"Education is the best thing that a parent can offer to his or her children, and I am not left behind. When I received the transfers, I spent $350 on school fees for my children in grades 11 and 12, respectively. I am happy that their education will not be interrupted by sending them out of school because of arrears. In addition to this, I also purchased a Friesian dairy cow for $190, purposely for milk production for my family of nine. The cow I currently have in the cow shed belongs to a relative, and I am afraid he might come for it at any time, so I will have none to support my family. For the rest of the transfers, I purchased clothes for my children. If it were not for the transfers, then I would not have achieved this through the maize farming on which my family depends. The production has been limited for the past 3 years as a result of diseases and unfavorable climatic conditions. For instance, I now produce 2 bags of maize on the 0.4 acres of land, unlike the 4 bags produced when the climatic conditions are good."

"With the cash transfer, I plan to buy a cow and bull which will help us get milk and money to build a good house. I also plan to buy land worth USD 1111 which we shall use for cultivation and settlement."

"My goal is to build an electrical shop where I will sell electrical goods and where potential consumers may meet me once I have finished school and taken my final exam in August. I want to do this by setting aside some of the monthly transfer and money earned from working on casual jobs. Additionally, I want to raise my chicken from the present 20 to somewhere around 50. After raising these chicken for a while and ready for maket, I'll sell them and buy a young cow to raise instead."

"So far, I have some of the things I desired to have, like the carpentry tools. This has opened another great opportunity for my skills and financial growth. I will also be in a position to buy livestock, as I have always wanted to, because in this community of ours, respect is accorded in terms of how many cows or goats you have. I might even find myself among the elders in the community discussing issues hitting our people, which will bring me so much joy."

"One could not fail to identify how the children are living a happy life full of energy and enthusiasm. They can be seen herding cows and goats around, which was not the case a few months ago when they would go from one house to another looking for food because we, the parents, failed to provide. They had no energy to run around looking after the livestock or even engage in any vigorous activity like assisting on the farm. We appreciate the overwhelming feeling that GiveDirectly has directly brought back into our lives."

"What can an elderly woman ask for if not comfort and food? At 71 years old, I already shed my energy and cannot fend for the family through starving jobs but rather easily accessible jobs such as livestock keeping. I currently have 10 cows, of which I expect 3 to give birth soon and produce milk for my family of 1. I currently live alone, with frequent visits by my grandchildren, who live in the neighborhood. Since I live alone, I thought of stocking my house with food to last until the next harvest. I spent $90 on purchasing 1 bag of maize and 12 kilograms of beans. In addition, I spent $25 on a chair so as to sit comfortably, unlike before when I had none to even welcome my visitors to sit on. I saved the rest of the transfers for emergencies and upkeep, and now I will not have to bother my children for provision."

"How do you feel seeing your child at home while their peers are at school studying? When my daughter in grade 9 was sent out of school because of $97.50 in arrears, I almost went into depression. I am happy GiveDirectly came to my rescue, for I used $50 to clear part of the school fee arrears, and she was able to get back to school. I am raising my children single-handedly after we separated with my husband and sadly lost my parents and only brother 10 years ago. I often depend on maize and cowpea farming to earn a living. However, the climatic conditions have been unfavorable, for it has been over 3 years without any harvest. I also spent $100 on connecting water to my compound, saved $300 to renovate my house, and spent the rest on food for my family of 2. I am now happy that my family is food-secure and that my child is doing well in school."

"In the Kalenjin culture, owning a cow is a sign of wealth, as it produces food and income for the family. When I received the transfers, I spent $430 on purchasing a dairy cow, as I had not had one before. Previously, I used to buy 2 liters of milk daily for $1.6, which was expensive compared to the $4 income I earn from the boda boda taxi business daily. At the moment, my cow produces 5 liters of milk daily, of which I sell 3 liters for $1.5 to the milk vendors in the community. From this income, I have paid school fees for my children in grades 2 and pre-primary 1, as well as purchased food for my family of five. I further used the rest of the transfers on fencing my compound and purchasing chairs for my house. I can now comfortably welcome visitors into my house without fear of victimization."

"As a man of the house and a breadwinner,one has to make sure the family's needs are fully catered for, and a single source of income is not fulfilling. Therefore, aside from the two dairy cows I own, I hope to add more so as to produce at least 20 liters of milk per day to sell to the milk vendors and earn the family of four some income and food as well. In addition, I am hopeful that I will have cleared the motorcycle loan, hence saving the $3.5 I get from leasing it out. I will use this savings and the profits from the milk sales on the additional cow."

"In coming years I will be getting Saving from the cow that I planning to buy so that i will be able to pay school fees for my children and getting manure from it"