"Going forward this year and beyond, my goal is to continue farming. I want to make it a sustainable venture by consistently reinvesting in it. This will help me meet my family’s food needs and generate extra income. I plan to save money from farming and, hopefully, open a business in the future. The thought of achieving this excites me because it will truly transform my life."

"This year and beyond, I want to continue farming. I know it depends on factors like the availability of rain and the risk of floods. Despite these challenges, I still plan to move forward after carefully assessing the situation. Farming will help feed my family, and I can sell any surplus to pay school fees for my children. The thought of having everything in place makes me feel hopeful and excited about the positive changes it will bring to my life."

"When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I was overjoyed because this money would help protect my family from the devastating effects of floods. I used the entire amount to pay a deposit for a piece of land on higher ground, away from the flood-prone areas. During the floods, my family of four was severely impacted, with the cold affecting us and our farm being destroyed. I believe that buying this new land will permanently shield my family from future floods. I plan to continue using my current land for farming during the dry season, utilizing water from the nearby river for irrigation. This way, I can still benefit from the land while ensuring my family’s safety by living in a more secure area."

"Upon receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I was filled with happiness and gratitude because this assistance gave me hope of recovering from the devastating effects of the recent floods. I used $300 to buy construction materials to build a new house. This amount covered the cost of iron sheets, poles, frames, and labor. Before this, I was living in a muddy house that was swept away by the floods, leaving me in a temporary makeshift shelter without a proper home. Thanks to GiveDirectly’s support, I now have a house that is spacious enough for my family. After that, I used $60 to pay school fees for my two children in secondary school, one in Form One and the other in Form Three. They attend a local day school, and before the cash transfers, they had missed a few days of school due to unpaid fees. Now, with the help of GiveDirectly, they have been able to attend school consistently. I also used $60 to buy food for my family, which was essential because the floods that affected us destroyed my farm, leaving me with no harvest. This money helped us put food on the table despite the tough circumstances. Additionally, I spent $30 to buy an extra bed since we now have more space in the new house. This has brought greater comfort to my family, and we are thankful for the assistance from GiveDirectly that has significantly improved our living conditions."

"What stood out to me about GiveDirectly is the clear information and guidance they provided during the Baraza meetings. They explained everything about their cash transfer program in detail, which really enlightened us and helped prevent any misconceptions. What I would recommend is for GiveDirectly to continue focusing on cash transfers without losing sight of their mission. This approach has been effective, and by staying true to it, they can help even more people improve their lives."

"It was around 4 a.m. when I was already up, as usual, to face the daily challenges. That's when I saw two notifications on my phone. Since I am illiterate, I asked my son, who was preparing for school, to check where the messages were coming from. I was shocked and, at the same time, overjoyed when he informed me that I had received $550 in my account. It felt like a miracle to me, as I had never received such a large amount of money in my entire life. I knew right away that I would build a house for my children, as we had been squeezed into one small house and felt they needed privacy."

"Water is the biggest challenge that we continually face as a family over the years. We fetch water from Lake Baringo which is about 7 km. Water usage per day is about 100 liters. One can only carry 20 liters of water per trip, it is approximately 40 minutes to and fro. This has made our lives difficult, we ration the water a lot so that it's enough. It also means we cannot plant vegetables due to lack of water."

"My current dream is to expand the number of animals I own. These animals have proven to be a reliable way to cope with extreme weather, allowing us to sell them for school fees and food. We currently have 8 chickens and 8 goats, and I plan to grow this by purchasing more animals through my monthly transfers. I also intend to breed my goats to increase their numbers, which will provide financial support in case I face any challenges. This is a dependable way for me to improve my living standards, especially as the transfers come to an end. I also run a motorbike taxi business to help support my family, along with the assistance from GiveDirectly."

"Looking ahead, my goal is to save more money through the savings group. Currently, I am saving $15 each month, but I plan to increase it to $20. This will allow me to save a larger amount, which I can use to buy more livestock, like hens. Once they multiply, I’ll sell some for profit, and the income will help me take care of my family’s needs. I also plan to use the savings to build a proper cooking place, which will make cooking more convenient and enjoyable. I am deeply appreciative of the support from GiveDirectly, which is helping me work towards these goals."

"As the year comes to an end, I plan to use my future transfers to clear the remaining school fee debts that my children still owe. This will allow them to attend school without any further interruptions. Additionally, due to the harsh weather conditions in my village, farming is no longer a reliable option for growing food. I aim to use the transfers to buy food in bulk for my family, ensuring we have enough to last through these tough times. The support from GiveDirectly has been crucial in helping me take care of my family, and I am very thankful for it."