping in through the roof. This year, I intend to purchase two new iron sheets each month until I have enough to fix the roof completely. I'll feel better once the roof is fixed, and I can then concentrate on getting more livestock to add to the few I already have."

"I decided to start saving a portion of the money that I received over the last few months of last year. This was influenced by the fact that the house I live in at the moment is quite a disaster, especially the roof. During the rainy season, we normally have to put pots in the house so that it is not left flooded with water, and we end up staying up the whole night sometimes just because the roof is leaking from everywhere. This year, I plan to finally use the funds that I have been saving to build a proper house and install a new roof. This will be costly because I have a lot of material to buy, including timber and sand, and I also have to pay the laborers, but I am hopeful it will all turn out well."

"My short-term goal is to open a grocery shop. I am a farmer and the produce I make has always been for domestic purposes but if I have to do it commercially I will have to add more produce, water, and fertilizers"

"Before the transfer, my children would get sent away due to school fees arrears, which had accumulated to $200. I have a grocery shop and I get $5 a day that helps me buy food and water for my family. My husband does casual jobs and in a week he gets $30 which is mostly used to pay school fees and his transport fare. Previously, I lived in one room house that was not comfortable for the six of us. My children would put the mattress on the ground and sleep which made them have a cold most of the time. Receiving this transfer has enabled me to build a two-roomed house and bought two beds for $80 and paid school fees arrears at $200."