"I am a widow with no passive income. I solely depend on casual jobs from other people's farm in order to fend for my family. The jobs are unreliable to an extend of only getting them during the weekends. This means that I have to venture into charcoal burning in order to supplement on my family's needs. I am also forced to lease my only 2 acres arable land that I could have cultivated crops for both subsistence and surplus for commercial purposes. My biggest worry is that I am running out of energy to be able to continue carrying out these menial jobs because of my age and having no hope of breaking this cycle."

"In the years ahead, my plans hinge on the rains. I aim to persist with tomato and maize farming, using savings from each harvest to fuel this dream. It brings me joy knowing that the income will not only sustain us but also fund my children's education. Rain or shine, this journey towards a brighter future for my family remains steadfast."

"Spent most of it on buying land and construction materials"

"The recent changes in Kenya's economy have family hard. The prices of basic commodities such as food have increased, making it difficult for us to afford our daily needs. As a family of five, we rely on charcoal burning as our main source of income, earning $5 per bag. On a good month, I can harvest up to 10 bags, which we use to buy food and pay for our children's high school fees. But it is not easy. Charcoal burning is physically demanding and highly competitive, especially since it seems like everyone in the Ng'ambo sublocation is doing it too. And to make matters worse, the middlemen involved in the business often exploit us, driving down our profits even further. I am worried about the future of this job. It is becoming increasingly tiresome and less lucrative, and the market conditions are not helping either. I know I need to find a solution soon before things get even worse for my family. It will not be easy, but I am determined to find a way to provide for my family and secure a better future for us all."

".I can't help but express how happy and excited I am. GiveDirectly has truly changed my life. Before, my life was hard to explain. When I got the money, the first thing I did was use $150 to pay off my two children's university fees. Before, I relied on government grants and community donations to pay for their education. But now, thanks to the money I received, I don't need to depend on those sources anymore. I also used $50 to buy food because I used to work selling firewood and water door-to-door, but it didn't pay much. It was hard to support my two grandchildren with just that money. My husband passed away nine years ago, so I'm the only one my kids rely on. Life has been tough since then.With the rest of the money, I built a small room made of Ironsheets for my grandchildren. Before, they lived in a house made of mud and grass, which wasn't good when it rained. Since I got the money, my life has changed. I don't have to work odd jobs anymore; I can stay at home and take care of my grandchildren."

"After I got some money, I spent it all on food for my wife's burial. She was sick for a long time with something called deep vein thrombosis, which caused her a lot of pain from her head to her legs. I spent about $3000 on her medical bills, but despite all our efforts, she passed away. Now I'm living alone because my children are married. Sometimes my grandchildren visit me during holidays and help me with house chores.Before GiveDirectly started helping me, my life wasn't so good because I relied on my children for everything. But now, thanks to GiveDirectly, I can afford to eat comfortably. I like green grams and potatoes, so when I got more money from GiveDirectly, I bought a lot of them because they're my favorite foods. I'm grateful for the help GiveDirectly has given me, especially for support with my wife's medical bills from the beginning."

"Life at the moment is so tough because I do not have a reliable source of income to depend on. Looking at my husband's health condition, it has pushed me to assume the household responsibilities. My hope has been on my son who is a driver but his support is minimal due to the nature of his income. It is a great feeling of pain to have involuntarily forced my elder son to postpone marriage since he carries the burden of supporting his siblings in school. Hence, I consider financial instability as my biggest challenge."

"When I got $450 from GiveDirectly, I was so happy. Before that, I lived in a house with a grass roof that leaked when it rained. So, I decided to use the money wisely. First, I bought building materials to make a proper house. Then, I paid $50 to a handyman to help finish building it. With the remaining $400, I opened a business selling second-hand clothes, known as mutumba. Before this, I didn't have a job, but now, I feel so grateful because I'm employed. It's like a dream come true for me. I'm really happy to have this opportunity to make a better life for myself."

"What I really admire about GiveDirectly is how transparent they are. When they send money, it goes straight to the people who need it. There's no middleman, no hidden agenda. It's just simple and straightforward. I appreciate that they don't have anything fishy going on. Their programs are all about helping people in need, without any ulterior motives. It's clear that their main goal is to make a positive impact on people's lives, and that's something I truly respect. Because of this, I don't have any recommendations for GiveDirectly. They're already doing such a great job with their transparent and honest approach. I'm grateful for the support they provide to individuals and communities, and I trust that they will continue to do so in the best way possible."

"Being a farmer with six children and a husband who works as a mason, our financial state has always been tough because of the little money that we make out of it. When I got my second transfer, I knew exactly how I wanted to use it to improve our lives. I decided to spent $200 towards building a decent home for my family, something we couldn't afford before because of the urgent needs like school fees and other essentials. Moreover, I used $290 towards my children's education, ensuring that my son and daughter could start Form One without facing any financial barriers. Seeing my children get an education and having a stable home has made a huge difference in my life. I feel a great sense of relief and gratitude knowing that despite the challenges we've endured, we're now moving towards a better future, one filled with opportunities for both my children and our family as a whole."