"The money arrived during the night, and although I heard the message, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Then, in the morning around 8 a.m., I decided to check my phone, and to my surprise, I found that the transfer had come through! I felt a wave of joy and relief, thanking God because just the day before, my child’s teacher had called, reminding me about the school fees that were due. I had been so worried, knowing I didn’t have any way to pay. This money came at the perfect time, and I couldn’t believe my luck. It felt like a true blessing, lifting a huge weight off my shoulders." (Country: Kenya)

"Given the current drought and the hunger we are facing, my plan for this year is to continue using part of my transfers to make sure my family has enough food to avoid going hungry. It is a struggle, but I will keep prioritizing our food needs, especially during these tough times. At the same time, with my grandchildren still in school, I am committed to using another portion of the funds to pay their school fees, ensuring they can stay in school and continue their education. Another big concern for me is the roof of my house. It is very old and rusty, and it desperately needs to be replaced. However, with the drought still ongoing, I cannot focus on the roofing just yet. So, I am waiting for the rains to come, hoping that we will farm and have a good harvest to sustain us for a long period. Once we have enough food stored, I will begin redirecting part of my GiveDirectly transfers from buying food to gradually buying iron sheets to replace the roof. It is a slow process, but I am determined to fix our home, step by step. The support I am receiving from GiveDirectly gives me hope that I can take care of my family and our needs, even in the face of so many challenges." (Country: Kenya)

"My eyesight had completely failed, and I was scheduled for surgery to try to restore it. Thanks to my previous transfers and the support from my sons, I was able to undergo the surgery. Now, I am able to see a little bit, and I am hopeful that, with time, I will fully recover and regain my sight. However, the road to full recovery does not stop here. I need regular medical check-ups to monitor my progress, and those visits come with their own costs. So, my plan is to continue using part of my transfers to take care of my health and make sure I stay on track with my recovery until I can fully regain my eyesight. I am determined to get better, and I know this is crucial for my future. Once my eyesight is fully restored, I plan to use some of my transfers to buy goats, adding to the few I already have. My dream is to see them multiply both in numbers and value so that I can build something sustainable for myself and my family. This will help provide for us in the future, as they will be a sustainable source of income and with them I can have something to rely on especially when the program eventually comes to an end. I am deeply grateful for the support I’ve received so far, and I am working hard to ensure that I am not only healing but also setting myself up for a better, more independent future." (Country: Kenya)

"I am optimistic that all my children will successfully finish their education. The assistance we've received from GiveDirectly has been essential in supporting our children's educational needs. A portion of the funds has also been used to buy food for our family due to our decreased food supplies. Unfortunately, our maize farm has suffered because of insufficient rainfall. Nonetheless, if we manage to harvest a substantial amount of maize in the coming season, I intend to use part of my transfer for our children's school fees. Additionally, I hope to acquire some livestock, specifically goats, as they can reproduce and provide extra income for our family's needs. Eventually, once the goats increase in number, I plan to trade them for cows, which can be more profitable. This is my focus, particularly as my older children are about to start secondary school. We do not have steady jobs, my spouse runs a small house construction business, and I assist him with farming, although this can be inconsistent due to unreliable rainfall. Because of this, we need to prepare by establishing an alternative source of income hence the reason why I want to invest part of my transfer in goat rearing. All in all I am grateful to GiveDirectly because since I began receiving these transfers, my financial stress has decreased, my children are receiving meals without going hungry, and I can pay their school fees on time." (Country: Kenya)

"I am planning to construct a better house because I am currently residing in a very small area that used to be my kitchen, following the collapse of my main house due to heavy winds. With the monthly transfers from GiveDirectly, I am saving $20 each month for purchasing building materials. I am genuinely optimistic that, with the support of my spouse, I will achieve this dream. However, financial constraints have set me back my spouse does casual jobs that pay very little, which has forced us to move into a smaller space. Despite this, I am grateful that we can save the little income we earn, especially since we have combined that with the transfers. Soon, we will be able to start buying building materials. I also produce and sell charcoal to provide for my family, and I am confident that we will reach our goal. Moreover, I intend to educate my children so that once they finish school and find jobs, they can assist themselves when they are adults." (Country: Kenya)

"I am planning to reopen my small hotel, which focuses on selling food items, and this is my main goal for the coming year and beyond. The hotel previously failed due to a lack of water, as we are currently experiencing significant drought, making water very scarce. Those who have it are selling a 20-liter jerrican for Kes 50, which is quite expensive. This was one of the major challenges that led to the closure of my hotel. I am solely responsible for taking care of our children since my spouse and I separated. Life is very challenging, but I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, which allows me to earn something and plan for my family's needs. Additionally, I have moved in with my children to my parents’ place, where I receive some support from them; otherwise, life would be unbearable. To achieve my dream of reopening the business, I save a portion of my transfer so that I will be prepared without facing challenges when the time comes. I am thankful to be part of this program." (Country: Kenya)

"We never had the opportunity for an education, which has put us at a disadvantage for a long time. As I look at my children, I want to ensure they don’t face the same struggles we have experienced as their parents. We are determined for them to receive an education, and as I mentioned before, all my transfers will be directed towards their schooling. Additionally, I burn and sell charcoal to earn extra money to help my spouse support our family. With a large family like ours, it requires both of us to work extra hard so we can provide our children with their basic needs. Therefore, in the coming year and beyond, my spouse and I will concentrate on caring for our children, particularly making sure they receive the best education possible." (Country: Kenya)

"Earlier, I had planned to replace my old, dilapidated door. It does not give my home a welcoming look, nor does it provide the level of security that I need. I managed to buy all the necessary materials for a new door and was only left with hiring labor to install it. But just as I was preparing to move forward, my family was struck by tragedy. My dear daughter-in-law fell seriously ill and, heartbreakingly, lost her battle with the illness which shook us deeply. I had to put everything else on hold to focus on saying goodbye to her with the dignity and love she deserved. Now, as I look ahead to this coming year and beyond, I want to pick up where I left off. I plan to use a portion of my transfers to finally cover the labor costs and get the new door installed, bringing a fresh, secure look to my home. After that, I hope to gradually invest in purchasing more goats adding to what I already have using another portion of my transfers hoping they will multiply, growing in both number and value, so that in the future I will have something to rely on when this program comes to an end. Additionally, I rely on my son for support, but his income is unstable and I do not want to place too much of a burden on him. To ease this, I plan to use some of my transfers to help provide food for myself, supplementing the little he manages to bring in so he does not have to shoulder this responsibility alone. I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for this support" (Country: Kenya)

"Now that I’ve finished building my two-room house with the help of some of the transfers I received a while ago, I have a new goal: to buy more goats and keep them at my homestead. I feel that my financial struggles have partly been due to a lack of dependable assets that I could sell when needed. To achieve this, I’m now planning to save about $20 each month from my transfers, so I can fulfill this dream as soon as possible. Once I reach my goal, I’ll be in a good position to sell some goats and pay my bills on time, especially since I don’t have a permanent job at the moment. Having goats at home will also ease my burden, as I won’t need to borrow money in case of emergencies. Instead, I’ll be able to sell one or two goats and settle any expenses that come up." (Country: Kenya)

"I've always had a desire to pursue poultry farming, particularly raising chickens. Unfortunately, earlier this year, there was an outbreak of chicken disease in my area that wiped out all the poultry. As a result, I've decided to abandon the poultry project and focus on goats instead. I believe that goat farming presents a great business opportunity, as one mature goat can generate significant income. This investment will help me cover my children's school fees and other essential expenses while also providing support for my husband. Furthermore, I'm interested in starting a small fish business to complement the goat rearing project. To achieve these two goals, I plan to use my transfer to invest in them, and these are my objectives for the coming year and beyond." (Country: Kenya)