"Lack of reliable source of income is the challenge I am currently facing in life. My husband and I do casual jobs and sometimes we take a whole month without any job. This has affected my children performances at school. Most of the time they have been out of school due to lack of school fees."

"Right from the onset of our involvement with GiveDirectly, my spouse and I devised a comprehensive strategy for allocating the entire sum in accordance with our prioritized needs. Despite having an extensive list of potential expenditures, we made the conscious choice to focus on addressing our most immediate requirements, which prominently included covering our four children's school fees. In the most recent transfer, we spent a sum of $250 on paying the college fees for our eldest son, who was preparing for a crucial semester of exams. This was an essential investment in his education that we could not compromise on, as we've always aimed to provide him with ample study time. Given that we still have two children in secondary school and one attending a public boarding school, we have reserved the remaining $200 for the upcoming term, during which we will distribute the funds accordingly. I extend my gratitude to GiveDirectly for their invaluable support, which has proven indispensable in ensuring the well-being of my family of eight, even as I earn from my teaching job and my husband manages his maize milling business, which would not have covered all the pressing needs."

"Given my substantial investment in subsistence farming, I am looking ahead with the aspiration of broadening my endeavors. Alongside my ongoing agricultural pursuits, I aim to venture into goat farming, envisioning it as a means to enhance milk production and bolster my subsistence farming, which is occasionally impacted by unpredictable weather patterns. The inclusion of goat farming presents the opportunity to sell surplus goats, thereby generating funds that can be allocated towards acquiring sustenance and covering household expenses."

"The challenge that I'm facing at the moment is hunger. Because of changes in climate and lack of enough water for irrigation, our farms have not been productive which has led to low food supply and a lack of money for basic needs. This has affected us greatly since we've been forced to sell our livestock to pay school fees and also purchase food. Live has been very challenging."

"My greatest challenge at the moment is the lack of money. Because of poor rains and lack of enough irrigation water, our farm productivity has gone down which has led to a lack of money to pay for my child's school fees and purchase basic needs. This has made life very difficult since we depended mostly on irrigating our farms to makes ends meet."

"We have not had adequate rain in this area for three years now hence our farms are no longer productive. This has exposed our family to insufficient food. Because of this, we are forced to get alternative sources of income i.e small businesses which are also not guaranteed to provide a daily income."

"My greatest challenge at the moment is lack of food. We depend on rive Wessex for irrigation of our farms, however, this has become difficult since water is not enough due to lack of rains. This has led to a lack of food in my house at the moment. My house has also been eaten by termites which makes it squeak when beaten by wind. This worries me so much."

"In the coming years and beyond, my focus will be on enhancing the living conditions of my children by improving the structure of their house. Currently constructed with muddy walls, this setup presents challenges such as dust accumulation, leading to respiratory issues, and the need for regular maintenance through smearing. To address these concerns, I am planning to replace the existing muddy walls with iron sheets and to cement the floor. This transformation not only aims to create a healthier living environment but also seeks to alleviate the time-consuming and strenuous task of frequent smearing."

"In the years ahead, my primary aspiration is to initiate a shop business within our vicinity. I've keenly observed that there are only two shops serving a considerably large area, which presents a promising opportunity for generating income. Establishing this shop venture not only offers the potential for profitability but also provides me with a consistent source of income. Currently, my earnings from irregular casual work amount to an average of $3 per day, which proves insufficient to meet the basic needs of my family. By delving into the retail sector, I aim to secure a more stable and reliable financial foundation that will enable me to better provide for my children and cater to their necessities."

"I make my living as a motorcycle taxi driver, so I spend the entire day cruising the streets. I left my phone at home to charge on this specific day since the power was down. Until the sun began to set, I drove around ferrying people. Around 5:00 p.m., I eventually made it back home, exhausted but happy that I had earned something to feed my family. My wife welcomed me with a grin and some wonderful news: a transfer had arrived in our account. As I looked at my phone and saw the confirmation message, I couldn't help but experience a surge of joy. Plans started to emerge in my head right away; I knew precisely what I wanted to accomplish using the transfer. The next day, I was set to buy a big sack of maize to keep our family well-fed, thanks to the transfer."