Looking ahead to this year and the years to come, my primary goal is to focus on farming. I believe this will greatly benefit me in two key areas: education and food. With the income from selling farm produce, I will be able to comfortably pay school fees for my children and ensure there is always enough food for my family. But that’s not all—I plan to reinvest back into farming to ensure this endeavor becomes sustainable and continuous. I am committed to improving and expanding my farming activities to secure a steady source of income and food for the future. I plan to use the next transfer from GiveDirectly to make this vision a reality. The thought of achieving these goals fills me with immense joy and gratitude.

What stood out most was the unconditional cash I received from GiveDirectly. This support has allowed me to focus on two important areas of my life: agriculture and education. With this assistance, I have been able to invest in farming, which helps me provide food for my family and earn an income, as well as support my children’s education by paying their school fees. For this, I am truly grateful. I don’t have any specific recommendations other than for GiveDirectly to continue running this program as it is, as it has already made a significant difference in my life and the lives of others in my community.

When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness. I immediately set aside $250 for my son's education. He completed a certificate in education five years ago but has struggled to find employment. This money has allowed him to advance his education to the diploma level. As a teacher, this upgrade will equip him with practical skills for Kenya's new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), significantly improving his chances of securing a job after graduation. With my son's education sorted, I focused on farming. I had already planted beans on 1.5 acres of land using seeds from the Kenya Seed Company. I used $150 to maintain the farm and ensure a good harvest. This amount covered the cost of pesticides, herbicides, and irrigation. I am hopeful for a successful harvest that will not only provide food for my family but also help me pay school fees to keep my children in school. The remaining money was used to settle a small debt at the local shop, where I had been buying food on credit. Clearing this debt has helped me maintain good relationships with the shopkeeper. I also bought food for my family, ensuring I had the energy to focus on my farm work. This support has given me hope and has made a significant difference in my life and that of my family.

I was fetching firewood when I heard a message notification on my phone. I quickly checked it and saw that I had received $200, but at first, I didn’t know where it was from. I thought it might be the wrong number, so I called my daughter to ask her, and she told me it was from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy that I couldn't help but smile as I walked back home carrying my firewood. My first thought was planting beans and green grams in my kitchen garden. Thank you, GiveDirectly

I solely rely on crop farming, but it can be quite unreliable, and I was feeling anxious about how to pay my son's college fees this semester. With the maize I recently harvested, I was expecting payment from Kenya Seed in two months, but that felt too far away. I even thought about taking an advance from Kenya Seed or borrowing money, but then I received cash from GiveDirectly. With that support, I was able to clear my son’s fees for this semester without taking on any loans. Now, I am at peace, knowing that my son can continue his studies without any financial worries hanging over us.

I am a farmer, and when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to plant green grams and beans in my kitchen garden. I had many needs, but I knew that if I spent the money all at once, I would run out quickly, so I chose to think about tomorrow instead. I spent $50 on seeds, land preparation, and planting my beans and green grams because, with the success of these crops, we wouldn't have to worry about food in the future. Additionally, I bought an improved breed of male chicken for $10 because I only had female chickens, and this rooster would help with reproduction. I spent $20 on household items, such as cooking pots and utensils, and another $20 on food items like maize and sugar, as we had run out of stock at the time I received my transfer. Finally, I set aside $100 for my son, who is in college, to ensure he has fees for the next semester. His education is my priority, and seeing him in college is my pride as a mother.