"I was at home with my husband when I saw a message on my phone saying that GiveDirectly had sent me $180. I felt an overwhelming wave of happiness wash over me. My first thought was to go to the bank and withdraw the cash so I could hold it in my hands. The idea of having that money physically felt so reassuring and exciting. I couldn’t wait to see how this support would improve our lives and address our pressing needs. Holding the money would make it feel real, and I was filled with hope for the future."

"The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving cash from GiveDirectly has been in the areas of food security and sanitation. Before these transfers, my family was struggling to put enough food on the table, which caused us a lot of stress and worry. Now, we have enough to eat, and I no longer have to constantly worry about where our next meal will come from. Additionally, we did not have a toilet, which is a very important structure for maintaining high levels of hygiene. With the support from GiveDirectly, I was able to build a toilet for our family, greatly improving our living conditions and ensuring better health for everyone. This change has brought us comfort and peace of mind, and I am incredibly grateful for the support."

"Upon receiving my latest transfer of $450 from GiveDirectly, I immediately took action to support my family. I used $210 to pay the school fees for two of my children, who were on the verge of being sent home due to unpaid fees. Thankfully, since I made this payment, they have been able to continue their education without interruption, and I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for that. Next, I invested $100 in buying watermelon seeds and paying for the labor needed for planting. I planted melons on two acres of land because this crop thrives in our area and fetches good prices in the market. I plan to use the proceeds from the harvest to boost my existing business and purchase more assets that I currently do not have. Additionally, I spent $50 on food for my family to ensure we have enough to eat at home. The remaining money went towards our daily household needs, helping us maintain a stable and comfortable living environment. I feel hopeful about the future, thanks to the support from GiveDirectly."

"Now that I have a generator, my goal is to buy more pipes so I can pump water from a longer distance. This will allow me to irrigate my farm more effectively and help ensure that my farming venture is sustainable. I am excited about the possibilities this brings, as it will improve my crop yields and provide more food for my family. The thought of expanding my farming capabilities fills me with joy, and I feel hopeful about the future. I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has made this life upgrade possible."

"What I appreciate most about the GiveDirectly program is the respect and professionalism shown by their officers. They always ask for consent before proceeding, which makes the process feel considerate and trustworthy. My recommendation is for them to continue with their cash program, as it is truly transformative and doesn’t need any changes. This approach has a powerful impact on people’s lives, allowing them to make meaningful decisions for themselves."

"Recently, I received $450 from GiveDirectly, and I am incredibly grateful for this support. I received the transfer in the morning and immediately decided to invest in livestock, spending $370 to buy a cow and two sheep. In my culture, livestock ownership is a source of pride and respect—without animals, one is seen as a “nobody.” We are traditionally nomadic, but drought had caused me to lose all my livestock. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I now own livestock again, and I plan to care for them well. Not only do they restore my pride, but they will also provide my family with milk and a future source of income. I used $50 of the money to buy food, which gives me the energy I need for my daily activities. The remaining amount allowed me to visit my family, something I am deeply thankful for. After being separated from my wife for 11 years, I am now reunited with my children, and I currently live with three of them. This experience has been profoundly moving, and I am grateful to GiveDirectly for making it possible."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I instantly felt a wave of change and relief. At that time, I was living in a mud house that had leaked during the recent floods that had affected my village. This brought a lot of discomfort to my family, so I used $350 to buy building materials and renovate our home. With this amount, I purchased iron sheets, building poles, and nails, and paid for labor. I have now completed the renovation, and it has brought a sense of comfort and security to my family. Additionally, I used $70 to buy two goats, which will provide us with milk and gradually multiply. This new source of food is valuable for us. I spent the remaining amount on food, which has made a big difference in our lives; we no longer have to skip meals, and we enjoy consistent, nourishing food. I am deeply grateful for these valuable blessings. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this possible!"

"In this area around lake Baringo, fishing is an economic activity that earns more families income. My family is not exceptional. As a family of three , we depend on fish trading to earn a living. However, this business comes with its share of challenges. Two weeks ago, my customer in Kitale ordered fish worth KES 17000 which I delivered. Unfortunately, when it arrived there, she said that all the fish had gone bad and she had disposed of them. Although I had invested that much in the fish, I was not paid anything and therefore I ran into a loss. It is a loss that I have not recovered yet and it is stressing me because I do not know of the future business."

"Job security is the biggest challenge I am currently facing.I am a hands man in the construction sector since the year 2020. Securing a stable job in this era with my form four certificate of grade D+ has been unsuccessful ,I decided to join the construction sector doing handy works even though I am not satisfied with it .This work is energy draining, inconsistent in availability and has so much exploitation from the contractors due to high availability of labour force.In a week for instance,I can work for three days earning at most KES 500 a day.This money is limited when compared to my weekly expenditure of KES 1600.I end up having no savings hence foreseeing a challenging future for myself ,moreso having to delay in starting a family."

"We heavily depended on our family business to earn a living and put food on the table for my family of eight. Recently the business has been performing poorly making our life unbearable. A year ago many people invested in water transport services and this never worked well for us. Our boat registered a low number of customers and this made life difficult for us. I am elderly and this limits my ability to work and provide an alternative source of family income. I am also struggling to pay school fees for my grandson Luis Kemboi who is schooling in Moi Kabartonjo secondary school."