"Having just completed the construction of my new house, I feel a sense of accomplishment and gratitude, but my journey isn't over yet. My next goal is to buy a bed and a mattress, which may seem simple but means everything to me. Right now, I sleep on torn mats and pieces of empty sacks spread on the ground. It's uncomfortable and sometimes painful, but it's what I have. With the upcoming transfers from GiveDirectly, I plan to dedicate them to purchasing a proper bed and a soft mattress. This will transform my nights, allowing me to wake up rested and ready to tackle each day with renewed energy. In the coming year, I hope to create a more comfortable and dignified living space, and in the future, I aspire to improve my overall quality of life, step by step."

"This year and beyond, my biggest hope is to expand my small kiosk business. It all started with a single shelf of goods, but thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I can now dream bigger. My priority is to stock more essential items that my community needs, like food staples, toiletries, and school supplies. With a growing business, I will be able to provide everything my family needs without worrying about tomorrow. Most importantly, I want to ensure my children can go to school without the burden of unpaid fees holding them back. I dream of seeing their eyes light up as they chase their ambitions, knowing they have the support and resources they need to succeed. Expanding my kiosk will be a step towards securing a brighter future for my family, where my children’s dreams can flourish without limits."

"Upon receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, my life changed in ways I never thought possible. Before this, I struggled for a long time without farming due to a lack of capital. But now, things are different. I used $50 from the first transfer to buy insecticide for my two-acre maize farm, which I planted with the first transfer from GiveDirectly. With the insecticide, I am hopeful for a good harvest. This farm is crucial because it will provide food security for my family and allow me to sell some produce to meet daily needs and save for future farming. I also plan to support my son's family with the harvest, as they were not enrolled in GiveDirectly. I allocated $10 to buy two goats as a long-term investment. Goats multiply quickly and do well in our hot climate, making them a valuable resource in emergencies. I used $8 to address the immediate food problem at home. Before GiveDirectly, my grandchild and I sometimes went to bed hungry due to inconsistent casual labor. Now, we have plenty of food. Lastly, I spent $15 on a school uniform for my grandchild. He didn't have a uniform before, but now he can go to school with pride, just like his classmates. GiveDirectly has given us hope, security, and a brighter future."

"The biggest challenge am currently facing is lack of a consistent source of income. Despite having arable land, am not always able to till and plant due to the high cost of farm input. I therefore depend mostly on casual jobs in people's farms which involve planting, weeding or harvesting. On a good day I get paid KES 300 which is hardly enough to meet the recurring daily needs eg food for my family of 6. Sometimes am forced to borrow from neighbours just so that my young children do not sleep hungry. As a father, the inability to fully provide for my family really makes me feel so bad"

"Recognizing that the financial support is for a limited time, I plan to invest my subsequent transfers in purchasing livestock, especially goats. Goats are a valuable asset, with their value increasing over time. Their ability to reproduce and multiply makes them an excellent investment option for growing wealth. Now that I have cleared all the school fee debt for my children and we have plenty of food from our recent harvest, I am in a good position to focus my future transfers on purchasing livestock in the coming months. I am very appreciative of the financial transfers, which have greatly improved our lives and provided me with this opportunity to invest in a more stable future."

"The biggest difference in my life is that I am now filled with hope and happiness, knowing that I was able to plant on time this season. Through the transfer, we managed to till our land on time and plant efficiently. We used a modern system of tilling the land with a tractor, something I had never used before. The entire process of tilling and planting was completed in a single day, which was a great achievement for us. Previously, my wife and I struggled to till the land manually by ourselves. This method was not only time-consuming but also exhausting. Additionally, we could not concentrate solely on the land because we had to take on casual work to ensure our children had food by alternating. This stretched the planting process over a long period and made it even more exhausting. I am grateful for the support that has made this possible."

"In the coming year and beyond, I have been thinking about starting an income-generating activity. This initiative will enable me to earn some money, no matter how small, to provide for my family's basic needs. I've been considering a vegetable business because it doesn't require a lot of money to begin. Furthermore, not many people in my area are doing it, so I am confident I will have ready customers. I plan to use part of my transfer to invest in this business, which will make it easier for me to support my family. As I had planned, I have acquired some goats and chickens, which will help me in case of a financial crisis in the coming years. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the support, as it has truly uplifted our lives."

"In the coming year and beyond, I do not have any other goal but to build a house for my children. Initially, this was not possible simply because I used to rely on casual jobs that are unreliable and low paying as well. Therefore, I want to use my monthly transfer from GiveDirectly to fulfill this dream. Already, I have acquired some iron sheets which I buy every month to support my meet my goal. Once I will build that house, I will be very happy. I do not like where my children are sleeping right now. Since my mother also has a one-roomed house, I did not have any option but to make my four children sleep at my mother's house no matter how her house is small. Therefore, I thank Give Directly because through them I am optimistic that I will meet my goal house."

"I have school-going children who need my support to ensure that their basic needs are catered for, like paying fees and buying food. Hence, I must work extra hard. I am glad that I managed to start my vegetable business, which I have dreamt of for a long period of time. Therefore, in the coming year and beyond, I now have plans to invest in cattle rearing. I thought of this because I do not want to look desperate once these transfers come to an end. These goats will act as my future financial security in case I find myself in financial problems. Therefore, as much as I will be using part of my transfer to support the needs of my family, I will use part of it to buy goats. I really want to concentrate on this project because it will help me stay financially stable. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support that has transformed my life."

"As a widow with three children in primary and secondary schools and an unreliable source of income, I've been strategizing for the future. With the upcoming transfers, I plan to invest in purchasing goats. I believe this venture will offer a sustainable source of income for my family in the long run. My priority remains providing for my children's education and well-being. I see education as the key to their future success and empowerment. By investing in their schooling, I'm laying the foundation for them to achieve their dreams and break the cycle of poverty. It's not just about surviving day-to-day; it's about building a better tomorrow for all of us."