"Given the food insecurity we are experiencing which was caused by the prolonged dry spell, my current priority is to ensure that my family has enough to eat until we receive sufficient rains and our harvests can sustain us for a longer period. To achieve this, I plan to continue using a portion of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly to purchase food until we have enough stored for our needs. Once we are able to secure enough food, my next plan is to save a portion of my transfers. I hope to accumulate enough money to start a small business—a kiosk where I can sell household consumables. My goal is for this business to provide a steady income that will help me take care of my family. Additionally, I currently live in a house with a roof made of palm tree leaves, and I have always dreamed of having a house with an iron sheet roof. To make this dream a reality, I intend to save another portion of my transfers and gradually purchase building materials. My ultimate goal is to build a two-roomed house that will provide a better, more secure living environment for my family. I am truly grateful for this support, as it is helping me work toward these goals and creating a better future for us."

"I always wanted to have a herd of livestock that I could rely on in the future when this program eventually ends. To make this a reality, I have been using the transfers I have received in the past to buy goats, and I plan to use a portion of my future transfers to continue adding more goats to my herd. My hope is that these goats will multiply, both in number and in value, allowing me to trade some of them for cows. In the future, I believe that these goats and cows will become valuable assets, providing me with a dependable source of livelihood. Knowing that I will have something to rely on brings me comfort and hope for the future. I am truly grateful for the support I have received, as it has given me the opportunity to work towards building a more secure future for myself and my family."

"Thanks to the GiveDirectly transfers, my husband and I have been able to achieve several of our dreams. We combined our savings and purchased a piece of land near the shopping center. My current goal is to build a shop on this land, and I plan to use my next savings, along with my husband's, to begin construction. This shop will provide an additional source of income alongside my farming and small business of selling pastries. I joined a merry-go-round group to help accumulate my transfer for investment in something more productive, and my spouse and I are grateful for the progress we’ve made. We are now working together to establish our own business premises, which will help us avoid paying rent."

"In the coming year and beyond, my main goal is to renovate my two roomed house, as the walls are weak and could collapse at any time. I want to ensure that my family lives in a safe and secure environment. In addition to repairing the structure, I also want to add an extra room to accommodate my growing family. With four children—two boys and two girls—it's becoming increasingly important to create more space.To achieve these goals, I plan to use my savings from our merry-go-round group to help fund the renovation and expansion of my house.Having an extra room will greatly improve our living situation. It will provide my boys with their own separate room and my two girls with theirs, which will enhance privacy for everyone. As my children grow, they will soon become adults, and having their own space will help them feel more comfortable. I want them all to live under one roof, but with enough room to have their privacy and not sleep separately."

"In the coming years, I look forward to planting maize for Kenya Seed. Selling directly to the government will provide me with a stable income, which is important for my financial security. Maize is a dependable crop, and working with Kenya Seed means I will have a guaranteed market for my produce. This steady income will help me reach my long-term goals, like paying for school fees, covering household expenses, and possibly expanding my farming operations. I know it will be challenging, but I am hopeful. With careful planning and the right resources, I believe I can succeed and create a better future for my family. I feel confident having a clear vision for what’s ahead, and I am determined to make the most of this opportunity when it comes."

"Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly transfers, I have successfully completed my carpentry course. I’m now focused on job hunting, but I’m really proud of this accomplishment. Looking ahead, my main goal for the coming year and beyond is to renovate my house, as the roof has developed holes and leaks badly when it rains. With my studies completed, I plan to use my transfer to purchase the building materials needed for the renovation. The roof, made of iron sheets, has holes that allow rainwater to seep into the house, making it uncomfortable to live in. So, repairing the roof is a top priority. Additionally, I’d like to invest part of my transfer into buying chickens to expand my poultry project. These chickens will serve as a financial safety net, allowing me to sell some if I face financial difficulties once the transfers end."

"My primary goal is to provide a quality education for my daughter, who is currently in Form One. She is the only child in our family to have the chance to attend secondary school, and I am determined to help her achieve her dreams. Her success means everything to me, not just as her parent but for our entire family. To accomplish this, I plan to combine the earnings from my charcoal business with the monthly transfers I save in my chama. This strategy will enable me to support her education. I firmly believe that a good education will give my daughter a brighter future, which is essential for breaking the cycle of poverty that has affected our family for years. As a parent, it would bring me immense pride to see my daughter advance to higher levels of education, something I have always dreamed of but never had the opportunity to pursue myself."

"My primary goal right now is to ensure that my children receive a quality education, something I never had the opportunity to experience. The challenges I face in life due to illiteracy are struggles I never want my children to endure. To achieve this, I have joined a savings group where we contribute monthly. Each month, I save 1,500 from the contributions, so by the time my children enter secondary school, I will have accumulated a substantial amount. Providing my children with a good education is the only way to break the cycle of poverty. I believe that with a strong education, they will grow up to be responsible and self-reliant individuals in the future."

"Lack of food as a result of prolonged droughts is the challenge we are struggling with currently. Despite the fact that we received rain this year our productivity in the farms was quite low. I have a small amount of foodstuffs that will last us a few months in the coming year. This leaves me stressed because I feel I will be forced to purchase food and since I don't have any formal job this will be difficult."

"In the coming year and beyond, I plan to build a better house. My current home is made of mud walls, and the iron sheets on the roof have developed holes. During the rainy season, it becomes stressful as rainwater leaks into the house, forcing me to endure these conditions. This is why I am determined to build a more decent and reliable house. Once I complete this, I plan to shift my transfers towards investing in goats. Currently, I have one goat, and I am confident that I will gradually acquire more. Goats are a practical investment because they multiply quickly and can be sold when necessary. Additionally, I could exchange them for dairy cows, which would be beneficial for my farming. This investment will provide employment opportunities through the sale of goats and milk production, boosting my income. I also have the dream of finding a wife once I am financially stable."