My main goal for the upcoming year and beyond is to successfully complete my studies, which has always been a lifelong aspiration. I take pride in investing in my future, such as purchasing two cows with my GiveDirectly transfers, hoping they will become strong assets for farming and help expand my herd. As I approach my final exams at the end of the year, my next plan is to use my GiveDirectly transfers to build my own house, as I will not need to pay my fees after using my recent transfers to clear them. I strongly desire to have my own privacy now that I am a grown up. Typically, when school closes, I sleep at my uncle's place, but I feel the need for my own space this time. After finishing college, I am inspired to explore entrepreneurial opportunities. With the knowledge I've gained in electrical engineering, along with the proceeds from my sheep and careful savings, I envision opening an electrical shop, a venture that aligns with my passions and aspirations for the future.

I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for helping me clear my fee balance. Their support has had a significant impact on my life, allowing me to pay my fees on time and afford the things I need for a better college experience. When I received a recent transfer from GiveDirectly, I was overjoyed because I still had pending fees to clear. Since this is my final year, it was crucial to pay the remaining amount to avoid being denied exams. I used the entire $102 received to clear my fee balance, and I am extremely grateful to GiveDirectly for their final support, which has significantly eased my stay in school. This assures me that I can sit for exams at the end of the year. My father, who supports my stay in school as a casual laborer digging pit latrines for low pay, would not have been able to clear my fees balance. This would have meant missing the final exams, which was a painful thought. I am truly grateful, as I can now see hope at the end of the tunnel.

This year, my ultimate goal is to successfully complete my studies, a milestone that would fulfill a lifelong dream and bring me immense happiness. Looking back, I'm already proud of how I've managed to invest in my future with the help of previous transfers. Buying two cows was a significant step for me, envisioning their growth into sturdy animals that can aid in farming and eventually be sold to expand my herd. It's a venture filled with hope and anticipation for what the future holds. Beyond this year, my aspirations extend to building my own home using the building materials I've been gradually accumulating. The thought of having a place to call my own, free from the uncertainty of borrowing accommodations, fills me with a sense of determination and purpose. And as I continue to broaden my horizons through education, I'm inspired to explore entrepreneurial opportunities. With the knowledge I've gained in electrical engineering, coupled with the proceeds from my sheep and careful savings, I envision opening an electrical shop, a venture that aligns with my passions and aspirations for the future.

I'm deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for making it possible for me to pursue my dreams in electrical engineering certificate as I near the end of my college journey. Their support has been invaluable, especially in covering my school fees, which required me to spend $45 of the transfers they provided. Additionally, I used $8, I've to sustain myself with meals and utilities while in school, ensuring I can focus on my studies without worrying about basic needs. Beyond academics, I've been gradually saving up for my own home, tired of the uncertainty of borrowing a place to sleep each night. I therefore invested $34 in additional building materials which brings me one step closer to achieving that stability and security I've been longing for. And then there's my long held dream of becoming a livestock farmer. With the final $15 of the transfers, I took a leap of faith and purchased a sheep, hoping it will multiply and increase in number marking the beginning of a prosperous venture that will not only sustain me but also pave the way for a brighter future.

The first on my list is to break free from the crowded conditions at my father's place and build my own house. With eight of us in the current living situation, the space is insufficient, and constructing my own space will offer more than just shelter—it will provide a sense of independence and personal space. Additionally, I aspire to open an electronic shop in a carefully chosen area. This business venture holds the promise of not only achieving financial stability but also giving me the opportunity to contribute to the community by providing valuable services. GiveDirectly has become the beacon of hope, lighting up my path towards a brighter and more promising future.

Receiving the GiveDirectly monthly cash transfers was a timely blessing that brought immense relief. Previously, I struggled, relying on fetching firewood to make ends meet, while my parents, working as casual laborers, could only afford my younger brother's education. I'm sincerely grateful for the support, as it allowed me to invest $50 in covering my college fees, ensuring uninterrupted studies in mechanical engineering. In a move to secure a more stable future, I decided to allocate an additional $50, combining it with some savings, to purchase two bulls. These bulls not only ease my workload on the 3-acre farm but also serve as a means to cut down on expenses. Previously, hiring bulls for ploughing costed me $60 each time, placing a burden on my finances. Now, with my own bulls, I not only save on ploughing expenses but also create opportunities to generate income by offering ploughing services to others in the community. This marks a turning point, not only facilitating my education but also transforming my life, giving me financial independence and stability.

My primary goal is to successfully complete my college education next year without any outstanding school fees debt. Currently in my second year of studies, I am burdened by a $300 school fees balance, which has been causing me considerable stress as my parents struggle to meet the financial demands due to their lack of a stable income source. With the assistance provided by GiveDirectly, my strategy is to make monthly transfers of $15 to gradually reduce the remaining balance, alleviating the financial burden and ensuring I can focus on my education without any financial hindrances.

I am currently in college, and ever since I joined, getting money to fully pay for my school fees had always been a great challenge. With this situation, I have accumulated a huge balance of $300 that I am currently struggling to settle. GiveDirectly's financial support had been one of a kind because I have been spending part of it to reduce the balance, and with the most current one, I paid $15 towards my outstanding fees. I also wanted to invest in my future financial stability, so I decided to venture into livestock rearing. I used $15 to purchase a sheep to add to the flock that I already had. With the remaining amount of $4.70, I spent it on food to sustain myself. I currently feel relieved knowing that I will finally settle all my school fees arrears with ease, and I am excited about the opportunity to build a more secure financial future through livestock rearing.

I have a strong aspiration to work diligently, successfully complete my studies, and continue investing in sheep, which I have already begun. I am determined to accomplish these goals with dedication and perseverance.

As a passionate college student studying electronics, I received generous support from GiveDirectly. Determined not to miss any classes, I used $15 to pay my college fees. Embracing an entrepreneurial spirit, I invested another $15 in a sheep, envisioning a prosperous future. With the remaining $8, I ensured both my mind and body were nourished by purchasing food. This unexpected opportunity has opened doors for my education, investments, and personal well-being.

The fact that I come from a low-income family has motivated me to strive for academic excellence. As a result, my primary goal has been to progress in my studies. Because my family is not well-regarded, I believe that with the proper education, I will play a role in improving my family situation. Therefore, as long as I receive transfers, I will spend a large portion of them on my educational needs. I prefer keeping goats because they can withstand drought. After completing my college education, I plan to buy more livestock. Thereafter, I shall build a new house.

I had been suffering from an unusual skin condition since mid-last year, and I was spending more money on medication. However, by the end of 2022, I had not seen any improvement, which concerned me. When I received my recent transfer, I spent $15 on some drugs that a dermatologist had recommended. I am happy to report that things are looking up for me now. Because I come from a low-income family, I spent the remaining $19 on my living expenses. I am currently enrolled in college, pursuing a certificate course in electrical engineering. My father is very old and unable to even make charcoal for sale, so my mother bears the entire burden of supporting the family.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well in how it offers its services. Moreso, it does pretty well in alleviating poverty through direct and unconditional cash transfers. As a result, I have been able to get money for paying part of my college fees. The transfer has improved my way of life, giving me hope that I will accomplish my educational goal of becoming an electrician. Before we could go without meals at the moment, there is a positive change in our lifestyle. So far, there is nothing that GiveDirectly does not do well.

I am a student at a polytechnic college pursuing an electrical course. Though I have both parents, they are jobless. My father is elderly, and he cannot be involved in any form of economic activity. However, my mother does strenuous work, making charcoal for sale to earn a living. Her income from charcoal making is too low to support my college education. Since I am the firstborn among my four siblings, I have learned to work hard to support myself. With the transfer, I spent $10 to pay a portion of the fees because I had fee arrears of $200. I also spent $20 on buying a sheep. I consider this as part of my indirect saving plan. I am glad that nowadays I own sheep.

I received the text message on a Friday at 4 pm while I was in the field grazing the livestock. I was at home and not in school because I owed the school a huge amount of school fee balances. When I read the message and realized that I had received my transfer, I was thrilled. I jumped up and down in ecstasy. I knelt on the ground with my face facing the sky and murmured a short thanksgiving prayer.

Paying school fees using the money is the biggest difference the transfer has made in my life. I am currently sitting for my exams courtesy of the transfer. I hope that come to the end of the year I will graduate and land a well-paying job and help my parents.

I am a student in college undertaking a course in electrical engineering. I spent all my transfer of KES 1200 on paying school fees arrears I owed the school. My parents are ancient and can no longer work. Often, I am forced to drop out of school and do manual jobs on construction sites, sell firewood and fetch water for people and pay my school fees. Receiving my first transfer was a tremendous boost because I needed to clear my fee balance before sitting for my end-of-semester exam.