"One of the biggest improvements brought by the transfer is that my children will soon have a separate room, which is currently under construction. Before this, we all slept in the same room, and it felt cramped and lacking privacy. The feeling of being crowded often made it difficult for my children to study or focus on their homework. Now, with the financial support from GiveDirectly, I can finally create a comfortable space for them. This new room will not only provide them with privacy but also a sense of belonging and security. I am excited for them to have their own space, where they can grow and thrive, and I feel a great sense of relief knowing that I can provide this for my family. The changes I am experiencing now fill me with hope and joy, and I can finally envision a brighter future for us all."

"Since receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly, my life has changed in ways I never thought possible. Before the transfers, I used to sleep with my grown-up children in the same house, which left me with no privacy at all, and that pained me. I could not find a moment of peace or space for myself. However, with the money I received, I made the important decision to build a new house for them. The construction is ongoing, and very soon, my children will have their own house, and I will finally regain my privacy. This new home will not only provide us with comfort but also strengthen our family bond, as we can create a space where we all feel secure and happy. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I can now dream of a better living environment for my family, something I could only wish for before."

"My hubby is the sole breadwinner for our family. In April 2024, the flash floods caused extensive damage to Masai Mara resort, where he worked as a staff member. Due to the closures, he was unfortunately laid off. We were shocked by the news and had to prepare ourselves for the difficult times ahead, learning to adjust our budget and live within our means. We struggled a lot to put food on the table and meet our family needs. My two sons, Brian and Eugene, who are in secondary school, were also affected by the loss of our family's source of income. Covering their school fee arrears has become an additional challenge for us."

"Financial constraints are the biggest challenge because my husband and I depend on charcoal burning to make ends meet. Currently ,the government has placed strict measures to restrict selling of charcoal and this has greatly affected our income. If we had a stable source of income life would have been better."

"My biggest challenge currently is my disability and old age which has grounded me and I'm unable to work and provide for my family. This has left my family to depend on my wife. This has made life very difficult since its not enough and it is really stressful."

"My current house is small and not spacious enough to accommodate my family of seven. Because of this, my young children, who are currently in school, have to seek shelter elsewhere. This troubled me as their parent, and I felt they were too young to face such problems. When I received my first transfer, I decided to build a spacious two-roomed mud house that would accommodate some of my children and me while the others stayed in the old house. I purchased enough building materials, including 24 iron sheets, building poles, and nails, and I am now building the new house. I am at peace because my children will no longer struggle with shelter, unlike before when they would be looking for shelter from neighbors."

"Before receiving support, my four children were frequently sent home from school because I could not pay their fees on time. I worried that missing school would negatively affect their academic progress, while their classmates continued with classes. My low-paying jobs of burning and selling charcoal made it difficult to raise the required fees. I'm thankful to GiveDirectly for their timely support. I used $280 to pay the school fees and my children were able to stay in school. Aside from the school fees, I am also building a new house for them, as their current house is in bad shape and close to collapsing. I spent $180 on buying necessary building materials such as iron sheets, nails, and building poles. As a parent, I am happy to see my children no longer facing housing troubles. The remaining $90 was used to buy two new mattresses for myself and my children, replacing the old, worn-out bedding we had used for a long time. The new bedding is much more comfortable to sleep on, and I am very pleased with it."

"I am thankful to GiveDirectly because their support has helped me recover from an illness that had paralyzed me for almost four years. After my diagnosis, I needed to undergo extensive medical examinations, including an expensive MRI scan. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford the necessary medical expenses and procedures to regain my health. Due to my condition, I was unable to work as I used to before my diagnosis. I could only afford occasional checkups and medications that cost around $10, and at times, I struggled to even cover these expenses. After receiving the financial support, I was able to undergo full body checkups and scans, and I received proper treatment. I am thrilled to see improvements in my health. Initially, I had lost hope for treatment, but thanks to the support I received, I am now on the path to recovery."

"I am a small-scale farmer, and the income from farming is quite insufficient. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial assistance as it has made it much easier for me to provide food for my children. Before receiving support from GiveDirectly, my children were frequently sent home from school due to unpaid fees. However, this is no longer the case. I can now pay school fees on time and also meet my children's basic needs. I am aware that the financial assistance will come to an end as we were promised support for five years, and time is passing quickly. To ensure that I am not in a difficult situation once the transfers end, I have decided to invest in a livestock business. Specifically, I used part of the transfer to purchase two goats. I intend to take good care of the goats so that they multiply quickly. Once I have a substantial number of goats, I plan to sell some of them in order to buy a dairy cow. The dairy cow will provide us with milk for both domestic use and commercial purposes. I will sell some of the milk to generate income to support my children's education and other basic needs. Therefore, to achieve this goal, I aim to continue purchasing more goats using part of my monthly transfers in order to realize my ultimate objective."

"We live in an arid region where finding casual jobs is challenging, and the harsh climate hampers crop production. This situation makes life increasingly difficult for us. Unfortunately, we lack a reliable source of income to support our family. We have to sell our goats cheaply in order to provide for my family of eight and meet our basic needs. This financial struggle forces us to skip meals and often share the little food we have among ourselves. I am happy that my firstborn, Purity Chepchieng, has been enrolled at Masinde Muliro University to pursue a degree in Education Arts. This came with a fair share of challenges to my family, we are struggling to pay school for our daughter."