"My goal for this year, and for the future, is to complete the construction of a new house for my family. I have already started purchasing building materials, and now I’m eagerly waiting for the final transfer from GiveDirectly to complete the project. This new house means more than just a place to live; it represents a future of comfort, safety, and stability. Once finished, we’ll have a home that provides protection, especially during the flood seasons, which have always been a threat to us in our current house. Knowing that soon we will be in a secure and spacious home fills me with hope and relief, and I look forward to the peace of mind it will bring my family."

"The floods hit us hard, washing away our entire one-acre maize crop, leaving us with nothing to feed our children or sell for their school fees. I felt completely helpless, especially since my husband, who is a farmer too, has other family responsibilities in his polygamous household. He helps when he can, but his support isn’t always consistent. With four young children relying solely on me, this cash transfer felt like a miracle, arriving just when I was at my lowest. Finally, I felt a sense of relief, a glimmer of hope that we could get back on our feet.I used $180 to buy three goats, securing something valuable and lasting for our future. These goats provide milk, a crucial addition to our children’s diet, and give me a way to save, knowing I can sell them if an emergency arises. It’s more than just livestock to me—it’s a lifeline, bringing stability I hadn’t known in a long time. Finally, I have something to depend on, a small but meaningful shield against the hardships we’ve faced. With $80, I bought a cupboard to store our utensils safely, as managing a household with four young children can be challenging without proper storage. Now, I can keep things organized, locked away from their reach, which brings peace and order to our daily life. The rest of the money went to school fees and food. With our farming income wiped out by the floods, I was able to give my children some security and consistency. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I finally feel like I have a chance to provide for my children, lifting a heavy burden from my heart."

"Life was hard for me, and I struggled every day to provide for my family. I depended on casual jobs, mostly burning charcoal, just to make ends meet. When I received the cash transfer, the first thing I did was use $105 to pay school fees for my children. This payment lifted such a burden from my shoulders, as I no longer had to worry about them being sent home for unpaid fees. Education is important to me, and knowing they could now stay in school without interruption was a huge relief. With $10, I decided to buy clothes for us. We had very few clothes, and most of them were worn out. This small purchase gave us something nice to wear when we needed to go somewhere important or attend a special occasion. It felt good to have clothes that made us feel confident and presentable, even though it was a simple gesture. For my family, it was a small step towards regaining dignity, and I was grateful for that. Lastly, I used the remaining amount of $65 to buy food. With six children to take care of, providing meals has been an ongoing challenge, especially after my husband passed away 12 years ago. I’ve grown used to tough times, sometimes selling firewood or even going hungry when there was no market. Living in a tent without a stable income has made life difficult, but this cash transfer brought us some stability and peace, if only for a while. I’m incredibly thankful for this support, as it’s given me a chance to focus on my children’s needs without as much stress."

"Given the current drought and the hunger we are facing, my plan for this year is to continue using part of my transfers to make sure my family has enough food to avoid going hungry. It is a struggle, but I will keep prioritizing our food needs, especially during these tough times. At the same time, with my grandchildren still in school, I am committed to using another portion of the funds to pay their school fees, ensuring they can stay in school and continue their education. Another big concern for me is the roof of my house. It is very old and rusty, and it desperately needs to be replaced. However, with the drought still ongoing, I cannot focus on the roofing just yet. So, I am waiting for the rains to come, hoping that we will farm and have a good harvest to sustain us for a long period. Once we have enough food stored, I will begin redirecting part of my GiveDirectly transfers from buying food to gradually buying iron sheets to replace the roof. It is a slow process, but I am determined to fix our home, step by step. The support I am receiving from GiveDirectly gives me hope that I can take care of my family and our needs, even in the face of so many challenges."

"My eyesight had completely failed, and I was scheduled for surgery to try to restore it. Thanks to my previous transfers and the support from my sons, I was able to undergo the surgery. Now, I am able to see a little bit, and I am hopeful that, with time, I will fully recover and regain my sight. However, the road to full recovery does not stop here. I need regular medical check-ups to monitor my progress, and those visits come with their own costs. So, my plan is to continue using part of my transfers to take care of my health and make sure I stay on track with my recovery until I can fully regain my eyesight. I am determined to get better, and I know this is crucial for my future. Once my eyesight is fully restored, I plan to use some of my transfers to buy goats, adding to the few I already have. My dream is to see them multiply both in numbers and value so that I can build something sustainable for myself and my family. This will help provide for us in the future, as they will be a sustainable source of income and with them I can have something to rely on especially when the program eventually comes to an end. I am deeply grateful for the support I’ve received so far, and I am working hard to ensure that I am not only healing but also setting myself up for a better, more independent future."

"I am optimistic that all my children will successfully finish their education. The assistance we've received from GiveDirectly has been essential in supporting our children's educational needs. A portion of the funds has also been used to buy food for our family due to our decreased food supplies. Unfortunately, our maize farm has suffered because of insufficient rainfall. Nonetheless, if we manage to harvest a substantial amount of maize in the coming season, I intend to use part of my transfer for our children's school fees. Additionally, I hope to acquire some livestock, specifically goats, as they can reproduce and provide extra income for our family's needs. Eventually, once the goats increase in number, I plan to trade them for cows, which can be more profitable. This is my focus, particularly as my older children are about to start secondary school. We do not have steady jobs, my spouse runs a small house construction business, and I assist him with farming, although this can be inconsistent due to unreliable rainfall. Because of this, we need to prepare by establishing an alternative source of income hence the reason why I want to invest part of my transfer in goat rearing. All in all I am grateful to GiveDirectly because since I began receiving these transfers, my financial stress has decreased, my children are receiving meals without going hungry, and I can pay their school fees on time."

"I am planning to construct a better house because I am currently residing in a very small area that used to be my kitchen, following the collapse of my main house due to heavy winds. With the monthly transfers from GiveDirectly, I am saving $20 each month for purchasing building materials. I am genuinely optimistic that, with the support of my spouse, I will achieve this dream. However, financial constraints have set me back my spouse does casual jobs that pay very little, which has forced us to move into a smaller space. Despite this, I am grateful that we can save the little income we earn, especially since we have combined that with the transfers. Soon, we will be able to start buying building materials. I also produce and sell charcoal to provide for my family, and I am confident that we will reach our goal. Moreover, I intend to educate my children so that once they finish school and find jobs, they can assist themselves when they are adults."

"I am planning to reopen my small hotel, which focuses on selling food items, and this is my main goal for the coming year and beyond. The hotel previously failed due to a lack of water, as we are currently experiencing significant drought, making water very scarce. Those who have it are selling a 20-liter jerrican for Kes 50, which is quite expensive. This was one of the major challenges that led to the closure of my hotel. I am solely responsible for taking care of our children since my spouse and I separated. Life is very challenging, but I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, which allows me to earn something and plan for my family's needs. Additionally, I have moved in with my children to my parents’ place, where I receive some support from them; otherwise, life would be unbearable. To achieve my dream of reopening the business, I save a portion of my transfer so that I will be prepared without facing challenges when the time comes. I am thankful to be part of this program."

"We never had the opportunity for an education, which has put us at a disadvantage for a long time. As I look at my children, I want to ensure they don’t face the same struggles we have experienced as their parents. We are determined for them to receive an education, and as I mentioned before, all my transfers will be directed towards their schooling. Additionally, I burn and sell charcoal to earn extra money to help my spouse support our family. With a large family like ours, it requires both of us to work extra hard so we can provide our children with their basic needs. Therefore, in the coming year and beyond, my spouse and I will concentrate on caring for our children, particularly making sure they receive the best education possible."

"Earlier, I had planned to replace my old, dilapidated door. It does not give my home a welcoming look, nor does it provide the level of security that I need. I managed to buy all the necessary materials for a new door and was only left with hiring labor to install it. But just as I was preparing to move forward, my family was struck by tragedy. My dear daughter-in-law fell seriously ill and, heartbreakingly, lost her battle with the illness which shook us deeply. I had to put everything else on hold to focus on saying goodbye to her with the dignity and love she deserved. Now, as I look ahead to this coming year and beyond, I want to pick up where I left off. I plan to use a portion of my transfers to finally cover the labor costs and get the new door installed, bringing a fresh, secure look to my home. After that, I hope to gradually invest in purchasing more goats adding to what I already have using another portion of my transfers hoping they will multiply, growing in both number and value, so that in the future I will have something to rely on when this program comes to an end. Additionally, I rely on my son for support, but his income is unstable and I do not want to place too much of a burden on him. To ease this, I plan to use some of my transfers to help provide food for myself, supplementing the little he manages to bring in so he does not have to shoulder this responsibility alone. I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for this support"