"This village of ours as you can see is very dry, it has been three years since we got enough rains. As a result, there is a water shortage and no crops can be planted. I last planted crops three years ago. There are irrigation plots in our village, but they require hiring, and I don't have any money for that. I sometimes go without meals because I only occasionally make $3 in casual labor, which is insufficient to pay for food for both my mother and me. I feel bad for having to go without food because I don't have anything to prepare. Since I need money for food and there is occasional casual work for me to do, I am faced with a challenge that I cannot overcome.."

"As they say water is life but the story here is different. We do not have water for use because of lack of rains for the past three years. This has forced us to buy drinking and water for use thirty kilometers away. I spend two hundred shillings after every two weeks which I find expensive as I rely on casual jobs to earn a living."

"Old age is the greatest challenge for me, I am no longer able to fend for myself as a result I rely on my grandchild to provide everything I need. At the same time, I am becoming more vulnerable to diseases. I hardly sleep at night due to the pain I carry. If I get the proper medication , it may be of help to get more strength to carry on with life."

"Now I have an east mode of transport it is easier to go to the hospital now; before receiving this money we used to travel by foot. We also used to buy food in small quantities because we could not afford it but now we bought in bulk."

"For many years, I have been relying on practising subsistence farming which ensured food security in my household. However, we have been experiencing a drought which has made our lives hard. I have been selling sardines as a source of income but haven't been doing well. My husband does casual construction jobs with little pay. We have been struggling to balance buying enough food for the family and paying fees for my four children. Getting the transfers was a huge relief to me because I can pay the fee expenses, and look for money to buy food. My goal currently is to ensure that my children get the best education and that they achieve their career goals. I believe that I will be able to pay for their education on time to avoid interruptions or stoppage to their studies."

"My primary goal is to use my subsequent transfers to buy a new sewing machine. I am a skilled fashion designer. I have been offering tailoring services to earn a living. The current sewing machine is the only one I own, but I want to buy another one so I can rent it out to a friend for a monthly fee. That will enable me to generate additional income and support my mother, who is a livestock trader. She struggles a lot because her income is inconsistent. With the increased income, I shall be able to support her in terms of raising fees for my five siblings since we are father orphaned. I delight in seeing them progress in life."

"I have a lot of plans that I would wish to accomplish in the coming year and beyond. GiveDirectly transfers have helped me have a clear plan on how to achieve some of these goals. I would not for example have been able to go through my secondary school education journey smoothly as I have done had it not been for GiveDirectly. My first year in secondary school was tough owing to the fact that I depended entirely on my parents to pay my school fees and to meet all other needs of our family. Coming from a family of 9, and with my father relying on soap selling as a source of income, things were tough for us. After receiving GiveDirectly transfers, I have managed to pay all my school fees in time and I am no longer sent home like before. Being the first born in this family, I am very confident that our second born brother who is joining secondary school next year shall not have any problems raising school fees. This is because my father shall be able to fully concentrate on him as my mother gathers for my other siblings who are still in primary school. My plan is to continue using the money that I get every month to pay my own school fees and rent. I am very confident that I will finish my secondary education without any problems whatsoever."

"It meant a lot to me, especially financially, so I would want to thank the organization for making it possible for me to participate in the program. I intend to spend the upcoming monthly transfers for home improvements. The existing one is in poor condition and has a mud wall. The rains had washed away the majority of the mud, leaving holes in every wall of the house. I have so far purchased sand in the hopes of purchasing cement with the upcoming transfers because plastering is a long-term solution. I presently work as a public transportation vehicle tout, and I think that, when combined with the monthly transfers, the money I make from that job will help me reach my objective by the end of the year."

"I aspire to educate my son through high school. This is the immediate need that I have for now since he's required to join form one. Therefore, I plan on using the cash transfer on his school fees. I was involved in a motorcycle accident a few months ago that left me with injuries. Soon as I recover, I can boost my business and my income as I plan to start rearing goats. This will help me go a long way in paying my son's school fees."

"I am quite grateful to the organization for the donations that we keep receiving monthly because they have brought a positive change into my life and the lives of many people back in the village. Personally, I intend to invest money in my farm this year by showing that a couple of goats and purchasing them. This is in preparation for any financial tribulations that I may face later, so I can be prepared to sort it out. Apart from that, I also intend on using the money to pay for tuition since I still have one child who is still studying. Most importantly, I would really feel happy if I could manage to finally build a better home for me and my family since the one we occupy is quite small, and since it is a mud house, whenever there is heavy rainfall, I am always scared that it might collapse."