"My house is not spacious enough to accommodate my ten children. As a result, they are forced to seek shelter from neighbors. I have always hoped to build a house for them because I was not at peace seeing them going through this trouble every night. I had previously saved some money from my tailoring business, which enabled me to start building a house for them. The construction stalled for a very long time and eventually was caught up by the recent heavy rains and collapsed. I was very much disappointed because this meant that I had to save up again to be able to build again. I am, however, grateful that my plan of building the house was revived upon receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I spent $210 on buying the necessary building materials, which include 16 iron sheets, nails, and building poles. I am hoping to start the construction soon. I am glad that my children will not have any trouble on where to stay once this house is complete. Additionally, I purchased a new mattress for them and replaced their old and worn-out bedding that they have been using. We also have some rental rooms in town which were not in good condition. The roof was carried away by the recent storms and required immediate repair to retain the tenants. I thus added $105 to my husband's savings and renovated the houses. I finally spent the remaining amount to buy food for my family, pay fees for my children, and purchase some household items that I lacked, such as utensils and two chairs."

"I was at home in the evening with a group of friends from the neighborhood. We were discussing our day's activities, and everyone expressed their eagerness to receive the money promised by GiveDirectly. Although we knew the transfer dates were approaching, we were unsure of the exact dates. Then, I received a notification on my phone. Since I can't read messages on my phone, I asked my helper to check for me. I was ecstatic when she informed me that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was thrilled to share the news with my friends since they were also waiting to receive their transfers."

"I'm glad that I was able to acquire two cows through GiveDirectly's financial assistance. Currently, I'm raising them in my compound. This was a major achievement for me since I previously didn't own any livestock and couldn't afford to buy any on my own. Livestock are valuable assets to me, as I can sell them and earn money as they multiply. With these two cows, I plan to breed them for more cows and also use the milk for my family's consumption, selling any surplus for extra income. Additionally, I hope to use the available financial resources to educate my five children and help them achieve their educational goals. The support allowed me to clear their school fee arrears, ensuring that their studies were uninterrupted. With the income from my casual jobs, I'm hopeful that I will be able to fund my children's education and ensure that they achieve their academic goals."

"In the coming year, my main aim is to use the upcoming transfers to expand my livestock holdings, particularly with more goats. These animals will not only help me meet my basic needs but also serve as an investment. My plan is to grow their numbers steadily so that in the future, I can exchange some for a cow, which will further secure my family's stability. With these animals, I envision a sustainable source of income that will support my children's education and our overall well-being long after this project concludes. I'm optimistic that by diligently managing this opportunity, I can provide a better future for my family and ensure we have the resources we need to thrive."

"I am devastated by what happened two months ago in my village, Loldama. The flash floods caused by the overflowing River Perkerra and Molo washed away all the maize I had sowed on my one-acre land. It is especially painful because I had taken a loan from Kenya Seed Company, counting on the harvest to repay it. Now, I am left with nothing, and I do not know where to start again.I have reached out to Kenya Seed, but they have informed me that their season is over, and they do not allow replanting at this time. It is a heartbreaking situation because I not only lost my crop but also my means to support my family of three. We are facing uncertainty about where our next meal will come from and how we will manage financially."

"By December, my goal is to expand my livestock holdings to around four goats. Currently, I'm proud to say I own three goats, which is a significant step forward considering our previous financial constraints. Before receiving monthly transfers, it was a real struggle to afford and care for livestock while also meeting our family's basic needs. Now, with this support, I can see my dream becoming a reality; a dream I never thought possible. I'm optimistic that with more goats, I'll not only secure a stable source of income by selling them as they multiply but also be able to support my children's education as they progress to higher levels. This opportunity means a lot to me and my family, promising a brighter future ahead."

"I lost my one acre piece of land of watermelon on the recent floods. The fruits were to be harvested in a week time. And my 2 acre maize farm was also swept away by the floods. I am now struggling to make the ends meet after that great loss due to financial challenges"

"I used to supply vegetables to Nakuru and eldama ravine from my farm and I was making good money enough for my farming needs but unfortunately the recent floods cleared everything including fence. I am currently struggling to cope with charcoal burning and casual labour to fend my family basic needs which is very challenging because the money I get is not enough for my family."

"Life has become unbearable for me and my family because I depend on casual labour and charcoal burning to fend for my family daily needs. Getting best stumps to use for charcoal is very hard because people we have already cleared all of it leaving out small stumps and this is the biggest challenges iam facing because If I had different source of income or be financially stable I could not struggle like this to cater for my family."

"Before this year ends, my main goal is to renovate my house. The one I currently live in is quite old, and whenever there's heavy rain, the roof leaks badly. It's been a constant worry for me. To make this happen, I'm planning to use my savings from the chamas and any additional funds I can gather. Once I achieve this dream, I won't have to stress about the safety of my home during harsh weather anymore. It's something I've been planning and saving for, and I'm determined to see it through. A renovated house will bring me peace of mind and a sense of security for my family."