"Floods destroyed our 2 acres of maize in April this year. We had taken a loan of $300 to purchase seeds and to till the land. It has left me devastated and I don't know how I will repay it. The seed company wants all their loans repaid regardless. It means I'll not be able to support my family well and have enough food. This has really affected my ability to provide for my children."

"We depend mainly on casual jobs to support our family. My husband and I are obligated to look for jobs everyday. It's hard getting jobs consistently and it affects our ability to provide fully for our family of five. Casual jobs are irregular, because of the high number of people looking for the same. The cost of food items has made it hard buying enough food for our family. We are forced to spend all our earnings which makes it hard when there are no jobs."

"I have been raising my children single- handedly since my husband passed on several years ago when my children were young. As a result I sold all the livestock to be able to cater to their needs,especially education. I had to depend on casual jobs as an alternative to the livestock and life has not been easy for a lack of consistent income."

"Floods have been our biggest concern in the last 6 months. It displaced us, and we were forced to relocate for about one week. It recurred three times. We also lost 3 chickens and their structure was destroyed. The floods also destroyed one acre of maize plantation leading to food shortage. We've been forced to depend on relief and doing extra jobs to earn income to buy food."

"The worst moment of my life occurred in 2020 when I lost my job as a result of COVID-19, just when my family needed me the most.I had to return home and look for other ways to make ends meet so that my family could keep receiving necessities. In addition to receiving assistance from my oldest son Alphani, I chose to launch a wine taping business, earning an average of $1.56 per day. My current struggle is not having enough money to cover my family's basic needs."

"Due to the scarcity of the temporary work that I rely on, being the only provider for my family has been extremely taxing. With my inconsistent income as a wine taper, I barely make $3.13 a day on average, which is insufficient to pay for my kids' schooling, food, and other necessities.The fact that I do not have a reliable source of money to support my family well is what is making my life more difficult."

"The only source of income for our family is my spouse, Kahindi, who works part-time as a wine taper. The $1.56 he makes every other day, with a family of nine, is insufficient to cover our basic needs. My primary worry is the house I currently live in because I have older children and I do not feel proud of sharing a home with them, nor is it culturally appropriate. Just like me, they should also have their own privacy. Thus, not having enough money to provide for my family's needs and to build a house for my kids is what is currently making my life more difficult."

"In the afternoon, while I was at home sick and resting, I received a notification on my phone. Because I couldn't read the messages on my phone, I asked my grandson to check it for me. I had a strong feeling that it might be the transfer from GiveDirectly since the date was due. As I suspected, it turned out to be true - I had received my first transfer. I was overjoyed and started planning to withdraw the money to renovate my house, which was in poor condition."

"I have four children and three grandchildren to take care of, and I have been struggling to ensure they have everything they need through farming. I am a dedicated farmer and practice crop rotation, starting with maize, then beans, then greengrams, and also planting pumpkins or butternuts. Life has not been easy due to the high school fees I need to pay. My husband is a primary school teacher, but providing for us is challenging because he is a polygamous man with three wives.I used to plant Kenya Seed maize, which is managed by a board. When we harvest our maize, it goes directly to them for sale, and the payout usually comes in January. With that money, I would pay for the first and second-term fees, while my husband would pay for the third-term fees. However, after receiving my last transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to help my husband pay for the school fees of our two sons, who are in their final year at university, allocating $350 for their fees. I also paid $30 for my grandchildren's primary school fees and used the remaining $70 to purchase foodstuffs to ensure we have plenty of food at home as I wait for my maize to ripen.I sincerely express my gratitude to GiveDirectly for rescuing us by providing the cash that has helped us clear the school fees arrears for our children. This burden was stressful, but now we are living a better life. thanks to the support."

"With the first transfer, I had started building our house, but it was still incomplete. Using $20 from the second transfer, I was able to finish the construction, providing us with a safe and comfortable home. This was a huge relief, knowing that my family now had a proper roof over our heads. After completing the house, my next priority was to improve our living conditions inside. I used $105 to buy a bed and a mattress, as I had been sleeping on a papyrus reed bed, which was neither comfortable nor good for my health. Additionally, I spent $100 to pay school fees for my four children. Ensuring that they stay in school is crucial for their future, and this money has lifted the burden of worrying about their education expenses. With $90, I purchased household food items, ensuring that we have enough to eat and can maintain a nutritious diet. I also used $50 to buy clothes for my children, who desperately needed them. The remainder of the money has been saved as an emergency fund, providing a safety net for unexpected needs such as additional school fees or food items. This financial cushion gives me peace of mind and a sense of security for our future."