"Currently, my children and I live in an area with unresolved conflicts, which makes me feel uneasy about our future here. My dream for the coming year and beyond is to buy a piece of land of our own, where we can build a safe, peaceful home. Since buying land is expensive and beyond my current means, I plan to start small. I intend to use a portion of my transfers to buy goats, with the hope that they will multiply over time. As their numbers grow, I can eventually trade them for male cows, which I’ll train to plow my farm. Once these cows mature into strong bulls, my goal is to sell them and use the proceeds to purchase that piece of land I’ve longed for. I am incredibly grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has given me, and I hold onto hope and prayer that one day I’ll be able to provide my children and myself with the security and peace we deserve."

"Receiving the cash transfers means so much to me since I intend to use it to meet my most felt needs. Firstly, I intend to use the cash transfers to purchase posts and chain links for fencing. I intend to use about KES 40000 of the cash transfers on this. Secondly I intend to purchase a cow which I will milk. This will cost me approximately KES 25000. Thirdly I intend to purchase 5 goats which will cost me about KES 20000. This will be my investment into the future. Finally, I intend to use the cash transfer to pay for my grand daughter's school fees. This is important because I will be able to pay off part of the school fees which she owes the school. I'm grateful that I have been considered to receive the cash transfers since I really needed money for these things but I didn't have a way of getting them."

"The first thing I did when I received the transfer was buy a three-seater sofa set for $50. We only had a two-seater, and whenever guests visited, it wasn’t enough to accommodate everyone comfortably. I also bought a table for $40 because we didn’t have one, and it felt awkward serving people without a proper place to put things. For $5, I got a plastic chair for one of my children since I had bought only one earlier, and the other child still needed theirs. I used $35 to buy a bag of maize and spent another $30 on other food items to ensure we had enough to eat for the month. With $40, I decided to boost my mandazi business. This small investment has really paid off, and now the business runs on its own without needing any more cash injections. Additionally, I used $15 to buy some clothes for the children so they could have decent things to wear both at home and when visiting relatives. The remaining amount, we decided to save. My husband plans to add it to his salary so we can buy a cow. Having a cow will not only provide us with milk but also help us improve our family's nutrition and cut down on some expenses. This support has truly given us a solid foundation, and I am optimistic about the future."

"Receiving this money means my compound and farms will have proper fencing. I have an acre of grass which I sell during the rainy season to be able to pay school fees but has poor fencing. Hippos, goats and cows access it and destroy a better part of it hence low production hence affecting my income. I plan on purchasing fencing poles and mesh at a cost of $400 using the transfers. I am so excited because my farm will be secured and my yield will double from that."

"Recently, I received $450 from GiveDirectly, and I am incredibly grateful for this support. I received the transfer in the morning and immediately decided to invest in livestock, spending $370 to buy a cow and two sheep. In my culture, livestock ownership is a source of pride and respect—without animals, one is seen as a “nobody.” We are traditionally nomadic, but drought had caused me to lose all my livestock. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I now own livestock again, and I plan to care for them well. Not only do they restore my pride, but they will also provide my family with milk and a future source of income. I used $50 of the money to buy food, which gives me the energy I need for my daily activities. The remaining amount allowed me to visit my family, something I am deeply thankful for. After being separated from my wife for 11 years, I am now reunited with my children, and I currently live with three of them. This experience has been profoundly moving, and I am grateful to GiveDirectly for making it possible."

"Investing in my home and family has always been a dream of mine, and this cash transfer finally made it possible. I spent $200 to purchase and install a sturdy entry gate for my home, replacing the makeshift barrier of tree branches I had been using. This new gate not only protects my property but also keeps out wandering animals that have destroyed my belongings. Furthermore, I feel a sense of security knowing that my family is safer with a proper gate in place.In addition to the gate, I used $20 to buy a cow. I see this cow as a valuable investment for the future, as it will provide us with milk and possibly additional income when it gives birth. Instead of spending all my money on food that would be gone in a few days, I believe owning a cow will help us become more self-sufficient. As someone who enjoys drinking milk, having my own cow feels like a great choice for my family’s health and nutrition.The remaining $50 went towards purchasing food for my family of three, as my other children are all married. Given my age, I find it challenging to take on heavy labor jobs, and I had been relying on burning charcoal for food. My husband is a farmer, so we sometimes depend on our crops, but there are times when we struggle. Thanks to this cash transfer, we now have enough food at home, allowing us to focus on building a better future together. I am truly grateful for this support, which has made a significant difference in our lives."

"Moving forward, my primary focus is to use my transfers to help my child, who has a deformed leg. I am determined to ensure that he receives the necessary medical attention so that he can have a good leg and enjoy a normal life like other children. In addition to my child's medical care, I plan to use part of the transfers to buy goats. My hope is that these goats will multiply and increase in number over time. I then intend to trade some of the goats for cows, which I can train to help plow my farm. In the future, I may be able to sell some of the cows as they multiply and use the proceeds to fund my children's education. I am excited to see these plans come to fruition with the help of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, and I am hopeful that I will be able to provide my children with the best possible opportunities."

"My plan for the coming year is to plant beans on 2 acres of land within the Eldume Irrigation Scheme. You know, it's the perfect time to plant beans—the conditions are ideal, and the scheme has provided us with good, quality seeds. I'm really hopeful that this will turn out well. If everything goes as expected and I get a good harvest, I can sell the beans at $100 per bag. That money would be a huge help, especially when it comes to paying school fees. I have eight children, you see, and two of them are in secondary school now. The costs are really starting to add up. I’ve been managing to pay their fees by selling my cows. It’s not easy, and I’m now down to just one cow, which I’m keeping mainly for milk to feed my family. But I can’t keep selling livestock forever. That’s why I’m really banking on this new source of income from the beans. If all goes well, I won’t have to keep sacrificing what little livestock I have left. It’s my way of securing a more stable life for all of us."

"As a parent without a stable job and source of income with a child in secondary school whose school fee is quite high, my top priority is to ensure her education continues without interruption, especially from being sent home to collect unpaid fees. My plan for the coming year and beyond is to continue using a portion of my transfers that I receive from GiveDirectly to consistently pay her school fees, ensuring she stays in school. Additionally, I am a farmer, and as a farmer, the costs of preparing my land have been a heavy burden. Each farming season, I have had to hire a tractor or plowing bulls, which is quite expensive. To reduce these costs, I have embarked on a journey to acquire two sets of plowing bulls, which would allow me to plow my farm and save on preparation expenses. To reach this goal, I started by purchasing goats and poultry with my previous transfers, and I plan to continue using a portion of future transfers to buy more. My hope is that these animals will multiply and increase in value, enabling me to trade them for the cows I have always dreamed of owning. These cows will help me work on a larger piece of land, securing more food for my family. I remain hopeful that these dreams will come true."

"I currently have ten goats and ten chickens, a venture I started as soon as I began receiving the GiveDirectly transfers. My plan is to allow the goats to breed so I can sell them to cover my children's school fees and eventually trade them for cows. I also take care of my neighbor's chickens and apply my skills to manage my own flock. I am confident that, over time, both my goats and chickens will thrive and multiply, providing opportunities to sell or trade them, which will help establish a reliable income stream to support my family's needs. Ensuring my children receive a good education is very important to me, and this will help make that possible. However, I have paused further investments in chickens and goats due to the ongoing drought, as I'm concerned about losing some of my livestock to the harsh weather conditions. Therefore, I want to focus on the animals I already have while monitoring the climate. Once the weather improves, I plan to resume my projects as originally intended."