"Recently, I received $450 from GiveDirectly, and I immediately allocated $200 to pay school fees for my two children in secondary school. This lifted a huge burden off my shoulders, as I had been stressed about how to find the money for their fees. I used $100 to restart farming after the floods had destroyed my farm. With this amount, I bought maize seeds and began farming again on one acre of land. This will help my family have enough food, and I can sell the surplus to pay school fees in the future. At the time, we had no food at home, so I knew I had to address our immediate need for food. I used $50 to buy enough food for my family, and now we are no longer worried about going hungry. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for this. I also used $40 to buy a goat, which I can raise to help me in case of future emergencies. Lastly, I spent $60 to purchase essential household items that we lacked, like a table, which has greatly improved the look and comfort of our home."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, my husband and I had already planned how to use the money. We set aside $100 to pay school fees for one of my children in secondary school, which eased the financial burden I had been facing. Another $100 was used to buy new clothes for my family of five kids. This was to make everyone happy and ensure they all felt included in the support. Next, we used $100 to buy two goats, which will serve as a lasting reminder of the help we received from GiveDirectly even after the transfers have ended. I also spent $100 to complete the construction of a house we had already started. With a large family, it's essential to have enough space for the kids, ensuring their privacy. This is why building the house was a priority. Finally, I used $50 to buy food and pay off a debt at a local shop. At that time, food was a challenge, but now my family has enough to eat. Clearing the debt also relieved me, as I can now take food on credit again in case of future needs."

"I woke up to a message confirming I had received $200. Unsure of the source, I called my village elder to ask if it was from GiveDirectly. He confirmed that the money had indeed come from them. Overjoyed by the news, my mood instantly brightened and set a positive tone for the day. My first thought was to use the money to find a safe piece of land. I wanted to move my family away from the devastating effects of the floods that had previously caused so much damage."

"This year and beyond, I plan to continue farming in partnership with Kenya Seed Company. This will be crucial as it will allow me to comfortably support my children's education and meet other household needs. Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I am determined to approach farming differently this time. I plan to buy water pumps, something I didn’t have before. With these, I will be able to irrigate my farm, reducing the risk of a poor harvest. This will make my farming venture sustainable, as I will no longer rely solely on the rains to grow crops."

"What stood out to me about GiveDirectly is the clear information and guidance they provided during the Baraza meetings. They explained everything about their cash transfer program in detail, which really enlightened us and helped prevent any misconceptions. What I would recommend is for GiveDirectly to continue focusing on cash transfers without losing sight of their mission. This approach has been effective, and by staying true to it, they can help even more people improve their lives."

"My six children have been accommodated in my small house with only two rooms for a long time. However, because we had been squeezing into the same space, I felt like I was denying my children their privacy. Therefore, I thought they needed a new home. They faced many challenges because they did not have a comfortable environment in which to study at night. The rooms we used to sort ourselves were too small, and our belongings would often be left outside. Life was unbearable, and we hoped for a financial breakthrough that would end this struggle. The arrival of Give Directly in my life has become our turning point. Our lives have been completely transformed. I managed to build a decent and spacious house for the children, which is not yet complete. I no longer have to worry about their privacy, as they now have ample space to study at night and do other personal things. As a parent, this has restored the dignity and joy that I had missed before."

"My children and I have been sheltering under one roof in a small house made of two rooms. This was quite a frustrating life as the rooms were too small, meaning we had to squeeze ourselves in, leaving no room for privacy at all. As a mother, I often worry that my children feel I have failed them, which pains me the most. Therefore, after receiving my first cash transfer, building a new house for them became my top priority. To this end, I used $430 to buy building materials, including iron sheets, poles, and timber, and to cover labour charges as well. Now, I feel so relieved that the house is complete. At least my children are now sleeping separately from us, and there is ample space for them to sleep at night, which was not possible previously. Additionally, I paid $70 in school fees for my daughter, who is sitting for her final exams this year in secondary school, and for my son in Form 2. It brings me joy to see my children receive a quality education, as I never had the chance to go to school. My primary desire is to see them thrive and graduate with good grades, as this is the only way to eradicate the poverty that has plagued my household for years. With the remaining $50, I also addressed the issue of food in the house, as this has been another ongoing challenge, especially since we are experiencing extreme drought and do not have reliable jobs. This sometimes means we go to bed with empty stomachs."

"Water is the biggest challenge that we continually face as a family over the years. We fetch water from Lake Baringo which is about 7 km. Water usage per day is about 100 liters. One can only carry 20 liters of water per trip, it is approximately 40 minutes to and fro. This has made our lives difficult, we ration the water a lot so that it's enough. It also means we cannot plant vegetables due to lack of water."

"My current dream is to expand the number of animals I own. These animals have proven to be a reliable way to cope with extreme weather, allowing us to sell them for school fees and food. We currently have 8 chickens and 8 goats, and I plan to grow this by purchasing more animals through my monthly transfers. I also intend to breed my goats to increase their numbers, which will provide financial support in case I face any challenges. This is a dependable way for me to improve my living standards, especially as the transfers come to an end. I also run a motorbike taxi business to help support my family, along with the assistance from GiveDirectly."

"Looking ahead, my goal is to save more money through the savings group. Currently, I am saving $15 each month, but I plan to increase it to $20. This will allow me to save a larger amount, which I can use to buy more livestock, like hens. Once they multiply, I’ll sell some for profit, and the income will help me take care of my family’s needs. I also plan to use the savings to build a proper cooking place, which will make cooking more convenient and enjoyable. I am deeply appreciative of the support from GiveDirectly, which is helping me work towards these goals."