"I never used to have a source of income before Givedirectly but now I own a vegetable stall in our local place. I started the business using $15 of my transfers and I have been adding to it over a period of time. This has ensured that I can supplement my husband's income who is a Motorcycle rider and earns about $15 weekly. I now am at a point of making $20 monthly as profits. I aim to increase this by investing more on the business. However now I am trying to repair my roof so that I can redirect this funds to expansion of the business once the roof is all done. Through the earnings I hope to educate my children when they join school."

"We currently live in a dilapidated grass-thatched house that is also too small to comfortably accommodate my large family which consists of 9 children, 7 of whom are still under our care. The house leaks which makes rainy seasons the most dreadful time for my family as we have to be strategic and creative to keep ourselves and our valuable items dry. Besides this, we have to sleep in the same room with 3 of the children while the older ones have to sleep in a borrowed house at the neighbor's. It is risky for them to walk each night to the neighbour's compound, but even more embarrassing. The status of the house is also not very appealing and comes with its own kind of shame as it is not many that still live in grass-thatched houses in this century, so moving to new status by constructing an iron-roofed house would be a great achievement for my family. We are working together with my spouse who is also a Give Directly beneficiary to achieve this goal as soon as possible by bringing together our monthly transfers and purchasing construction materials in bits as we are not able to raise enough money for a one time purchase. If we save the money, we may be forced to spend it in times of an emergency hence the reason we opt to purchase the materials."

"It would be a great joy if we could construct a more spacious iron-roofed house to replace the leaking, grass-thatched one we live in. The house is also too small to accommodate my large family which consists of 9 children, 7 of whom are still under our care. It is a nightmare whenever it rains because the house leaks so we have to sit in strategic places, and with the looming El Nino rains, it is paramount that we have a better house as soon as possible. Besides the physical problems we face, we also have to endure the shame of sleeping in the same room with our children who are old enough to have a separate room. Worst of all is that those who are old enough have to sleep at a neighbour's house leaving them with very little supervision. Having a more decent and a much bigger house to accommodate all of us would make me very happy. A bonus would be being able to harvest rain water for domestic use ."

"She had a leaking roof and admired people with cattle. Right now, she has replaced the roof with new iron sheets and bought a cow and a goat"

"My current residence has deteriorated significantly over time, with weakened walls and a leaky, unstable roof that worsens during rainy weather. To address this issue, I've made a commitment to save some money each month, allocating $13 to purchase at least two iron sheets. My ultimate objective is to acquire a total of 20 iron sheets and several building poles to undertake a comprehensive renovation of my home and restore its dignity. Furthermore, I recently expanded my farming efforts and enjoyed a bountiful harvest. However, my existing living space couldn't accommodate the entire maize harvest, causing me considerable concern. Fortunately, with the funds I received from recent transfers, I used $34 to purchase building poles and iron sheets to construct a granary for storing my harvest. This decision has brought me peace of mind, knowing that my harvest is safe. Additionally, I also spent $60 of my transfer to acquire two goats, which I am currently raising. This addition brings my total goat count to four, and I view them as valuable assets that can provide financial security if the need arises. My aspiration is to nurture them and facilitate their reproduction, ultimately establishing a thriving goat herd."

"Life has presented numerous challenges for my family and me. My livelihood depends on the strenuous work of selling charcoal, which offers only meager compensation, hardly enough to make ends meet. Prior to the intervention of Give Directly, our circumstances were dire; we struggled to afford basic necessities like food and education for our children. I am elated to report that, thanks to the financial support we received through their transfers, all my children have been able to return to school. Additionally, I am currently in the process of constructing a new home, as the one we currently reside in is in a state of disrepair. To further this effort, I allocated $68 towards the purchase of iron roofing sheets to expedite the completion of the construction project. The remaining $34 was put to good use by contributing to the school fees for my children."

"Receiving these transfers has profoundly transformed my life for the better. Previously, life was a struggle, and affording even the most basic necessities seemed like a challenge. Thanks to the support provided by Give Directly, I was able to not only meet my immediate needs but also take meaningful steps toward securing a brighter future. With the transfers received, I wisely allocated $22 to purchase essential iron roofing sheets, laying the foundation for the construction of my own house. In addition to addressing my shelter needs, I spent $34 from the transfers to purchase food. This was a critical lifeline, as I had been struggling to put food on the table before this assistance arrived. The relief of knowing I could now provide nourishment for myself and my family was immeasurable. Furthermore, I decided to invest $30 in acquiring a goat to expand my existing brood. With careful nurturing, I intend to rear these goats to maturity, eventually selling them at a profit. This endeavor holds the promise of a sustainable source of income, further improving my financial stability. I used the remaining $16 to cover my daily needs. This ensured that I could continue to meet the everyday expenses required to maintain a decent standard of living. These transfers have not only alleviated immediate hardships but have also set me on a path toward self-sufficiency and a more secure future."

"Living with a family of ten under one roof has always been a challenge. Due to limited space, some of us have had to seek alternative accommodation. Initially, I had hoped to construct a new house, but financial constraints hindered my plans. However, when I received my final transfer, I decided to invest $160 in purchasing iron sheets to extend our home and create an extra room. I also allocated $150 to acquire tomato seedlings from a farmer in Naivasha, which I planted on an acre of land. I am currently managing the field, hoping for a better harvest. I plan to use a portion of the proceeds to put up the extension using the iron sheets I purchased and pay for my children's school fees. Additionally, I bought food worth $65 for my family of ten and transported it home with other items costing $5. The remaining $70 went towards paying my son's secondary school fees."

"My family is very huge, but the piece of land that we own is very little. As it is, there is 7 acres to be divide among 7 sons which means each will receive only an acre or less. Considering that each of the sons also have many children, my family not exempted, it is important that we acquire extra portions of land on our own if our children to have plots to construct their homes and farm in future. Fortunately, land is still very affordable in this locality with an acre going for as low as $400, meaning with proper planning, I can acquire a parcel through the transfers. To achieve this, I must invest wisely hence the reason I am currently purchasing goats using my transfers with an aim of later selling them to purchase cows as they are easy to manage especially during drought. With single cow fetching up to $200, all I need to have is at least 2 large cows to be able to purchase my first acre after which I will start the process all over again. It would make me very proud to have such an investment by the time this project comes to an end as it will be a lifetime proof of the project's impact in our lives."

"My primary goal is to provide a stable and secure home for my six children after my husband and I separated, leaving me with the sole responsibility of their upbringing. Currently, we are living under my parent's roof, and I believe that building our own house is essential for our long-term well-being. To achieve this goal, I am committed to commencing construction by the end of this year. I have made a financial plan to save at least $20 from my monthly transfers towards this endeavor."