"My son is growing up, and soon he will need his own space to live in, as it is no longer appropriate for him to sleep in the same house with me. I therefore have been buying building materials, but I still have more to purchase. I plan to continue using a portion of my transfers, along with the savings from the groups I am in, and take small loans to keep buying the materials I need. My goal is to eventually build him a house, and once this is achieved, I will feel an immense sense of happiness and relief. In addition to this, I am committed to continuing to support my children's education. I plan to use part of my transfers to pay for their school fees, ensuring that they can continue learning and working towards their future. Education is a priority for me, and I want to give my children the best opportunities I can. Once I finish building the house and hand it over to my son, I intend to focus on expanding my livestock. I plan to use some of my transfers to buy more goats, adding to the ones I already have. I am hopeful that they will multiply, increasing in number and value, so that I will have a reliable source of income in the future, especially once this program comes to an end. I am deeply grateful for the support I have received. It has been a lifeline for me, enabling me to work toward these important goals for my family’s future. With this assistance, I feel empowered to make lasting improvements in our lives, and I am filled with hope for what is to come."

"With two children in school, my main priority has been to ensure that my children continue their education without interruption. To achieve this, I used $30 of my recent transfers from GiveDirectly to pay for their school fees making sure that they were not returned home to collect unpaid fees. In addition to their schooling, I also spent $10 to buy them new school uniforms. Their old uniforms were worn out, and I wanted to ensure they had the proper attire for school, so they could attend with pride and comfort. I have always dreamed of owning livestock that I can rely on in the future. To take the first step towards this goal, I used $5 of my transfers to buy two chickens, and I also spent $30 to buy a goat. My hope is that these animals will multiply and increase in both number and value, providing me with a valuable asset that will support my family in the future. Given the current situation in our region, where we are experiencing a prolonged dry spell and facing the threat of hunger, I used the remaining $27 of my transfers to buy food for my family. Our food stores were empty, and this support ensured that we did not go hungry during such a challenging time. I am incredibly grateful for the assistance from GiveDirectly. I feel hopeful and empowered knowing that I have the opportunity to work towards a better future for us all."

"The transfers from GiveDirectly came at a critical moment when I was unwell and in need of medical attention. I had to use $16 of my recent transfers to visit the hospital and get the necessary medication. I am so relieved to say that I am now feeling much better, and I can return to my usual duties. Additionally, my house was severely affected by strong winds that hit our region. The roof was blown away, and it was damaged beyond repair. Even though I tried to put the old sheets back, many of them were full of holes, and some were in such bad shape that reusing them was no longer viable. To address this, I used another $21 of my transfers to buy two iron sheets, which I will use to begin renovating the roof of my house. This is a step towards creating a safer and more secure home for my family. The drought in our region has made life even harder, and our food stores empty. To make sure my family did not go hungry, I spent another $31 of my transfers to buy food. This was essential, as we are facing extreme food shortages due to the drought, and I wanted to ensure my children and family were properly fed. Also, with three children in school, I also had to prioritize their education. I spent $20 of my transfers to pay for their school fees, ensuring that they would not be sent home for lack of payment. Education is very important to me, and I want to make sure that my children have every opportunity to succeed, despite the challenges we face. Lastly, I used the remaining $14 to buy two chickens, with the hope that they will multiply. My plan is to sell some of the chickens in times of emergencies, especially when I need to pay school fees or cover other urgent expenses. I am truly grateful for the support I have received from GiveDirectly."

"I have always dreamed of owning a pair of bulls that I could use to plow my farm. Thanks to the support I have received, I was able to get one bull, and now I am focused on acquiring the second one. To make this possible, I have been diligently saving a portion of my transfers in our local savings group. Recently, with the transfers I received from GiveDirectly, I was able to set aside $50 towards the purchase of the second bull, which has been a long-held goal of mine. I am excited about the possibility of using these bulls to plow my land, which will help me cut down on farming costs and increase my efficiency. At the same time, our region has been hit by a severe drought, which has brought with it a real threat of hunger. To ensure that my family does not go without food, I used $33 of my transfers to buy food for them. This drought has made life difficult, but I am thankful that with this assistance, I am able to keep my family nourished during this challenging time. Additionally, I used $9 of my transfers to pay my child's school fees. I did not want my child to be sent home, so I made sure to cover the fees so that they could continue their education. Education is important to me, and I am determined to keep my child in school. Lastly, I was unwell and in need of medical attention. I spent the remaining $9 of my transfers to visit the hospital and receive treatment. I am relieved and happy to report that I am now feeling much better and able to resume my normal duties. I am truly grateful for the support I have received from GiveDirectly. Their assistance has made a significant difference in my life, especially during such a difficult period."

"I have been buying goats with the help of my parents, who assist in their care while I continue attending school. I currently own 10 goats and aim to increase this number to 25 to achieve my goals after finishing school next year. My plan is to move into my own house to avoid the ongoing inconvenience of searching for a place to sleep, as I am now grown and can no longer share my parents' one-room house. In addition to building my dream house, I am using part of my transfers to purchase goats and also to acquire iron sheets in preparation for construction. Once this project is complete, I will focus on preparing to join college. My parents are small-scale farmers, and the little they earn cannot fully support my college education without a combined effort. Therefore, I must plan early. These goats will multiply, increasing their number beyond what I currently have. I plan to sell some in the future to raise funds for buying additional building materials and to expedite the construction process. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for their financial support. Without these transfers, I would not have reached where I am today."

"My father is partially disabled, leaving my mother as the primary breadwinner for our family. Due to the heavy financial burden, I could not proceed to college, as my mother had to prioritize paying school fees for my four younger siblings and providing for the entire family. She works as a peasant farmer and supplements her income by burning and selling charcoal, but her earnings are minimal, often requiring her to struggle to make ends meet. To help alleviate this burden, I have been using part of my transfers to invest in poultry and goat rearing. Currently, I have six chickens and five goats, and I am focusing on building a sustainable livelihood through livestock farming. My plan is to let the chickens multiply, exchange them for goats, and eventually trade the goats for cows. My ultimate goal is to acquire two cows, care for them, and sell them at a profit to fund my college education at KMTC. This aspiration motivates me to work hard, as I believe furthering my studies will lead to a brighter future for myself and my family."

"This year was incredibly challenging for my family, as floods destroyed one acre of our maize crop, leaving us with nothing to harvest. Farming is our only source of income, and losing our harvest put us in a tough spot with no means to support our family. Using $300 from the cash transfer, I decided to plant maize again on one acre and dedicate a small portion to vegetables. This choice was essential for rebuilding our livelihood and ensuring we have both food and an income in the future. The funds gave me hope and the means to restart farming, which had seemed impossible before. In addition to farming, I used $50 to pay the graduation fee for my daughter, who was transitioning to primary school. Before this, I relied on selling vegetables from my farm to pay her fees, but the floods had wiped out that option. The cash transfer arrived just in time to cover this important milestone and also to clear an outstanding arrear of $30. It felt like a relief to know my daughter could continue her education without interruptions. Finally, I spent $50 on maternity expenses since I was about to deliver my baby, and I used the remaining $20 for food to sustain me while nursing at home. Taking care of five children while recovering was overwhelming, but the support from the cash transfer made it more manageable. My husband and I are both farmers, and life has become easier with the capital to restart our farming activities. I feel optimistic about the future and deeply grateful for the assistance that gave us a fresh start."

"Our house is getting smaller as the family keeps growing. We plan to build another two roomed iron sheets roofed house. The walls will be made of mud and sticks. It can cost approximately $300. A new house will provide our children enough space to sleep and also study. Due to food insecurity and lack of essential items in our home such as clothes, beddings and utensils. We plan to buy some using about $300 of the transfer. It will give us better living conditions.The food will also give us strength to focus on other activities such as planting grass. One of our children is in college studying engineering. We plan to spend the rest of the transfer on her education. We hope she can secure employment after school and have a better future. She can also assist us in the future where she can."

"I am currently facing a significant challenge with raising school fees for my two children and one sibling. I depend on livestock trading, which brings in about KES 13000 during a good month. This money goes mainly toward our basic needs like food and school fees, though it is not always enough to cover everything. At one point, my children were sent home from school due to arrears of KES 17300, and they had to stay out of school for almost four days. This had a huge negative impact on their education, and I am doing everything I can to ensure that something like this does not happen again."

"I run a small grocery business that provides me with a modest income to support my family. However, a lack of school fees has delayed my dream of joining college, so I am saving the little income I earn to make this possible. The profits from my business help meet our needs, support my husband, and contribute to my savings for enrolling in an Early Childhood Education course, which I have always wanted to pursue. Additionally, I save through our merry-go-round group, where I contribute $20 monthly to accumulate funds for my school fees. My ultimate goal is to secure a stable teaching job to provide for my growing family. I am grateful for the financial support I have received, which has made it easier to work toward my dreams. If everything goes as planned, I am optimistic about joining college next year."