"It was around 5 pm when I had gone to the nearby shop to buy beans for supper when I checked my phone and saw a message from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with excitement and hurried home as fast as I could. The moment I stepped inside, I knelt down and thanked God for answering my prayers. With a heart full of gratitude, I gathered my children and told them about the money we had received and they were just as thrilled as I was. We then discussed how we could use the money to get piped water in our compound. On the third day, we went to withdraw the money, filled with hope and excitement for the changes it would bring to our lives."

"My goal for the coming year is to improve my family's living conditions by building a better house. I aspire to construct a three-roomed iron sheet house to provide more space and comfort for myself, my two daughters, and my spouse. Currently, our living situation is cramped as we all share a single-roomed house; my spouse my two daughters and I, which makes me feel uncomfortable are my daughters are grown. The room also serves as our living room. With the third transfer, I have already purchased the necessary iron sheets and frames to begin construction. I am hopeful that this year's maize harvest will be great, as we have experienced favourable rainfall and abundant water for nourishing my crops. Upon harvesting the maize, I plan to sell it and use the income to acquire additional materials needed for construction, such as building nails. I am eager to commence building the new house and provide my family with a better and more spacious living environment."

"My current plan is to start rearing chickens, a goal I have always had in mind. The only obstacle has been the starting capital. By rearing chickens, I will be able to sell eggs to generate income for our basic needs and sell chickens in case of an emergency.After establishing the chicken business, I plan to use the income to start planting papayas. Papayas require little water to grow and can survive during drought seasons, allowing for continuous harvesting throughout the year."

"Since I received money from GiveDirectly, the biggest difference in my life has been the ability to repair the roof of my house. Before, whenever it rained, I had to place sacks and reeds to prevent water from leaking inside. It was a constant worry, and the situation was especially hard on my son, who is in Grade 6. Now, he is so much more excited and happy because we have a great place to live. The old roof was not only leaky but also made a lot of noise whenever it was windy. The iron sheets were worn out, and the roofing nails were so tattered that I feared they would fall off any moment. This improvement has brought a sense of security and comfort to our home, and I am immensely grateful for the positive change it has brought to our lives."

"I plan on purchasing a water tank costing $25 to help me store water. Currently, I use a 20-liter jerrican to store water for home use, but these jerricans store very little water. When the water pans run out, I face challenges accessing enough water. A large water tank will allow me to store more water for longer periods. Additionally, I plan on purchasing more livestock with the amount I save from our savings group. I am very appreciative of the financial support I am receiving from the transfers, which is helping me improve my quality of life."

"I am a small-scale farmer working on 2 acres of land, alternating between maize and watermelon. I fully irrigate my crops, although I sometimes face challenges. Recently, I lost all my maize due to floods after investing $70 from my first transfer on land preparation. During the dry season, I also experience water shortages, which makes irrigation unreliable. Additionally, I cleared the fee for my daughter in high school of $120. I've been struggling with school fees because my income is not reliable, and I have three other children in elementary school. My hope was high with the maize crop, thinking it would improve our situation, but sadly, I lost it all. With the remaining $10 from the transfer, I bought vegetable seeds, hoping to plant and get something from it to sustain us."

"As I sit under the leaking roof of my humble home, I can't help but dream of a brighter future ahead. For too long, the constant drip-drip of rainwater has been a reminder of the struggles we face each day. But now, with the support of GiveDirectly, I have a plan, and a goal to strive towards. In the coming year and beyond, my focus is to transform this old, worn-out grass-thatched roof into a sturdy roof made of iron sheets. With each passing month, I envision myself one step closer to my dream, purchasing two pieces of iron sheets at a time until I have enough to build a two-room mud wall house. No longer will I fear the rainy season, will I wake up to find puddles forming on the floor. This is more than just a house renovation; it's a symbol of hope, resilience, and the determination to create a better life for myself and my family. With GiveDirectly by my side, I am confident that I can turn this vision into reality."

"Upon receiving the transfers, it was time for me to upgrade my house. I had always feared that the clay-brick walls would not hold for too long because of the heavy rains that could ruin them. So to protect them, I resolved to plaster around them and paint them to make the house look more appealing as well. All this work would not have been possible with my business of selling tap water, which earns me at most $50 per month. So the cash transfers came just in time to help me achieve this goal. I spent $350 to buy 35 bags of cement and 3 bags of white powder for the painting. I also bought two goats and a cow for $150. By owning goats, I can let them reproduce, and in the future, I can sell them to cover urgent needs like food, especially when I am stuck financially. I could never be happier for the opportunity to invest in my future, and I am happy that Give Directly gave me that chance. I also used the remaining amount of funds to buy food because my household had started running out of food. At least having food gave me peace of mind to continue working towards repairing my house because now I had enough to eat."

"Despite our old age, my wife and I continue to support each other and care for our two grandchildren. As small-scale farmers, we focus on maize and beans production and also keep livestock. The first and second transfers from GiveDirectly significantly boosted our activities. With the final transfer, I bought a $160 water tank to address the severe water issues in our area, especially during droughts when we have to travel long distances to fetch water, which is difficult for us. Additionally, I spent $200 to build a pit latrine. We had been sharing one with our neighbors, but their refusal at times pushed me to construct our own. The remaining $9000 was used to address our food problems. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"We are sleeping together with our children in one room since we have an extra room. when I receive the transfers from GiveDirectly, I will plan KES 40,000 to build a single room for my children. This will give them space for evening studies and revision. We will also have some privacy, it is unfortunate that we do not have clean water for domestic use and yet it is the rainy season. I will use KES 30,000 of my transfers to buy a 2500 liters plastic water tank. This will help me harvest rain water. We also intend to diversify our farming systems to tap more income into the family. We will spend KES 20,000 to buy six goats"