"I have always had the desire of living in a decent house. In 2018, I was displaced by floods and this forced me to seek refuge at relatives place but later bought a piece of land. I have not completed paying for it because I depend on casual jobs and motorcycle business to earn a living. I plan on using the transfers to pay that debt and cement my two roomed house. The rest of the transfers I shall use to pay school fees and purchase goats to add to the few that I have. I am excited because I will be able to execute my plans without much strain."

"At the beginning of this year, my house collapsed due to heavy rains. Unfortunately, I have not been able to build a new house because of the financial challenges I am currently facing. As a widow, I depend on my son, who works as a motorcycle taxi driver, for financial support. However, his job brings in very little income, mainly due to the limited number of clients in our village. In addition to managing my own needs, I am also responsible for taking care of my two younger children, including paying for their school fees. I recently paid $14 in school fee arrears, ensuring that they can stay in school and continue their education. Seeing them continue their education without much struggle makes me content and happy. I spent a significant portion of my transfers to purchase nine pieces of iron sheets for $90, as part of my preparation to construct a new house. I now have ten pieces of iron sheets, but more are needed to completely fit a two-roomed house. Despite the challenges, I am very happy with the progress I am making towards owning my own house. I am deeply grateful for the financial transfers from Give Directly, which are helping me realize my dream of owning a home."

"In the upcoming year, my greatest hope is to save enough money to help my younger brother, who has been called to study nursing, attend college. Since our dad passed away, my mum has been struggling to make ends meet by doing odd jobs. It would mean a lot to her if I could step in to support our family. I plan to save as much as I can from my earnings by cutting back on unnecessary expenses, so I can contribute towards my brother’s education and help ease the burden on my mum. My brother has always dreamed of becoming a nurse, and I believe that with my support, he can achieve this goal. By doing this, I hope to honor our father’s memory and pave the way for a brighter future for our entire family." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"Farming has been the main source of income for our household. Three months ago, the rains were heavy in the highlands. It led to the expansion of Lake Baringo, the Lake submerged our one acre of tomatoes. We were almost harvesting, this led to big losses to our household. We lost capital plus land to plant more crops. It has made our lives difficult. My husband now does a motorcycle taxi business or sometimes casual jobs just to support our family." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"Later this year, I have the goal of acquiring my own motorcycle. Currently, I am running this business while being employed by a friend on a commission basis. However, with the rising cost of living, this income is no longer sufficient as I am responsible for paying my siblings' school fees and taking care of my mother. Therefore, I am saving every transfer I receive with the aim of purchasing a motorcycle soon. Once I achieve this goal, it will be a great relief. I will have full control over my earnings and will be able to support my family without the constant struggle I have faced. Additionally, I plan to save for the future, including for my upcoming nuclear family." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"I am a motorcycle taxi rider for hire. I do not own my own motorcycle. I do not make much since most times the cash I get from the business goes to service charges as well as daily charges to the motorcycle owner. I would like to increase my income and I know this is only possible by buying my own motorcycle. I am buying goats and chicken which I will eventually sell and use the money to get a motorcycle of my own. I can see this dream being fulfilled thanks to receiving transfers as I now have 5 goats and 5 chicken." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"For the past two years, I have been dreaming of starting a fish business, but my financial resources have been a barrier. As a family of five, we rely on charcoal burning and my husband’s motorcycle taxi business to put food on the table, leaving us with no savings for other ventures. However, there is now a glimmer of hope with the upcoming transfers. I plan to spend $200 in starting the fish business, which I will transport to Eldoret City. With the remaining funds, I intend to venture into crop farming. I plan to lease land in the highland area of Baringo, where rainfall is plentiful, to provide food for my family. I am excited about these new opportunities and hopeful they will offer us a more stable and prosperous future."

"My dream for this year and beyond is to buy a motorcycle. This will depend on the harvest I get from the maize I have planted using the GiveDirectly money. I have cultivated on one acre of land and expect around 20 bags of maize. If the prices are good, I can buy the motorcycle. The reason I want to buy it is that I often struggle to go to town to purchase farm inputs. A motorbike would make it much easier for me to travel to town and get what I need, making this farming endeavor more sustainable. Achieving this fills me with joy because it will be a dream come true."

"My mud-walled house partially collapsed during the heavy rains we experienced in early April. To keep the house warm at night, I had to cover the collapsed section with pieces of polythene and old nets. Upon receiving my transfers, I spent $20 to purchase 33 new building poles to repair the damaged part of the house. I paid the mason $15 for his services, ensuring that the repairs were done properly and that the house was safe for us to live in. I also purchased two pieces of iron sheets for $20, which I used to replace the old and rusty ones that often let rainwater seep into the house. I am very happy that my house is now in good condition, and I feel at peace knowing that it is safe and secure. With the remaining $47, I purchased food, ensuring that my family had enough to eat. As I have no stable source of income, selling charcoal provides very little, and the earnings are not enough to cover all the essential needs of my family. My son, who works as a motorcycle taxi rider, is also struggling financially. The financial support from the transfers has been a significant boost for us, helping to ensure that we can purchase enough food for the family."

"I am thrilled that my daughter is just one month away from completing her college studies. This achievement is something I would not have accomplished without the financial support from the cash transfers. The skills she has gained in her tailoring course will propel her to start her own business or secure employment once she finishes her studies. I paid $40 in school fees, enabling her to continue her education without any interruptions. Additionally, I paid $10 in school fees for my six other children who are in primary school, ensuring that they remained in school and were able to sit for their end-of-term exams. Before enrolling in the cash program, I purchased a motorcycle on hire purchase. To ensure I did not default, I spent $10 on the monthly installment and an additional $8 on maintenance, keeping the motorcycle in good condition. I also invested $20 in purchasing a goat and a hen, which excites me as I anticipate my investment will double in the near future. To ensure my family had enough to eat, I spent $24 on food, and I am glad that we never lacked anything during this month. I am very happy and deeply appreciative of the financial support from the cash transfers, which have played a crucial role in helping me educate my children and improve our quality of life." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)