"In the coming year and beyond, I hope to transform my home into a safe and sturdy refuge for my family. I have been diligently saving every monthly transfer for the past three months, determined to renovate my house, which feels weak against the strong winds we’ve been facing. As I continue to save, I also wait patiently for the rains, knowing that the renovation will need water, which is currently scarce due to the ongoing drought. With every saved penny, I dream of a stronger house, a place where my family can feel secure and protected, no matter the storms that may come our way."

"In the coming year and beyond, I hope to transform my home into a safe and welcoming place by renovating the roofing, which has become old and rusty over the years. I feel a deep sense of pride in my home, and I know that a new roof will not only protect my family but also bring a fresh look to our living space. To achieve this, I plan to buy one iron sheet every month, slowly but surely making progress toward my goal of 14 sheets. This journey of improvement will not just be about fixing my house; it will be about creating a loving environment where cherished memories can flourish."

"My children's education will always be my top priority, and in the coming years, I am committed to supporting them as it will greatly benefit their future. To achieve this, I plan to continue using a portion of my future transfers from GiveDirectly to pay their school fees and ensure they receive a proper education, just like their peers in the village. Also, given the current drought and hunger we are facing in our region, I also intend to allocate part of these transfers to buy food for my family, preventing us from starving until we receive good rains and can harvest from our farm. Once we have a stable food supply, I will redirect the funds previously used for food toward purchasing more goats. This will add to the goats I already own, which I bought with hopes of them multiplying in number and value. My ultimate goal is that these goats will help me support my children's education and care for my family, especially when this program comes to an end."

"I previously had a mission to buy a dairy cow, and I’m happy to say that I achieved that goal! Now, I am enjoying the fresh milk I always wanted. Looking ahead, I aspire to own a piece of land where I can build rental houses, providing me with a reliable source of income each month. To reach this goal, my plan is to continue using a portion of my transfers from GiveDirectly to buy goats, hoping they will multiply in both number and value. In the future, I aim to trade some of these goats for male cows. I hope that these male cows will grow and increase in value, allowing me to sell them later and purchase a two-acre piece of land. I intend to use part of that land to build the rental houses I have always dreamed of. Additionally, I pray that the cows I already have will also multiply so that I can sell some of them in the future and use the proceeds to build the house I envision. I am hopeful that my ambitions will come true, leading to a future with strong financial security."

"Now that I am back home and unable to work due to my health, I plan to start livestock farming again. Unfortunately, the animals I previously acquired died because they didn’t receive the care they needed while I was away. Before diving into livestock farming, I want to focus on serious crop farming when the rains come. I intend to use a portion of my transfers for this purpose, aiming for good harvests that will sustain us until the next planting season, so we won’t have to rely on buying food. Once we have a stable food supply, I will redirect the money I was spending on food toward purchasing goats and turkeys. My hope is that these animals will multiply, providing me with a reliable source of income and resources in the future when this program comes to an end."

"I have seen a great change in my life since receiving my money from GiveDirectly. At the time, I was stressed about school fees for my two children in high school and university, for which they had accumulated arrears of $280. I did not know where to get them. With the transfers, I was able to reduce the arrears by $100. Seeing my children in school fills my heart with joy, knowing they have the opportunity for a better future. Their education means so much to me, especially since I had to drop out of primary school due to financial constraints. My husband, who completed his education, is now a police officer, and I see the fruits of his hard work every day. Whenever we faced difficulties with fees, I felt stressed, but thanks to GiveDirectly, I no longer have to worry about school fees. Thank you!"

"I was in the hospital, looking after my daughter, who was unwell and had just been admitted. When I received the message from GiveDirectly, I couldn't read it myself. I asked my daughter to check for me, and she confirmed I had received my first transfer. I felt so overwhelmed with joy. I immediately called Tracy, my helper, and asked her to come the next day to help me withdraw the money. I knew that finally I could help my daughter with her hospital bills and make sure she got the care she needed."

"On the evening I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, my daughter, who is in medical college, unexpectedly showed up at home. She had come to ask for help with her fees, and I was surprised by this coincidence because she hadn’t even called beforehand. With no other option, I cleared her pending fees of $90 and gave her an additional $30 for her upkeep, even though I hadn't planned for this expense since her husband usually supports her. With the remaining $60, I bought three plastic chairs for $8 each because I had one broken chair, and it was difficult to accommodate visitors. I remember how, during enrollment, I heard about the GiveDirectly officers in our village and rushed to borrow chairs from my neighbor. I also bought myself clothes for $10, as the last time I had purchased clothes was two years ago, and my old clothes were worn out. Farming, which is my main source of income, has been unsuccessful for the last two years due to drought last year and floods this year; hence, I have never afforded it. Finally, the remaining $26 went to food; I bought rice, beans, sugar, cooking oil, and other essentials that lasted me a month and a half. At that time, I had no food, and I was fully relying on casual jobs, which were not consistent, to support myself and my two grandchildren. Thank GiveDirectly for your support."

"I solely rely on crop farming, but it can be quite unreliable, and I was feeling anxious about how to pay my son's college fees this semester. With the maize I recently harvested, I was expecting payment from Kenya Seed in two months, but that felt too far away. I even thought about taking an advance from Kenya Seed or borrowing money, but then I received cash from GiveDirectly. With that support, I was able to clear my son’s fees for this semester without taking on any loans. Now, I am at peace, knowing that my son can continue his studies without any financial worries hanging over us."

"Last term, my three children in elementary school ended with arrears of $65 each, and honestly, I was overwhelmed by the thought of handling that alongside the upcoming term's fees. As a businesswoman, I relied solely on my second-hand clothing business to meet all our family's needs, including school fees, and I knew I would not manage to raise that amount. However, thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I lifted that heavy weight off my shoulders and reduced their arrears to $15 each. This support also boosted my business, increasing my sales significantly, which allowed me to clear the outstanding fees, including those for this term. Thank you, GiveDirectly; if it were not for your help, I honestly don’t know what I would have done."