"Receiving support from GiveDirectly has filled me with hope and determination for the future. My main goal is to establish an income-generating activity by starting a small shop business. With subsistence farming becoming increasingly unreliable due to unpredictable rains, a shop will provide an income to support my family. I plan to save diligently over the next three months, aiming to gather at least $100 as start-up capital. With this shop, I can ensure my family has enough to eat, access to education, and a brighter future."

"Even as my older sons help with paying school fees for my two children, my goal is to assist where possible. I want to continue supporting my children by paying their school fees until they all complete their education. Ensuring they receive a proper education will provide them with a good future, which is my primary aim. In addition to paying school fees, I plan to invest in livestock, such as goats, and poultry, like hens. This will provide a sustainable source of income even after the financial aid ends. I am very appreciative of the financial support I have received so far, which has significantly improved my quality of life."

"The challenge i face in the household is lack of funds to meet expenses. I do not have the money to buy food for my family of 8 and cannot afford School fees for my 2 children in secondary school. This is because i fully depend on casual jobs that are hard to come by, and when they are available they pay as low as KES 300 which is insufficient to cover all the needs. I have a piece of land that i am not able to cultivate due to the high cost of inputs (Tilling, Installing pipes and purchasing a generator) before the land can be productive and generate income."

"One month ago, my village Murda, was struck by severe flash floods that greatly affected my family of eight. Our primary source of income has been farming, but the floods destroyed the tomatoes I had planted on 0.5 acres of land and the maize on my 1-acre plot. This farming venture was our sole source of income, and with the crops destroyed, I now have to rely on casual jobs, such as weeding and charcoal burning, to support my family.I had invested $300 in the tomato crops and took a loan from Kenya Seed Company to plant the maize. Now, without any produce to sell, I am at a loss on how to repay the loan later this year. The destruction of our crops has left me in a difficult financial situation, and I am uncertain how to recover and meet my financial obligations."

"My biggest challenge currently is that I lack the capital to venture into farming, which has been the main source of income for my family. I lost all my onions on a half acre farm and tomato crops on a acre farm recently due to floods. As a result, I cannot afford to pay fees for my four children in school. I am worried that they will be sent home because I cannot afford to pay their fees."

"I am planning to build a house since my spouse and I do not have one.Currently I am staying at my mother-in-law's house. I feel grateful for my spouse's support of my idea, and we have both agreed to support each other in this endeavor. I am committed to saving half of my monthly transfer in our chama to purchase building materials and eventually construct our own house. My spouse has also agreed to save a portion of his income from casual jobs. This new house will provide us with the comfort and privacy we desire."

"From the beginning of the year, my life was a constant battle. I was sick and hypertensive, and the stress of not having enough money to pay for my children's school fees or even buy food only made things worse. The anxiety was overwhelming, and it felt like there was no way out of the cycle of poverty and poor health. But then, everything changed when I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly. With the money, I was able to pay off all my children's school fees, which lifted a huge burden off my shoulders. I even managed to start a grocery business that I now operate daily. Additionally, I sell food to schoolchildren at a neighboring school to generate extra income for our family's upkeep. This has brought a lot of happiness to our household, and the best part is that my health has dramatically improved. I haven't been sick since then, and for the first time in a long while, I don't have to constantly worry about where the next meal will come from or how to pay for necessities. This stability and peace of mind have truly transformed our lives.""

"I spent about $240 to buy 22 iron sheets, which was crucial because part of my house was previously roofed with papyrus. The papyrus was easily destroyed by termites, making our living conditions quite difficult. Additionally, I purchased 20 posts and frames for the roof renovation and bought roofing nails, spending around $50.I then turned my attention to my grandchildren by buying them school uniforms to ensure they felt good about going to school. I also paid their school fees, which was a significant relief for our family. We also used some of the money to buy clothes for ourselves, something we had not been able to do in a long time. It felt good to see my family dressed comfortably and proudly. Lastly, I decided to invest in our future by saving $150 to buy goats. Goats are a valuable asset because they multiply quickly and can provide a steady source of income. By planning to buy goats, I am hopeful that this investment will help us become more financially secure in the long run. Overall, the cash transfer has significantly improved our living conditions, supported my grandchildren's education, and allowed me to make a strategic investment for our future."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, my main focus is on fulfilling a heartfelt dream: building a decent house for my mother. The current state of her dwelling isn't satisfactory, and I strongly believe it's time for a change, one that reflects my love and gratitude for her sacrifices. I envision this new home not just as a shelter but as a symbol of my appreciation and respect for her. Utilizing the earnings from my teaching job and the monthly cash transfers, I am meticulously planning and saving to materialize this project. Knowing that this endeavor will bring immense joy to my mother and make her proud of me fills me with determination and purpose. The thought of seeing her living in a comfortable and safe environment, one that I helped create, is a source of great motivation. When the project is complete, the sense of accomplishment and fulfillment will be unmatched, knowing I've made a significant difference in my mother's life."

"My plan now is to replant the maize and, after harvesting, use the income from selling it to start a cereal business buying and selling maize. The profits from this business will go towards paying my children's school fees. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for helping us achieve dreams that would have been impossible without their support."