"As I mentioned before, my current home is too small to comfortably accommodate my family, so I am still working toward my dream of building a new, larger, two-roomed house. With the ongoing support from GiveDirectly, my plan this year and beyond is to keep gradually purchasing building materials. I intend to use income from my side hustles, such as cooking and selling food, to bring this dream closer to reality. Also, with my children in school, I am committed to using part of my transfers to cover their school fees, ensuring they can continue their education without disruption. Additionally, I plan to save a portion of each transfer to eventually buy more goats, hoping they will multiply over time and become a valuable resource for us that we can rely on especially when this program ends. I am truly grateful for the support and opportunities GiveDirectly has provided for my family and me."

"The transfers from GiveDirectly have brought so much hope to my family, especially in securing my children’s education. For the coming year and beyond, I plan to continue dedicating part of these funds to cover their school fees, ensuring they can stay in school and focus on their studies. In addition, I intend to invest another portion of the transfers in livestock, such as goats and chickens, with the hope that they will multiply and grow in value over time. These animals will become a valuable asset, providing us with a stable source of support, especially for the future when this program ends. I am truly grateful for the support GiveDirectly has provided. It has given us a brighter outlook on what lies ahead."

"My plan is to ensure that I educate my children by focusing more on farming. I want them to have opportunities that I didn’t have, so they won’t have to stay at home like I did. By growing crops and raising livestock, I hope to generate enough income to pay for their school fees. I believe that with a good education, they can build better lives for themselves. Additionally, I want to teach them the value of hard work in farming, so they can appreciate the effort it takes to succeed. My ultimate goal is to see them thrive in their studies and create a brighter future for our family."

"My plan for the coming years is to focus entirely on farming. I believe that with hard work and dedication, I can generate enough income to pay for my children's school fees. It is essential for me to ensure they continue their education so they can build better futures for themselves. I want them to grow up with the skills and knowledge that will allow them to help our family in the future. Additionally, by investing in our farm, I hope to create a sustainable source of income that will support us all. This way, we can overcome the challenges we faced and thrive together as a family."

"Caring for my family and securing our future has always been my biggest dream. When I received the cash transfer, I felt a wave of hope wash over me. I used $250 to buy five sheep, knowing they would not only help me earn money but also support my children's school fees. These sheep are more than just animals to me; they are a lifeline, a way to ensure that my children have a better future. In addition, I spent $80 to hire laborers to harvest my beans, and I was filled with joy when I saw the five bags weighing 90 kilograms each. Knowing that we have enough beans at home brings me comfort and reduces our worries about food.The remaining $100 went to buy food for my family, which has been so important since the floods took away two acres of our farmland. Life has been tough, and my husband and I have struggled to find work to support our four children. We worked long hours in casual jobs just to get by, but the cash transfer has changed everything for us. Now, I can focus on farming and providing for my family without the constant stress of looking for daily work. This support has given us a renewed sense of hope and the strength to move forward.With this opportunity, I feel empowered to create a brighter future for my family. The sheep will be a source of income, and the beans will keep our bellies full. I am deeply thankful for the chance to rebuild our lives after the floods and to give my children a good education. This experience has opened my eyes to the importance of making wise investments, and I am committed to making the most of this chance. Each step I take is for my family's future, and I am determined to ensure they have a better life."

"In the coming years, I want to focus on farming by planting beans and vegetables because they grow quickly, usually in about two months. This fast turnaround will help me generate income to pay for my children's school fees. Furthermore, I hope to have enough surplus food at home, ensuring my family is well-fed. I believe that with careful planning and hard work, I can improve our living situation. By prioritizing crops that yield quickly, I can create a stable foundation for my family’s future. Ultimately, my goal is to provide a better life for my children and help them succeed in their education."

"Starting fresh after losing everything to the floods has been a challenge, but I am determined to create a better life for my children. I used $50 of my unconditional cash transfer to pay school fees for my children, as their education is my top priority. Previously, I relied on my business of selling food and other goods to support us, but the floods destroyed my shop and wiped out my stock. Despite this setback, I borrowed money to restock my shop and get back on my feet. However, the competition has increased, and my daily income has dropped from $15 to $8, as more people have opened businesses after receiving their own cash transfers.Being a single mother is tough, especially when my children depend solely on me for their needs. The pressure of paying school fees was overwhelming, but now I feel more hopeful. Although I faced struggles and moments of depression, I am gradually finding my way. My children’s happiness motivates me to keep pushing forward, and I am committed to providing them with the education they deserve.Furthermore, I have managed to save $400, which I plan to use for school fees when they return in January. This financial cushion gives me peace of mind and shows that my hard work is paying off. I am determined to ensure that my children have a brighter future, and I believe that with continued effort and support, we will overcome these challenges together."

"Investing in watermelon farming has always been my goal, but limited resources kept me from moving forward. This time, I finally managed to make it happen. I spent $420 to buy seeds, prepare the land, and hire a tractor to get things ready. Additionally, I needed to buy fuel for the generator to pump water from the lake. Planting one acre of watermelon was a significant expense, but now the field is flourishing, and I’m hopeful for a great harvest. In our area, watermelons tend to do very well, and if all goes as planned, I could fill one lorry, which might bring in around $1,000.Since we’ve faced challenges in the past, this opportunity feels like a turning point. I used to farm maize, but frequent flooding would ruin the crops, leaving us struggling to make ends meet. With the extra cash, I also spent $30 on food for my family, as we’ve had to depend mainly on what we grow. Unfortunately, we lost all our maize in the last flood, so this support has allowed us to put food on the table while my watermelon crop matures.My wife is an early childhood teacher, and her salary helps us pay school fees for our three children, though it’s modest. Her support has been invaluable, especially during tough seasons when farming yields were low. Now, with this new venture, I feel more optimistic about our future and the stability it could bring. Watermelon farming holds real promise, and this cash transfer has allowed us to start building a more secure and hopeful future."

"Investing in my family’s education has always been a priority, so I used $200 from my cash transfer to pay school fees for my five children. Normally, I would have had to sell livestock to cover the costs, but this time, receiving the money allowed me to avoid that difficult choice. Knowing my children’s education is secured for now brings me peace of mind and helps me focus on other areas of our lives.In addition to covering school fees, I allocated $230 to farming. My husband and I decided to plant two acres of watermelon and beans, as we believe these crops have the potential for a good profit. Farming is our main source of income, and by growing crops that sell well, we hope to recover from the setbacks caused by the recent floods, which damaged our land and made life tougher. We’re hopeful that this season’s harvest will not only sustain us but also improve our financial standing.The remaining $20 went towards purchasing food, as we had very little at home. With our main focus on farming and sometimes burning charcoal for extra income, having this extra support for groceries has been a relief. Thanks to this transfer, we’re able to sustain ourselves through this challenging period, and I feel optimistic about the future. It has made a big difference in our lives and has encouraged us to keep working toward a better future."

"I am a widower with 3 children in school, I plan to spend KES 50000 on paying my children's school fees.My elderly daughter has taken up this responsibility for the past 1 year,this does not make me happy because as a father I should be the sole provider for the my family. Receiving this transfers therefore means I can relief my eldest daughter from this yoke of paying fees .With the remaining amount I will restock 10 herds of goats to secure my future with it.This will cost me KES 5000 each."