"All my life, I have longed to provide my family with a place they can call their own home, but achieving this dream was like a mission impossible. My wife and I are parents to eight school-going children, and neither of us has a sustainable job to support our family and buy a piece of land to build our home. Fortunately, my in-law provided us with a small space to build a house for us to stay until we could afford our own place. We both work as farmers, relying on farming on a rental piece of land for both sustenance and to sell surplus produce to generate income for our family's needs. As the years have progressed, farming has become increasingly challenging due to harsh weather conditions, resulting in reduced farm yields which are barely enough to sustain us just for food. This made it difficult for us to support our family and save money to purchase our own piece of land. I felt that my dream of owning a piece of land to call home was slipping away, until GiveDirectly ignited a spark of hope. On this day, I was at home with my wife when I received a mobile money notification from GiveDirectly. I immediately shared the news with my wife, and we were overcome with joy and excitement because this was an enormous blessing for my family. Knowing that at that moment, our lives had made a turn for the better was overwhelming. As a man with a large family, owning a home on our own land was my greatest desire, and that was the first thing that ran through my mind."

"To have a food security,planning on doing farming"

"My current objective is to gather sufficient building materials, such as building poles and iron sheets, and begin constructing a new house. To achieve this, I've adopted a two-pronged approach. Firstly, I am purchasing some materials every month, steadily building up the resources needed for the construction, for now, I have 8 iron sheets. Additionally, I've joined a merry-go-round, contributing $10 regularly. This way, once I accumulate enough savings, I'll be able to purchase all the required materials to start the construction. In the coming year and beyond, my ultimate goal is to build a decent, spacious house where I and my children can comfortably live. The determination to provide a secure and stable home for my family drives me forward, and I eagerly anticipate the day that we can move into our new house."

"GiveDirectly's arrival in our village brought hope to everyone, including me, who had lost everything in a war-affected area. With no home and no prospects, I was grateful to receive support from GiveDirectly, which gave me another chance to rebuild my life. Their unbiased approach ensured that everyone in need, regardless of their circumstances, received support. I am particularly thankful for the opportunity to acquire land and begin construction on a new home. Despite my age and previous hardships, GiveDirectly showed compassion and included me in their program, fulfilling all their promises of support. The entire village shares in this gratitude, as GiveDirectly's generous and fair assistance has made a significant difference in our lives. We pray that GiveDirectly continues its impactful work in other communities, as we have experienced firsthand the positive outcomes of their support. So far, there have been no complaints, only satisfaction with the freedom to make our own spending decisions."

"In the coming year and beyond, my focus remains on improving our living conditions, starting with replacing the old and rusty iron sheets on our house's roof. Although there haven't been any leaks yet, I aim to preempt any potential issues by renovating it sooner rather than later. Thanks to the improved farming activities facilitated by better rains, I anticipate a good harvest in three months, providing food for my family of three and surplus proceeds to invest in the house renovation. I owe these goals to the support from GiveDirectly, which has empowered me to strive for improvements that I had not considered before receiving their cash support."

"In the coming years, my focus is on further expanding my goat herd, ensuring optimal conditions for healthy breeding and growth. From just five goats before the support from GiveDirectly to now having 19, I see immense progress. With reduced financial obligations now that I no longer need to pay school fees or support a larger family, I have renewed confidence in my ability to grow the herd, especially given the ample shrubs in the surrounding thicket, ideal for goat farming. Rather than selling them off quickly, I plan to selectively sell when necessary, such as during tough times or emergencies. Additionally, I aim to invest the proceeds from my current maize farming efforts into acquiring more goats, thus securing a sustainable source of income for the future."

"I am happy to share that I recently graduated from high school with the help of the monthly financial support I received. Prior to that, I faced disruptions, but since receiving the transfers, my high school education has been seamless, and I was able to pay my fees on time. My current goal is to enroll in college and pursue a teaching course in September of this year. I plan on saving my transfers every month so that I can easily pay for my tuition fees. I am hopeful that with the continued support, I will be able to achieve my career goals."

"With the rainy season looming, I'm determined to build a new house. The fear of losing my current one to the downpour pushes me forward. Thankfully, I recently fulfilled my dream of owning another goat, which boosts my spirits. My plan is to kickstart the construction process as soon as possible. When our monthly transfer comes in, I aim to gather materials by pooling $30 from each of us. This collaborative effort will hopefully set us on the path to a safer, more secure home before the rains arrive."

"Right now, I'm focusing on breeding goats because they reproduce quickly. Once my goat herd multiplies, I aim to exchange them for cows, as the market rate is around 5 goats for a cow, and also get their nutritious milk. With cows and on the farm, I'll have extra help for tilling the shamba hence saving the amount that I could have used tilling using the tractor for other investments moreso they'll be a source of income too. I'm hopeful that by this time next year, I'll have around four cows and at least sixteen goats. It's a simple plan, but it fills me with excitement and hope for the future of my farm."

"My main goal is to acquire all the necessary building materials for constructing a new, durable house, which for now I have successfully acquired 30 building poles with hopes that soon I will be able to acquire all of them since the recent heavy rains have left me feeling unsafe residing in the current house, as it is at risk of collapsing at any moment. I aim to construct a resilient dwelling that can withstand adverse weather conditions. I am delighted and hopeful that with the financial assistance from the transfers, I will be able to realize my ambition of building a quality home for myself."