"I have two children currently in high school, and I have made an excellent effort to clear their fee arrears on time to ensure that their studies remain uninterrupted. Receiving the transfer was a huge relief because it allowed me to pay my their fees on time, making it easier for them to access education without a struggle. My job as a mason, which has always been helpful in ensuring that I can adequately provide for my family, was becoming unreliable. Sometimes, I could go for weeks without securing a job, which threatened my children's education. I paid $350 from my transfer towards my children's fees, and I am assured that they will stay in school even when I do not secure a job or unable to raise the fees on time."

"My son finished primary school since last year but I couldn't afford to send him to high school. Since then, he has been doing odd jobs to get by. Instead of letting him continue this way, I decided to enroll him in a vocational training institute where he can learn practical and meaningful skills like plumbing and masonry. This will not only make him self-reliant but also provide him with valuable certifications. Vocational training is more affordable for me than high school, so I set aside $200 from the recent transfer to cover the costs. I'm relieved that he will start his training soon. Once he completes the course, he can use his certifications to find better job opportunities. Additionally, I replaced our old, uncomfortable bedding with a new bed and mattress. I'm grateful for the support that has made these positive changes possible."

"I bought a piece of land a few years ago for agricultural purposes because our community land is congested. However, I faced financial difficulties and defaulted on the payment. When I received my first transfer, I used $150 to pay off a part of the outstanding amount, making it more manageable. My plan is to clear the remaining payment so that I can fully own the land and carry out my agricultural activities freely. I had been using old and worn-out traditional bedding for a long time, which no longer offered a comfortable sleep. To improve my sleeping arrangements, I purchased a new bed and mattress for $100. I am now having peaceful nights with nice bedding to lay my head on. I also set aside $160 to pay tuition for my son, who will be joining college soon. This money will cover his education expenses as he starts. I also had accumulated debts of $100 that I had taken to pay fees for my children, and I am happy that I cleared them upon receiving the transfer. Finally, I spent the remaining amount on buying foodstuffs such as maize flour and other household items that I needed."

"My oldest child is in 5th grade and was sent home from school a week ago. I rely on sporadic jobs, which are difficult to secure. It's embarrassing to see my child at home at this time of day while others are in class. I am stressed and considering finding capital to start my own business. Life is more challenging when you depend on a job rather than running your own business."

"I am a Widow living with my six children. My husband died four years ago, and since then, I have all the responsibility of raising the family alone. I do casual jobs in the village making very little income of $30 per month. The money caters to food and school fees for the children. The children have a fee balance of $200. It is a great challenge for me to raise this amount. This has made my first boy who is at Magogoni secondary miss class for two weeks now."

"It was a regular afternoon, and I had just woken up from a nap when I noticed a message on my phone. I didn’t check it right away, but then I saw a missed call from my mother-in-law. When I called her back, she asked if I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I hadn’t even looked at the message yet, so I told her I wasn’t sure. As soon as I hung up, I opened the message, and there it was—the GiveDirectly transfers. Even though I hadn’t been feeling well that day, seeing that message lit up my spirit. Right away, I started thinking about how I would use the money to build a new house."

"It was a regular afternoon, and I had just woken up from a nap when I noticed a message on my phone. I didn’t check it right away, but then I saw a missed call from my mother-in-law. When I called her back, she asked if I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I hadn’t even looked at the message yet, so I told her I wasn’t sure. As soon as I hung up, I opened the message, and there it was—the GiveDirectly transfers. Even though I hadn’t been feeling well that day, seeing that message lit up my spirit. Right away, I started thinking about how I would use the money to build a new house."

"My children are sent home from school every week due to unpaid school fees. I rely solely on casual jobs, which pay very little, sometimes as low as 200 shillings. With 200 shillings, my family can only afford one meal, and at times it's challenging to choose between paying for school fees and providing a meal for my family. I am stressed by the difficulties my children are facing in getting an education."

"Life has currently become so tough as compared to my first years in marriage back in 2012. By then, my husband's income from his casual jobs could sustain us with our basic needs. As our family grow, currently six in the house, we are facing financial constraints. This is because, I do not have a job, a situation that has forced us to purely rely on the little income from my husband. In a month, he is sending us $30.8, an amount that we spend on food and school fees. With this financial instability, life has become worse since we can not afford to own a decent house. This has robbed away my joy because I feel so ashamed to live such a kind of life as a young family."

"Lack of reliable source of income is the current challenge Ia ma facing in life. I am a single mother of nine children and do casual jobs for like washing clothes for other people in the community for pay. The money caters to food and school fees for the children. Accessing job sometimes is not easy thus it can take even a month without any job. I make approximately $30 per month. The income is low such that I have two biys at Magogoni secondary in form three and they all have a fees balance of $600. The other children at Sokoke primary have a fees balamce of $70. Two two in secondary have missed classes for a whole month due to the arrears. This has affected their performance in class."