"In my old age, I am not able to fend for myself and have to rely on other people to provide for me. As a result, I sometimes sleep hungry when I don't find any help. This really makes me sad. I am however grateful because my children provide for me despite the hard economic times they are also facing."

"I work as a mechanic in Mombasa, but my limited earnings make it challenging to support my family. I rely on my GiveDirectly transfers alongside my job income to help cover rent, purchase food, and care for my loved ones. Due to my financial circumstances, I need to explore additional ways to generate income. I've been considering animal husbandry to increase my earnings. At present, I have 5 goats and around 20 chickens, which I can sell for extra cash during financial emergencies. In the upcoming year and beyond, I plan to invest more in goat farming. My goal is to acquire additional animals so they can breed and produce even more. This venture will provide me with financial security for the future, as I can sell the animals if I face any financial challenges to support my family."

"My primary goal is to attend college and study building and construction. With my parents out of work and relying on peasant farming, I’ve taken it upon myself to work hard in my second-hand clothing business to save for my college fees. I remain optimistic that I can reach this goal with the support from GiveDirectly. Once I've saved enough, I plan to pass my business on to my sister, who has finished high school but hasn’t found a way to enroll in college despite her passing grades. After I complete my course, I intend to help her with her college education."

"My goal is to build my own house within the next year and beyond. I've already purchased iron sheets, building poles, and some essential materials, which is a positive step forward. I just need a few more items to kick off the construction. My plan is to use my transfers to buy all the necessary materials and start the building as soon as possible. Right now, I'm in college pursuing a mechanics course, and I hope to finish in about a year. I also need to acquire some equipment to set up my workshop. Therefore, my plans include completing the construction of my house before using my transfers to invest in these tools. Ultimately, I aim to be employed for a while to save up for my own garage."

"When I received the money from GiveDirectly, they didn’t tell me how to spend it or try to map out my priorities for me. They just trusted that I knew best what my family needed. It reminded me that, even with limited resources, we are the ones who understand our needs most clearly. And having that freedom to decide was empowering; I could allocate the funds where they’d truly make a difference. Another thing I appreciated deeply was how they handled the payments for families. Every household was treated equally, including polygamous families like mine. Each wife received her own portion, which made it easier for us to make decisions tailored to our households. The process was transparent, and everything was clearly explained. Looking back, I can't think of anything they could improve. It was evident they respected us and cared for our well-being, which made all the difference."

"I am currently facing a challenge in providing for my family of seven. I work as a house manager for a neighbor, earning KES 4000 a month. While I use this money to buy food, it is often not enough. Sometimes, I have to take goods on credit from shops, hoping my husband can repay them through his driving job. With schools closing soon, I am worried because I will have to pause my job since my employer will be home full-time. This adds even more stress to an already difficult situation because there will be no salary for those days. For this period , I will reinvest in my tailoring business so as to earn an income from repairing clothes."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been in the areas of food and housing. Before this support, my family often struggled to put enough food on the table, which made it difficult to save money. Now, with a consistent supply of food, I have been able to build a saving culture within my family. Most of my income no longer goes toward buying food, allowing us to set aside money for other needs. In terms of housing, I am almost finished building my own house. For seven years, I lived in a borrowed home, which often felt uncertain and temporary. Now, the dream of becoming a homeowner is within reach. Soon, we will move into our new house, bringing a sense of stability and pride to my family. This transformation has truly changed our lives for the better, and I am incredibly grateful for the support from GiveDirectly."

"My main goal for this year and the years to come is to start a business after relocating here. I aspire to become a businesswoman and open a mini wholesale shop. With the network I have built in the village, I know many people will come to buy from me. Additionally, those who run businesses in the surrounding villages will also come to stock up at my wholesale. This venture will not only provide for my family but also enable me to be fully self-dependent. I envision a future where my business thrives, allowing us to live the life we deserve and giving me the freedom to support my family. This opportunity fills me with excitement and determination to succeed."

"What stood out to me about GiveDirectly was their remarkable transparency and kindness. They even provided speakers of indigenous languages to ensure that everyone, regardless of language barriers, could understand and feel included. This level of inclusivity is truly admirable and made the process feel respectful and accessible. My recommendation for GiveDirectly would be to enroll more people, allowing others to experience the same life-changing support and transformation that we have been fortunate to receive."

"With the current drought and hunger affecting our region, I plan to continue using a portion of my transfers to buy food and water to keep my family from going hungry until this dry spell is over. Water has become very scarce, and we have to pay motorcycle transporters to travel long distances to bring us water, which is quite costly. Once the rains return and we have enough water and food from our farms, my focus will then shift toward investing in goats, as well as more ducks and chicken. I hope that these animals will multiply over time, increasing both in number and value. These will be a valuable asset and will provide me with a reliable resource to support my family, especially once this program ends."