"I chose to spend $380 for a used motorbike because I didn't have any other regular income than making charcoal. I use the motorcycle to transport clients from one location to another for business needs. I am overjoyed that I now have a source of income. In addition, because of the great distance between my house and the water point, it helps me gather some water. To get the water at first, I had to pedal a bicycle, which was really exhausting. Thereafter, in order to provide my family of six with food security at home, I spent $70 on a sack of maize. I spent $35 on a mattress because I didn't have one and was sleeping on empty cartons. I'm glad that, in contrast to before, I can now sleep soundly and comfortably. I set aside the remaining money for my family's usage after spending $30 on my three primary school-aged children's tuition."

"I am old and feeble and my health is deteriorating I am not able to go fetch water from the river which is a bit far. There is a river called chepkulo which we use but they are unclean and unsafe for human consumption. I used KES 36000 of the transfers to purchase a water tank and I used the rest to buy foodstuff. I am so happy that the water problem is a thing of the past at the moment and I am having an easy time unlike before."

"My maize farm was unfenced and I have been having trouble with neighbours livestock grazing on my crops. So bad was the situation that at some point about half acre of maize plantation was grazed by the livestock and it exposed me to food insecurity and abject poverty. It is against this backdrop that I decided to purchase a barbed wire and did fencing all round my farm. I am glad that my maize farm will not be interfered with anymore and conflicts with the neighbours won't arise again.I also used part of the transfers to purchase a water tank."

"My community Kilifi is a very dry place. Vegetables are very rare as most of the time there are no rain. I have a plan of starting up a small business selling small fish, locally known as (Omena). Besides this, I am also planning to start up a business selling water to my community members. I will be installing a water tank for collection during the rainy season and this will be sold later during the drought season."

"Our house is not done yet. We want to pave the inside and buy metal sheet because there is one part which is not well, when it rains, all water comes inside. We will renovate the house using $600. We will also buy a land of $200 to improve our agriculture and get enough harvest"

"Since I lack a source of income, my eldest son, who is an electrician, mostly helps me in paying for his two siblings’ school fees. There are times when he is unable to provide the money as his income is highly unpredictable. I am glad because the cash transfers have played a huge role in paying for my sons’ tuition fees whenever am stuck. From the recent transfer, I directed $9 towards settling debt at the institution where my youngest son completed his primary education so that he could obtain his certificate. I spent $19 on food and water as the household had run out of maize flour and water the previous day. Since I own a flock of at least 30 chickens, I directed the remaining amount toward buying feeds. In December, I spent the entire amount on Christmas shopping, particularly food and my children made merry. "

"Over the last few months, my husband has been sick and has not been in a position to actively contribute to the family’s needs like food and school fees for our two children. To raise money for these needs, I have been making and selling charcoal, an activity that hardly puts food on the table given the low returns. Sometimes, my eldest son, who works as a tuk-tuk driver in Mombasa supports us back at home but he can barely do much as his wife and four children also depend on him. Am happy because the monthly cash transfers have allowed me to provide for my family, particularly by buying food and paying school fees. From each of the recent three transfers, I have deducted $10 to reduce tuition fee balances for both of my children. Except recently when I bought two chickens worth $7, I spent each of the remaining amounts solely on food and water. At least, my household is rarely faced with hunger unlike it was before Give Directly came to my village. "

"Even though I have a lot of goals for this year, I am limited by finances and may not be able to complete them all in a timely manner. At the moment, I am concentrating my efforts on purchasing a large water storage facility that will be useful in collecting rainwater and storing it for use during dry seasons. I am currently running a small egg selling business, with a portion of the proceeds going into a savings account for future projects. I also do subsistence farming, and I believe that the surplus from the harvest will help me save money for a water tank."

"GiveDirectly has made it their mission to identify those in need of help and to provide that help. I've seen water tanks, kids going to school, cattle being purchased, and so on all around my village, thanks to GiveDirectly. In countless ways, they have made many people's dreams come true."

"I started finishing the roofing on my house with the second transfer after starting it with the first. For $228, I purchased 24 pieces of iron sheets. Cost of labor was $100. My house is now complete, and I'm content to have a place to call home. I spent $70 on a sturdy door because I wanted one. After that, I spent $60 for my five primary school-aged grandchildren's tuition. I also spent $50 to purchase two 200-liter storage tanks due to the lack of water. I bought some food for the family with the balance."