"I still have school-going children who will soon transition to secondary school, so I’ve developed a plan to ensure I can cover their fees. Understanding that everything has a beginning and an end, I want to use part of my monthly transfers to invest in something long-lasting that will remind me of the support I received. In the coming year and beyond, I plan to start rearing goats. I chose goats because they multiply quickly and adapt well to our environment, making them resistant to diseases when properly cared for. Goats are also easy to manage and inexpensive to maintain, so even when the transfers come to an end, I’ll still have a source of income. If a financial crisis arises in the future, I can sell some goats to resolve it. Additionally, I hope to buy a dairy cow once my goat project is well-established. To achieve this, I plan to sell some goats once I have a good number and use the money to purchase a dairy cow. This is my goal for the coming year and beyond."

"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."

"Towards the end of this year, I have set a significant goal: to continue raising goats on my homestead. Currently, I own nine goats, and I aim to double this number, with the ultimate goal of selling them to purchase a dairy cow. Achieving this milestone will be a significant accomplishment, as it will open up opportunities to generate income for my family through milk sales. I plan to use the upcoming transfers to facilitate this expansion of my livestock. I am confident that once this plan succeeds, I will no longer have to worry about school fees, which have been a constant source of stress for me for some time now."

"Now that my previous goal of building a permanent house is almost complete, I have two new goals to accomplish. First, I need to ensure that all six of my children receive a quality education by making sure that their school fees are always covered, as this has been a challenge in the past. To achieve this, I plan to save a portion of the upcoming transfers so that when the fees are due, I won’t have to struggle to pay. I believe that obtaining a basic education will lead to a successful future for my children, unlike myself, who never had the opportunity to attend school. My second goal is to start keeping goats toward the end of this year. These goats will serve as a financial safety net in case of emergencies. I can sell them when needed to address urgent situations without having to borrow money. This will ensure that I have enough resources to meet my needs on time."

"I lost my one and a half acre piece of land due to the submergence by Lake Baringo's waters, which was our sole source of income for the family. Now, I am heavily reliant on selling groceries to meet my family's daily needs and cover school fees."

"When I received my final transfer, my daughter had been sent home for several days due to unpaid fees. I had arrears of $340, and I used $200 from the transfer to reduce the debt. Raising fees has been a struggle; I’ve relied on fundraising, sometimes crop production, which is unpredictable, and occasionally charcoal sales. With my second transfer, I bought 15 chicks with the aim of diversifying my income, but I didn’t have anywhere else to keep them but in our house. With my final transfer, I spent $60 to buy a ready-made chicken coop.  In order to remember GiveDirectly's support, I bought a sheep for $45. This will serve as a lasting memory in my home. I had other needs, but since I had received all the transfers, I wanted to buy something that would be a permanent reminder in my home. I will keep the sheep, allowing the number to grow and ensuring their continuity. Additionally, I spent $60 on food. I had nothing when I received the cash, and since it was during the dry season, putting food on the table was almost impossible. Further, I used the remaining amount to buy clothes for my five children and my husband. We hadn't bought clothes in the last four years. We’ve been surviving with the old clothes we had, valuing the gift of life above all. Thank you, GiveDirectly; your support will forever be remembered in our home."

"Our greatest challenge currently is a lack of money. We only depend on casual work which is very difficult to get. Because of this we have a lack of money for basic needs and also to pay for our children's school fees. It saddens me so much whenever we have to ask our neighbors for support."

"Culturally, only a last born son is allowed to build a house within the parents homestead. My father's land is now smaller due to expansion of Lake Baringo. We've only been left with a small space which our parents now reside. I was not allowed to build a better house due to culture. I reside with my wife here temporarily as I seek funds to purchase a place of my own. Lack of land to build, has affected my ability to give my family a better place to call home. We're also worried, since the rains have caused the Lake to move closer to our current home. I don't know where we'll go if it submerged our house."

"This year and beyond, my goal is to venture back into farming, despite the recent floods that swept my farm away. I am determined to farm on safer ground, away from the risk of floods. I am considering either maize or watermelon farming because they are less costly than tomatoes. The thought of successfully farming and getting a good harvest fills me with happiness because it will help me keep my kids in school, provide food for my family, and make this farming endeavor sustainabl"

"Two years ago, I started constructing a three-room block house. It's still in the early stages, but unfortunately, I couldn’t continue due to a lack of finances. I am now waiting for my children to gather the funds to help me complete the house. I am looking forward to having this house because ants are very destructive in our area. The house I currently live in has been damaged by ants to the point where it leaks when it rains. With the block house, I wouldn’t have to worry about termites anymore."