"I had given my phone to my helper because I was busy preparing corn for the evening meal. While I was working, my helper came to me holding the phone and told me that there was a Mpesa notification on it. I wasn't expecting to receive money from anyone, so I was curious to know who could have sent money to me. To my surprise, it was my first transfer from GiveDirectly, and I was overwhelmed with joy as I read the message. I have been waiting to pay fees for my children who were at home, and I was happy to know that they could now go back to school."

"My previous house was small and couldn't accommodate all of my children. Some of them had to live with neighbors because of the lack of space. Additionally, the house was in bad shape, with a dilapidated roof that leaked during heavy rains, damaging some of my belongings. I couldn't afford to renovate or build a new house. However, with recent financial help, I prioritized building a new house with a good iron roof. I bought the necessary building materials including 24 iron sheets, building poles, nails, and timber, and paid the mason for his work. I'm now at peace knowing that I no longer have to face those challenges, and I don't have to worry about the rains anymore."

"I went to fetch some water at a nearby water source while my phone was charging at home. I was with a neighbor who had her phone with her, and she received a message about her transfer from GiveDirectly on our way back. When we got home, I checked my phone and was overjoyed to see the M-Pesa notification. I couldn't wait to withdraw the money to start building a house for my children."

"My greatest challenge right now is the lack of finances to pay school fees for my children and to start a farming venture for income. This difficulty arose after my husband and I separated, leaving me as the sole provider for my six children in primary and secondary school. It breaks my heart to witness my children being sent home from school due to unpaid fees. I had aspirations of cultivating a farm, but those plans were thwarted when floods devastated our area. The savings I had earmarked for agricultural investment had to be used for our immediate needs in the aftermath of the floods. The setbacks have been overwhelming, and I'm navigating these challenges with a heavy heart, hoping for a breakthrough to secure a better future for my family."

"Currently, my biggest challenge is the lack of capital, which is preventing me from rebuilding my house destroyed by floods and from starting agricultural ventures. Relying on casual labor in others' farms earns me approximately KES 300, which is inadequate for my family's basic needs. Every day, I pray for the means to cultivate crops like maize and tomatoes on our one-acre farm. I hope to use the proceeds to invest in a goat, securing our future needs."

"Currently, my greatest challenge is facing homelessness and food insecurity. The floods destroyed our one and a half acre farm where I had planted maize to prepare for the upcoming dry seasons. Sadly, all crops were lost. Moreover, the floods also wrecked my house, leaving me exposed to the cold and mosquitoes. This situation has heightened my risk of contracting malaria and pneumonia. I look forward to receiving my transfers, as they will provide me with the means to rebuild my life and improve my circumstances."

"It's unfortunate that an outbreak killed almost twenty of my chickens, leaving me with only five. Despite this setback, I am determined to acquire more chickens to continue with my poultry farming project. While my main priority remains providing my six children with a quality education and ensuring their school needs are met promptly, this project will also allow me to build up a good number of chickens. This will ensure that even after my transfers end, I can sell some to support my children's education expenses. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for their support in this endeavor."

"With the cash transfers I'm receiving, my main goal is to save a portion of this money and start poultry farming to generate income. Poultry are in high demand and can be easily sold, either in the market or within our village. This venture aims to secure a sustainable source of income for the future. Additionally, I'm determined to use the transfers to ensure I complete my high school education without financial constraints. Moreover, this project will enable me to support my mother in providing necessary basic needs for my younger siblings. I truly appreciate the financial support as it has been immensely helpful to me."

"Moving forward, my plan is to continue using the transfers I receive to expand my existing business ventures. I am determined to keep investing in the growth and diversification of my operations. In addition to maintaining a strong focus on my current business selling sardines and sugar, I also intend to add coconuts to my product base. By expanding the range of goods I provide, I can cater to a wider customer base and increase my overall revenue. Alongside the business expansion, I will also allocate a portion of the transfers to growing my herd of goats. This livestock investment represents a long-term strategy to build financial security for my family. As the goats multiply and increase in value over time, I can sell them when needed to support my household and I am happy with these plans because with them I will be able to comfortably take care of my grandchildren."

"Moving forward, my plan is to continue using the transfers I receive to simultaneously expand my thriving shop and food preparation business, while also ensuring my child's education remains uninterrupted. By consistently investing in the growth and development of my business, I can increase profitability and secure a stable income stream for my family. At the same time, allocating funds towards my child's school fees will open doors to a brighter future through the power of education. However, I also have my sights set on a long-term investment that will further diversify my family's assets and provide additional financial security. In the future, I plan to use a portion of the transfers to purchase a goat, with the hope that it will multiply and increase in number over time. When the need arises, I can then sell these livestock and utilize the proceeds to support my family in whatever way is most beneficial, whether it be covering unexpected expenses, investing in my business, or providing for my child's educational needs"