"In the coming few months, I want to fix up my old house with a falling roof. It's tough living at my parents' place it's not my own space. Once I get my house sorted, I have this dream of buying a cow. Sounds strange, I know, but it's like a financial safety net for me. I've been working casual jobs, and I'm saving up from that, not touching my transfers. I've also started saving through this group called the Silk Group. So, step by step, I'm hoping to make my living situation more stable and comfortable."

"I desire to build a new house for my family. Right now, we're living in a broken-down place since it got destroyed by a big storm. It's not safe or comfortable. I hope to build a two-room house where we can all live comfortably, including my co-wife who doesn't have a job. I'm counting on my job transfer and my savings to get all the materials we need to start building. It'll make me so happy to finally have a solid roof over our heads."

"My objective for the remainder of this year and beyond is to diligently save enough funds to construct a new house. Throughout this rainy season, I have faced challenges with a leaking roof that has unfortunately damaged some of my belongings. Additionally, the deteriorating condition of the house's support poles has heightened my concern, emphasizing the need for urgent action to prevent a potential collapse. To ensure I can achieve this goal, I consistently save each month in our local savings group. I am immensely grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, and I am optimistic that with their help, my dream of building a new house will soon become a reality."

"The quarterly transfers from GiveDirectly have been a beacon of hope in my life, therefore spending $34 of the latest transfer to buy a goat for $40, adding $6 from my personal savings. This isn't just about owning a goat; it's about investing in a future free from poverty. Over the past few quarters, I've been using the transfers to buy goats and sheep, and now I have 8 goats and 6 sheep, knowing they'll elevate my standard of living. Additionally, I allocated $68 of the transfer to my SILC group savings, hoping to accumulate enough to build a two-roomed house. My current roof is old and risky, so I dream of a new, sturdy one. As a small-scale farmer, these investments are crucial for my family's well-being. I rely on my son, a teacher, for support, but I don't want to burden him with everything; having my own house would provide us with dignity and a sense of security, especially when guests visit."

"I am struggling with the leaking roof of my grass thatched house. I am planning to build a two roomed house for my family with GiveDirectly's cash transfer and this will cost me about KES 50000. I am privileged to have tailoring skills. With the skills I can feed my family well without struggling. There is no tailoring service in my area and people in the community travel to Marigat town to repair and make their clothes. This can be a good opportunity for me to utilize my skills and tap more income to my family. I intend to buy a sewing machine with KES 30000 and kickstart my business."

"I am a single parent and the sole provider of my five children. Our living conditions are congested and poor, with all of us squeezed into a small, single-room house with mud walls and an iron sheet roof. Despite its limited space, act as a kitchen, living room, and sleeping area. I have longed for a better home, but most of my income goes towards providing food and meeting other basic needs for my children. I rely on farming vegetables and maize on the one-acre plot of land given to me by my father. This small farm is our main source of income, but it's constantly threatened by climate fluctuations. Depending on irrigation, the lack of rainfall often leads to the river drying up, resulting in poor harvests. The second transfer provided some hope to us, for building a larger, more comfortable house made of iron sheets. I purchased the necessary materials for $350, intending to begin construction once I receive the third transfer. This new house will not only be more inviting to visitors, as I often feel embarrassed by our current living situation, but it will also provide ample space for my children to study. Additionally, I used $50 to prepare my land for maize farming, ensuring timely planting and increasing our chances of a successful harvest, provided the rain continues. I used the remaining funds to purchase essential food items such as sugar, maize, and beans, easing the burden of constantly seeking casual work and allowing me more time to work on my farm."

"I'm currently facing challenges providing enough food for my family due to the limited maize harvest from my farm. As a result, we're forced to purchase expensive food from the shop. With my next transfers, I intend to prioritize purchasing food to ensure that my family's nutritional needs are met. Additionally, I plan to allocate funds towards paying school fees for my three children, ensuring they can continue their education without interruption. Moreover, I aspire to improve our living conditions by constructing a spacious three-bedroom house to replace our current dilapidated dwelling, which is covered with polythene paper for roofing. This endeavor will provide my family with a safer and more comfortable living environment. I am deeply grateful for the financial support provided by the transfers thus far, as it has been instrumental in enabling me to care for my family's needs. This assistance has provided a lifeline during difficult times, and I am committed to utilizing it effectively to improve our quality of life and secure a brighter future for my loved ones."

"This year, my main objective is to expand my house, as it is currently too small to accommodate all of us comfortably. To begin the construction process, my plan is to first purchase iron roofing sheets and cement. I intend to utilize both my transfers and savings to finance this endeavor. By expanding our house, I aim to provide my children with ample space to live in, ensuring their comfort and well-being. Being able to do this for my family will fill me with a deep sense of accomplishment, and I cant wait to see what the future holds."

"I work hard putting roofs over people's heads, but it's tough making ends meet. Sometimes I only make $150 in a month, and finding work isn't always easy. When I got the cash from GiveDirectly, I felt relieved. First, I bought a mattress for $75. Sleeping on a mat for so long was tough. Then, I spent $65 on a hair-shaving machine to improve my business. No more using old razor blades! I also bought two she-goats for $90. I'm hoping they'll multiply, so I can sell some, expand my business and also help me educate my daughter once she starts school. Plus, I used $90 to pay my niece's school fees. Her family didn't want to educate her, but I believe she deserves a chance. Hopefully, my business will make enough profit to support her education."

"My livelihood depends on fishing, while my wife earns a living by extracting tree stumps and selling charcoal to support our family of ten. Life has been challenging, and there were times when hunger was a constant companion due to lack of food. Fortunately, things have taken a turn for the better. I have successfully completed renovating our dilapidated house, ensuring we have a comfortable place to live in. Additionally, I've ventured into goat and chicken rearing. From the transfers we received, I used $20 to purchase essential household items as we had run out. I then spent $10 to pay for school fees for my children, ensuring they continue with their studies without interruptions. Another $4 was used to buy two chickens, to be kept and sold later at a profit. Furthermore, I spent $34 on iron roofing sheets to replace the deteriorated ones, improving our living conditions. The remaining funds were used to compensate the technician who renovated our house. I take pride in the progress we have made and eagerly anticipate achieving more in the future."