"I HAVE KEPT MY MONEY AS I WAIT FOR THE SECOND TRANSFER SO THAT I CAN BUY LAND IN A SAFER PLACE BECAUSE AM SO DISTURBED BY WATER"

"Upon receiving the $200 from GiveDirectly, our immediate thought was to expand our home. Our current two-room setup, with one serving as our bedroom for the parents and the other doubling as our kitchen by day and a shared space for our three children at night, made it challenging even to accommodate visitors. We allocated $110 toward this crucial expansion.Additionally, $30 was spent on purchasing food. Our sustenance relied heavily on small-scale farming, and the limited number of goats that we own which wasn't enough to sustain us adequately. We used $30 to take care of a long-pending water debt, which had accumulated over three months. Grateful for the unexpected blessing, we set aside $21, 10% of the received amount, as a token of gratitude to God, believing that all these possibilities were due to His grace. $9 went into buying a revision book for our son, who's finalizing his High School Studies. He had yearned for this book for quite some time, understanding its significance for his academic journey. This amount from GiveDirectly not only addressed our immediate needs but also set the stage for a more comfortable and promising future."

"In the coming year and beyond, I aspire to have completed the construction of a new house. The current structure, with its grass-thatched roof, is suitable in sunny weather but becomes problematic during rainfall, allowing water seepage and causing discomfort. To remedy this, I aim to construct an entirely new dwelling with a tin roof. I am grateful for having already acquired the necessary roofing materials through previous cash transfers, and the remaining requirement is obtaining building poles. Once I complete this step, I will commence the construction of the new house."

"After the short rains started, I seized the opportunity to prepare for planting. This not only ensures a bountiful harvest for the entire household but also relieves the burden on my father, our main provider. To support this, I allocated $38 for hiring a tractor to plow an acre of land and purchase maize seeds. I'm delighted that the maize is thriving well. Additionally, I used $34 from the transfers to acquire 4 iron sheets. These sheets are intended for constructing a new house because my current structure, with a grass-thatched roof, becomes too damp during rainfall. My goal is to gather at least 14 iron sheets before moving on to other materials. I set aside $10 through a self-help group, with ongoing plans to save regularly to accumulate funds for building poles. The remaining funds were allocated to purchasing more food, particularly during days when my father faced challenges in his job selling water in town."

"In the past, we endured a prolonged three-year drought that subjected us to significant suffering, leaving us without the basic necessities of food and water for survival. Gratefully, my life has undergone a positive transformation, enabling me to purchase food, pay for my grandson's school fees, and provide him with books. Since he lost his father, the responsibility of caring for him has fallen upon me. My livelihood relies on farming, specifically the cultivation of maize for personal consumption.Out of the financial support received, $40 was allocated to farming activities, including hiring labor for land tilling, given my inability to engage in strenuous work due to an arm injury. Subsequently, I invested $34 in acquiring a goat, but unfortunately, it succumbed to a sudden illness. the remaining $28 was instrumental in covering my grandson's school fees, rent, and food expenses, especially given the considerable distance he resides from home. I find joy in the fact that I am now able to independently fend for myself, and the support from GiveDirectly has instilled hope in our lives."

"During the ongoing festive season, I usually hold a tradition of buying new clothes for my six children to wear on Christmas day, bringing them joy. However, our ability to do this largely depends on the opportunities my husband and I have. As the main provider, my husband sells water in Mombasa town, but his earnings primarily cover basic needs like food. Thanks to the cash transfers, I seized the opportunity to buy new clothes for my children in preparation for the Christmas celebrations. I allocated $59 for this purpose, ensuring that everyone is ready for the festive day. Additionally, I spent $10 to plow one acre of my land since the planting season had begun, and I needed assistance with ox plowing. Also, my phone was damaged at the battery slot and deemed unfixable, prompting me to invest $12 in a new one, which now serves me well. The remaining amount from the cash transfers was used to purchase more food for my family, ensuring that my children have daily meals. I am grateful for the ability to afford items like clothes through cash transfers, which was challenging before."

"I have saved up all the money I have received from Givedirectly over the last three months. I have a goal of buying a lorry load of construction stones as well as a lorry of sand. I want to build a half stone wall for my house as well as pillars to hold the roof. The rainy season has been a tough one for my family. My house is made of mud and their are portions of the walls that the rains has washed up and it means this sections allow water to flow into the house. The only was to prevent this leakages is by creating a stone wall which cannot be washed off by the rain to ensure we do not go through this again."

"The drought has been hard-hitting for the last three years. This has led to the loss of farm produce and livestock. The drought meant we had to be creative when farming. It could be through hiring water pumps for irrigation or planting short-term crops. It's more expensive compared with rain-fed agriculture. This has impacted our cost of production and time taken on the farms."

"When I received the first transfer, the first thing I did was buy seven iron sheets to fix our rundown house. Spending $67 on those sheets might seem small, but it meant a lot to us. It was about satisfaction and a secure roof over our heads. After that, I bought two mattresses. My three children and I had been sleeping on the hard floor for too long, and it took a toll on us. I spending $100 on the mattresses. The relief of finally having a good night's sleep was priceless. With another $100, I managed to clear some food bills and other expenses we had borrowed. I also saw it fit to spend $60 on a sack of maize to keep us fed and $80 on a second-hand bicycle. This bike was our ticket to easier water access during the dry season because the water points seemed too far away. As for the remaining amount, I saved it, knowing it would be our safety net in case of emergencies."

"My thatched house has been deteriorating for some time, with rainwater seeping in through the large openings in the roof, causing damage to both the structure and my belongings. To address this, I opted to construct a new single-room house, this time using iron sheets to cover the roof. I allocated $90 to acquire nine pieces of iron sheets, and the construction is currently in progress, with only four pieces remaining to complete the roof. In addition to purchasing the iron sheets, I spent $14 on food to sustain my family, given my husband's limited earnings from his casual work in construction and farming for others. I am genuinely grateful for the financial support I have received, as it has significantly contributed to enhancing the quality of my life."