I am a farmer, but I do not have the necessary equipment, like a generator, which is essential for successful farming, especially here in Baringo, where drought is rampant. I have been borrowing from my neighbors, but it is not always available when I need it. Sometimes, I am told that I should buy my own, which can be frustrating because without water, my crops cannot survive during the dry season. To solve this, I plan to purchase my own generator using the proceeds from my acre of land, where I am planning to plant maize. With the income from the maize harvest, I will be able to invest in the generator, ensuring my farm is well-irrigated and productive throughout the year.

GiveDirectly's cash transfers have truly uplifted us, providing immediate relief and a sense of security. The follow-up process on the money is a great motivator because it encourages us to take the assistance seriously and use it wisely. The financial education they provide has shifted my mindset from just focusing on daily needs, like food, to considering long-term sustainability. This empowerment has helped me plan better for my family's future. I believe GiveDirectly is doing an excellent job, and I would not suggest any changes; continuing the same approach is something I fully support.

I am a crop farmer, and where I live, accessing water is difficult due to the distance, which makes farming unproductive without rains. With my transfer, I rented an acre of land for $100, and I plan to plant maize this month. Additionally, I bought three goats for $65, $62, and $60. I didn’t own goats before, and I have always wanted to have them, but money was a challenge, especially since crop farming sometimes fails. I have also been buying milk, which is costly, but with this investment, I will no longer need to buy milk. To diversify my income, I used my first transfer to buy 30 chicks after losing 35 to floods. They used to help me a lot, especially with daily needs. With this transfer, I bought their feed for $30 and medicine for $50 to keep them healthy. Previously, their coop was made of polythene, and they could roam freely, which sometimes led to losses or attacks by animals. To protect them better, I bought wire mesh for $18 and paid $5 for labor to construct a safer coop. Furthermore, my house needed repairs. The back wall was made of mud, while the other sides were iron sheets. I have had to repair the mud wall frequently, especially during the rains when it kept falling apart. Smearing the wall was also difficult. I bought five iron sheets for $60 and spent $15 on labor to replace the mud wall. The remaining money went to food, as we did not have enough. I bought a bag of maize and other food items to sustain us. Thank you, GiveDirectly!

After returning home from church, my husband and I settled down for lunch—he had just come in from the farm. As we were eating, my phone buzzed with a message. My husband urged me to check it, and to our surprise, it was a notification of a cash transfer from GiveDirectly. Excitement filled the room as we immediately began planning how to use the money. Without hesitation, we decided to invest in goats, something we had always wanted but hadn't yet acquired.

Receiving this transfer has made a significant difference in my life. I'm certain that it will change things for the better. The stress I had about my future has eased, especially after losing my six chickens and 3.5 hectares of maize to floods. Now, I’m grateful to own two goats and 30 chicks, which will not only help me in the future but also provide the means to pay for my children's school fees and meet their basic needs.

Life had never been easy for us. My husband and I are farmers and charcoal burners, struggling to make ends meet through casual jobs, living hand to mouth with nothing left to save or invest. Although we farm, we never harvest enough to sell due to droughts, and during the rainy seasons, our fields are often flooded. To improve our situation, we decided to use $1,400 to purchase two goats. These goats will provide us with milk in the future, ensuring my children have a steady supply and reducing the expense of buying it from the shops.After that, I spent $56 to buy 30 improved chicks, along with their chick mash feeds and medication. This investment will benefit us in the near future; as the chicks multiply, I can sell them, and we'll have eggs to both eat and sell. I have three children, and they all love boiled eggs, so I’m sure by December, the hens will start laying, and my kids will enjoy fresh eggs every day. In my heart, I feel a deep sense of happiness as I care for the chicks and goats at home. I’m truly grateful to GiveDirectly for providing us with this unconditional cash. Thank you for your support.