"Financial constraints isnthe challenge I am currently facing in life. I took a loan to build a residential house so as to shift from rentals. The money was not enough thus I did not build the house to completion though I am already living in that house. I have two rooms that need completion and as for now I can not accommodate any visitor since I only have one room ready for family use."

"Now that I have achieved my goal of building a new house for my son, I have set a new goal in mind. To save more money from incoming transfers and my charcoal business. With this money, I aim to pay for my children's education even after they finish college or university. I believe this is the best way to create a better future because our current life isn't good at all. This goal gives me hope that things will improve for my family in the years to come."

"I spent $115 on iron sheets and frames to build a small kitchen for my family. Currently, we cook in the open air, which poses challenges such as dust and insects getting into our food. During the rainy season, we are forced to cook in the house where my children sleep, and the smoke affects them, making it uncomfortable. Furthermore, I used $170 to purchase a dairy cow, which will provide us with milk and also allow us to sell offspring to help pay for our children's school fees. Additionally, I used $40 for a school trip for two of my children, as I did not want them to miss out and feel left out by their classmates. I also bought new clothes for my newborn for $40. I also bought a sack of maize for $40 and used the remaining on food ensuring we have enough while I concentrate on my watermelon farming without worrying about my children going hungry."

"I have a deep passion for farming, but it has been a real struggle lately. Here in Longewan Sub-location, irrigation is essential for farming success, yet acquiring the necessary inputs has become a major challenge for me. Recently, floods swept away my entire 6-acre maize crop, leaving me with nothing but charcoal burning as a means of earning a living.However, the market prices have been affected by the middlemen as the price of $6 a bag is a loss.Starting over seems impossible right now. Knowing that I will have to face months of hardship to secure food for myself is truly heart breaking, especially since I live alone."

"Housing is the challenge I am currently facing in life. I am a widower doing casual jobs for survival. My house was demolished by the heavy rains last year December. I am currently living in a house that was given to be by a neighbor. I lack even bedding in that house. I make approximately $30 per month which caters for food only. I lack the capacity to build a house."

"I'm really focused on my studies right now because I want to excel and join the Kenya Defence Force. In the coming year and beyond, I aim to join the Kenya Defense Force and work for the government in the future. Currently, I'm in my third year and I have started preparing for my final exams, so I'm concentrating on my studies. Thanks to the support from Give Directly transfers, I have more time to study, and I'm confident that I'll do well. I also dream of building my own house, but I know I'll have to wait until after I finish college. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to go to college and support my family once I graduate."

"My previous house collapsed due to heavy rains, and we were left without a proper house but a small shelter to cover ourselves. Therefore, my initial plan was to complete building a house for my family, and I am happy to say that I was able to achieve this goal. My family now lives comfortably in a warm and secure home. Moving forward, my primary focus is to use my transfers to help my child, who has a deformed leg. I am determined to ensure that he receives the necessary medical attention so that he can have a good leg and enjoy a normal life like other children. In addition to my child's medical care, I plan to use part of the transfers to buy goats. My hope is that these goats will multiply and increase in number over time. I then intend to trade some of the goats for cows, which I can train to help plow my farm. In the future, I may be able to sell some of the cows as they multiply and use the proceeds to fund my children's education. I am excited to see these plans come to fruition with the help of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, and I am hopeful that I will be able to provide my loved ones with the best possible opportunities."

"In April 2024, I received a letter of termination for my Junior Secondary school teacher after the government failed to hear our grievances. This has affected me financially because I am currently jobless at home. Since I had some projects, they are currently at a halt due to lack of money. I now depend on my husband for financial support, a situation that has reduced our efforts to finance our projects. Thus, this is what I consider to be my biggest challenge."

"My plan now is to use my next transfer to pay for my children's school fees for the entire year and to complete the construction of their house. Afterward, I will use the proceeds from my farm to purchase a dairy cow so that we will have a steady supply of milk at home without having to buy it from the shops.Previously, I had cows, but they were stolen because they grazed on communal land, where they mixed with other people's cows and eventually went missing. This time, I aim to secure the dairy cow properly to prevent such losses."

"Currently, I am living in a house made of iron sheets, but my plan is to build a better home made of bricks to have a permanent residence. Despite my husband's lack of involvement in development, I am determined to improve our living conditions on my own. I already have 600 bricks, and when I harvest my tomatoes, I will sell them to start constructing my house.At home, I have a small garden where I plant vegetables like kale, ensuring we have fresh produce from our own farming, along with mangoes. Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I have been able to achieve all of this. It’s a dream come true with your help."