"The harsh weather has made farming particularly challenging, leaving me vulnerable since I have no maize left, my staple food. As a result, I now have to purchase my food from the store. I plan to allocate part of my future transfers to buy food and ensure I have a steady supply at home. Additionally, I want to save a little from each transfer to invest in more goats. Although they are currently expensive, I am determined to set aside money so I can expand my herd. I am very grateful for the financial assistance from Give Directly, which has been a tremendous help to me."

"What stands out most for me about the GiveDirectly program is the kindness and politeness of their officers. As an older person who only understands my native language, I am especially grateful that they have officers who speak my language. This shows a remarkable level of inclusivity and respect for everyone they serve. I have no specific recommendations for GiveDirectly other than to encourage them to keep up the excellent work."

"In February 2024, insecurity cases were on the rise in my homeland, Yatia. My family of five and I moved to Kapkamon Centre, hoping to find some peace. Just when we thought we had found safety, the threats followed us here. We eventually relocated to our current home in Chebarisiat village. A well-wisher offered us a place to stay, but it is cramped. We are sharing a small space with another family, and there is no privacy at all. I have been dreaming of constructing my own house, but my finances are limited. The KES 4000 I earn from my shopkeeping job goes entirely to food for the household, leaving nothing to save. It is frustrating, and I feel stuck."

"I'm a long term goat farmer. I've depended on them all my life. The biggest challenge is livestock diseases. There are no doctors nearby to assist during outbreaks. I'm always worried I can lose all my goats at once. In the last one year I've lost over sixty goats. This has affected my income stream, leading to difficulty in buying food or supporting my children's education. It's also a challenge keeping goats due to insecurity associated with livestock theft predominant in our locality. I can lose goats overnight, it keeps me worried all the time."

"My biggest challenge currently is that I was displaced by floods. I currently live in a borrowed land in a dilapidated structure. This worries me because I feel I am exposed as I don't have the means of building a better structure for myself. I fear that I might contract pneumonia as the nights are really cold."

"When I received money from GiveDirectly, I felt relieved because they let us decide how to use it however we wanted. There were no rules forcing us to spend it in a certain way, which made things easier. They also took time to explain everything clearly, so we knew how the process worked and what to expect. I felt informed and comfortable from the beginning. I do not thing there is anything that needs to be changed in the program. Everything was done well and I cannot complain because they have changed our lives for the best."

"I am planning to continue with farming because I want my children to keep going to school. Their education is very important to me, and farming is what helps me support them. I also hope to buy a small plot of land, just a 50 by 100. To raise the money to buy this land, I will keep farming maize and beans, and I'll sell them to earn what I need. We really need to move because, every time it rains, our place floods. Having that new plot would mean a safer, better place for my family."

"When GiveDirectly arrived in our village, they did something different from any other aid group we had ever seen—they simply handed us the money and trusted us to decide how to use it. They didn’t tell us what to do with it or try to manage our plans; they believed that we knew our own needs best. What was even more remarkable was that everyone in the village received the same amount. This approach meant we could grow as a community, supporting one another instead of creating division. It brought us together in a way that only mutual progress can. On top of that, the GiveDirectly staff were incredibly kind and respectful. They listened to us, speaking warmly and genuinely. It felt less like a program and more like a partnership. If I could give any advice, it would be simple: don’t change anything about the program."

"I want to make sure we have enough food by planting maize on the two acres of land we own. My husband will go out fishing, and with the money he earns, we'll be able to plough the land and buy seeds for planting. After we harvest, I hope we'll have some extra maize. The plan is to sell the surplus, and with that money, I want to buy ten goats as an investment. I have three children in school, and I know that emergencies can come up. If that happens, I can sell a goat or two to cover any urgent school fees. This way, I feel we'll be more secure, with both food and a backup plan for my children’s education."

"It was around 6 in the morning when I was woken from my sleep. I noticed that someone had sent me a message on my phone. Without wasting any time, I decided to check it and see the content. To my surprise and joy, it was the M-Pesa message I had been eagerly waiting for. I immediately shared the news with my wife, and she couldn't contain her excitement either. We both knew that with this message, our daughter would be able to return to school after staying home for so long due to the outstanding fees."