"For this year and beyond, my goal is to finish renovating my house and complete the granary. Once these are done, I will focus on paying my children's school fees, knowing we have a secure home and enough food from the harvest. I plan to use the next transfer from GiveDirectly to help make this possible. This will bring me peace of mind, as I will be able to meet my family's needs. With this, I can ensure a better future for my children."

"What I liked about GiveDirectly is their response to the floods. They were able to support us after our farms were swept away, which helped us get through a very difficult time. Their assistance was timely and made a big difference in our lives. My recommendation is for them to continue giving us more support, as it has had such a positive impact on our community. I am truly grateful for their help."

"My plan for this year and beyond is to start and sustain a garden farm. I want to plant vegetables that will provide the necessary food for my family while also allowing me to make daily sales for extra income. This additional income will help me meet the future medical costs of my husband. I plan to use the GiveDirectly transfers to make this vision a reality. Thinking about the success of this plan fills me with joy because I know that with the capital GiveDirectly has provided, everything is possible. Their support has made this dream achievable, and I am excited about the future."

"What stood out to me about GiveDirectly is their unconditional cash support, which gives us the freedom to address our needs independently. This approach has allowed me to make choices that directly improve my family's life without restrictions. I truly appreciate the way GiveDirectly trusts us to use the money in the best way possible. I have no recommendations for change, except to say thank you to GiveDirectly for a job well done. Their support has made a significant difference in my life, and I am very grateful for it."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, the first thing I did was send $20 to cover bus fare for my children, who were closing school for the holiday. They arrived home safely and happily, which gave me great relief. Next, I invested $110 in butternut farming. This amount covered the cost of seeds, planting, pesticides, and irrigation for one acre of land. I chose butternut because it is cost-effective to grow and fetch good prices in the market. I plan to sell the harvest to ensure I have school fees ready when schools reopen, as one of my children is in secondary school. I also used $50 to lease an additional acre of land, where I plan to grow maize early next year under the Kenya Seed Company program. This will help secure food for my family while allowing me to sell the surplus to generate income for school fees and other household needs. Recognizing the need to improve our housing situation, I used $190 to purchase construction materials to build a house for my son. He currently sleeps at a neighbor’s house due to a lack of space at home, and I want him to have his room for privacy and comfort, while also easing the burden on our neighbors. I allocated $30 to pay off a debt I owed to a local kiosk. Clearing this debt not only keeps me in good standing but also ensures I can take items on credit if needed in the future. Finally, I used the remaining money to buy food for my family. Normally, I rely on casual labor on other people’s farms, but such opportunities have become scarce. With this support, I can focus on managing my farm. I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me to address these pressing needs and plan for a more stable future."

"What stood out to me about GiveDirectly is the professional nature of their staff. They were calm, respectful, and kind throughout the process. They took their time to inform us thoroughly, without any sense of hurry or impatience. I truly appreciate how well the program is run and have no recommendations for changes. From my experience, the current program is working exceptionally well, and I believe GiveDirectly should continue with this approach. Their professionalism and efficiency have made a positive and lasting impression on me."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I allocated the money based on my most immediate priorities. First, I set aside $130 to purchase construction materials to improve our house. This allowed me to revamp the roof and expand the house, creating more space and ensuring greater comfort for my family. Next, I used $100 to pay school fees for one of my children who had been forced to stay home for two days due to lack of payment. Thanks to GiveDirectly, my child is now back in school, studying without interruptions, which brings me great happiness. Understanding the need for a sustainable source of income, I invested $100 to farm beans on half an acre of land. I believe this venture will generate more income to support my family in the future. Additionally, I spent $50 to buy a sheep, which I consider a long-term investment. As the sheep reproduces, it will help me grow a livestock-keeping venture that will provide income in the future. Finally, I used the remaining money to address the urgent need for food at home. At the time, we had no food, but now my family has enough to eat. I am deeply grateful for GiveDirectly’s support, which has allowed me to meet these essential needs and plan for a brighter future."

"I have a goal that I hope to achieve soon: building a new two-room house. Currently, I live in a small house that can only accommodate one person, and I feel the need for more space not just for my belongings but also to welcome loved ones when they visit. To turn this goal into reality, I have devised a strategy to buy one piece of iron sheet each month using the transfers I receive. So far, I have managed to acquire nine pieces, and my target is to collect around 20 pieces to complete the construction of the house. I am committed to this plan, and I am confident that by next year, I will be able to build my dream house. This new space will provide better security for my belongings, which currently have to be kept outside."

"My current house is made of mud walls, and the roof is made of grass. It is very cramped since it is only one room. With four children, my eldest son is growing up, and we would like to have some privacy to foster more respect within our house. Therefore, I decided to join a savings and loan group where I save a portion of my monthly transfer. The reason I save is to prepare for applying for a loan, which I can use to purchase building materials. I am happy to share that I managed to take out a loan of $300. I spent the entire amount on sand, cement, and stones to be used for building our new house. I feel proud to have made this progress, and I am optimistic about constructing a modern two-room house, which has been my dream.Once this project is complete, I will not destroy our current house but will pass it on to our eldest son so he can have his own space. In the coming year and beyond, my primary goal is to gather more resources through my monthly income to help build our new house. Additionally, I plan to clear my current loan and then apply for another one to expedite the building process."

"Food insecurity is the biggest challenge due to lack of a stable source of income. We live in a semi - arid area,and we never harvest anything from the farms due to drought.We purchase all the food stuff from the little money we get and this is difficult."