"We live in a harsh, rocky, and dry area where agriculture is no longer viable due to the hot and unforgiving climate. The biggest challenge we face is food insecurity, as we have to purchase all our food. This is an overwhelming burden because we lack a stable source of income. Our only means of survival comes from small businesses, but these ventures are unpredictable and often fail to meet our family’s basic needs.The high cost of living only worsens our situation, leaving us to constantly struggle to put food on the table. The harsh environment and lack of resources have made it difficult to break free from this cycle of hardship."

"With 6 children in various levels of education, I have already spent more than $1000 this year alone. Being a single mother, this money was hard earned from casual jobs in the village together with the sale of my goats. With less than ten goats remaining, I am worried about how I will get the same amount of money for their school fees next year."

"I have always wanted a house of my own, where I can truly feel a sense of belonging. The one I currently live in is small and was kindly given to me by my daughter because I had nowhere else to sleep. Therefore, I gradually started purchasing building materials using a portion of the transfers I received from GiveDirectly. So far, I have accumulated ten iron sheets, left with a balance of ten more, along with other necessary building materials. My heart is set on building a two-roomed house that will be spacious and comfortable. My plan for this year and the years to come is to continue dedicating a portion of my transfers toward this goal until the house is complete. I know that the day I step into my new home will be one of the happiest moments of my life. Once I have achieved this milestone, I intend to redirect part of my transfers toward purchasing goats. I believe these goats will multiply over time, increasing in number and value, and will provide me with a sustainable source of income in the future when this program comes to an end. They will also keep me active and engaged, as I plan to personally take them to the grazing fields and care for them. I am profoundly grateful for the support I receive from GiveDirectly. It has not only given me the means to pursue my dreams but has also filled me with hope for brighter days ahead. With each step I take, I feel closer to a future where I can stand tall, proud of what I have accomplished."

"Personally the biggest difference would be the fact that I finally managed to finish up on building my house. This construction really matters to me because as I had mentioned earlier, we started on the project well over a decade ago. The decision to stop it was because we had to prioritize between our children's education and the house. Finally with these funds, our vision and dream became a reality and were it not for this money, God knows how long we would have taken before finally fulfilling this goal."

"My son who was in his final year of High School had a huge debt in tuition fees. Since I wanted to avoid any distractions for him during his exams, I went ahead to spend $200 and settle the debt. Also about a decade ago, I had begun building a better house for my family and I. My husband and I assisted one another with funds when it came to building the house. Unfortunately with our kids in school, we had to put up a pause on the house because we felt that school was more important. Although our house was unfinished, we thought we could sustain living inside it as long as our kids pursued any education. Therefore, upon receiving the transfer's, and after a proper discussion with my husband, we decided to finally finish up on our derailed project. From the transfers that I received, I spent $350 on our home. This same money also allowed me to build a small home for my son as well because according to our customs and traditions he was now of age and we could not live in the same house as we did with his siblings."

"Lucky for me my home is in very close proximity to a river and I also happen to have 13 acres of land. My intentions for the coming year is that I plan on fully investing in Farming and that is the reason why as I had mentioned earlier I decided to buy a farming tool which is a plough. With farming it will allow me to at least cater for nutrition for my family, but on the other hand I plan on selling the harvest as well to earn a living. This is quite important because as I had mentioned I lost my job during Covid-19 and I have not been able to get another job ever since. This has made it very hard for me especially considering that I am the breadwinner. I am hopeful that everything will go as planned."

"I invested a bigger chunk of my transfer on my agri-business. I have been growing vegetables and also rearing livestock for sometime. I spent $200 on buying a water tank to store water for irrigating my vegetables. I previously struggled since I would have to rent a machine after every two weeks to be able to irrigate my vegetables and fruits which was very expensive. I used $200 to pay for my high school child so that I could lessen the fees burden. I used $100 to buy goats for rearing as an investment for future use. I used the remaining $50 to buy new school shoes and clothes for my children because most of their clothes and school were worn out"

"Before receiving the Give directly funds I would struggle to manage my business especially during production. I would hire a machine to pump water and irrigate my vegetable nurseries after every two weeks which was tiresome and expensive. After receiving the cash I was able to buy a water tank which has made irrigation easier."

"I have many goals in mind, but the one at the top is owning a pair of oxen. It has been my dream for a long time, but I couldn’t afford them because they are so expensive. This has forced me to prepare my farm by hand or, at times, hire someone to do it for me. Now I plan to use my savings from the Merry Go Round to purchase the bulls. These bulls will not only help with daily farm activities but also generate income for my family, as I can hire them out to neighbors for a fee. This investment will ensure we produce plenty of farm products, as I will be able to cultivate the entire farm with the help of the bull. Additionally, the income generated will be used to support my children’s education by directly paying their school fees."

"In the coming years, I plan to fulfill my dream of renovating my house. The current structure, made of old sticks, is in poor condition and at risk of collapsing at any moment. With the rainy season fast approaching, I live in constant fear of what might happen. As a mother of four children, I am deeply concerned about their well-being, as our current shelter is not safe or conducive for a healthy living environment. To bring this dream to life, I intend to sell some of my goats and use savings from the Merry Go Round initiative to gather the necessary funds for the renovation. Achieving this goal will make me the happiest mother alive, as I will finally be free from the constant worry and stress about our living conditions. It will bring peace and stability to my family, which we have long yearned for."