"Subsistence farming has been the backbone of our local economy, and my aspiration has always been to reduce our dependence on purchased food by growing enough to sustain my family of six. With the unwavering support of my husband, I plan to lease an additional two acres of land along the nearby water sources, which will enable us to implement irrigation methods during dry spells. By combining these acreages with our existing piece, I aim to enhance our farming operations, producing enough food for both consumption and surplus for sale. Alongside the support from GiveDirectly's remaining transfers, I hope to generate income from the surplus yield of our current acre. These efforts are all geared towards securing a steady source of income to ensure timely payment of all my children's school fees."

"Before, I used to make charcoal production for a living, but it was tough. The logs were limited, poor roads hindered market accessibility and later it was banned which pushed me to casual jobs. My wife, on her part, ran a small hair salon. But because we couldn't afford many products or equipment, she could only make about $5 a day. With me making just $3 from the casual jobs. It was hardly enough to support our two daughters, aged 10 and 5. Life took a positive turn when I received my final transfer. We invested $150 in cosmetic products and a blow-drying machine. This small turned the salon around. My wife's earnings rose from $5 to $25 a day. What a change! To address the food problem, I spent $90 to get two bags of maize, and to ensure future sustainability I utilized $60 on land preparation (Furrow and Plow) planning to plant maize and use furrow irrigation to mitigate challenges that might occur due to common short rains in the area. Aiming to sell the surplus harvests and address other family needs like school fees. Additionally, I spent $100 to build our toilet. Before we had to go out to the bush, which was embarrassing and unsanitary, especially during rains. I began constructing our toilet. pending the roof and door. Finally, I couldn't forget about my daughters. Their uniforms were worn out, so I used $10 to buy new ones for both. With what was left, we all got new clothes. Thanks to GiveDirectly, our lives have taken a turn for the better."

"Once, I got $450 from GiveDirectly. It made me really happy. I knew exactly what to do with it. First thing, I used $230 to build a toilet. It was important for my family's health. We're a small family, just me and my kid. Now, we don't have to worry about sanitation anymore. Then, I took $150 to pay off some school fees. I needed my KCSE certificate. It opens up doors for me. With it, I can grab opportunities when they come my way. Next, I spent $45 on a gate. It's for safety. We're farmers, and we store our produce here. The gate keeps our belongings safe. I didn't forget about the farm. I used $10 to buy fuel. It helps me irrigate the maize. Good irrigation means good crops. Finally, I set aside $15 for food. It came at just the right time. We were facing a food crisis. Now, we can eat without worrying. That's how I used the money from GiveDirectly. It changed things for us. We're healthier, safer, and more secure."

"In the coming years and beyond, my focus is on enhancing the productivity of my farm. Last year, I faced setbacks with my two-acre plantation due to a poor harvest caused by prolonged dry weather, which reduced the water supply from the river we rely on for irrigation. To mitigate this, I plan to invest in a generator for pumping water and hire workers to help me properly align the water system. With this improvement, I am confident that my maize crops will receive adequate water, leading to increased yields and income from their sale. This will alleviate the financial burden on my children, who also have their families to support."

"Receiving this transfer means that my family will have decent housing, food secure and going back to farming as a long term investment. I intend to use $50 to sort out our immediate food insecurity issue, $450 to construct an all sided iron roof structure and the rest to invest in irrigation farming on the already reclaimed land. With cash, I will have all the necessary factors of production without going into debts. The long term effect is for my family to be food secure and at the same time have a reliable source of income."

"Financial instability is a constant challenge for me and my family of two, especially since we depend solely on farming for our livelihood. Unfortunately, our current financial situation does not allow us to invest in farm input like a water pump and irrigation pipes. As a result, I have had to make the tough decision to lease out our 6-acre piece of land for $360. With this money, I lease a 1-acre plot by the riverbanks for $100 and purchase essential farm inputs such as fertilizers and seeds. While leasing out land helps cover immediate expenses, I am actively seeking ways to secure capital or assistance to invest in irrigation equipment, knowing it will significantly improve our crop yields and financial stability in the long run."

"I allocated $400 from the transfer to purchase water pipes and establish a connection to our neighbour's water source, inspired by the convenience enjoyed by neighbouring households with piped water. Previously, I had to buy water at $0.1 per 20-liter jerrican, costing me $1 daily due to the needs of my large family of 14, including 12 children and us parents. Acquiring the transfer from GD allowed me to install the water connection, bringing water directly to our doorstep. This has saved us the daily expense and effort of fetching water. It also facilitated the irrigation of vegetables for our domestic consumption, reducing our expenditure on buying vegetables regularly. This improvement brings me great joy. Moreover, the availability of water has ensured that our four goats have adequate drinking water, which was previously limited. With the remaining funds, I purchased food supplies to ensure that my family had enough to eat, particularly given the poor harvest from our two-acre maize farm due to drought conditions, resulting in only one sack of maize. Ensuring an ample food supply is essential, especially considering the young age of my children, and I find it distressing when they go without enough to eat."

"This year, with savings from GiveDirectly transfers my plan is to cultivate maize and beans on my 1.5-acre farm. However, the success of this endeavor hinges on the rains. We rely on irrigation from the river, but it's drying up. Cultivating these crops is vital for me as it will address our food security concerns. Any surplus harvest will be sold to generate income for school fees. It's a simple plan with significant potential to improve our lives, but it all depends on the rain."

"I'm looking forward to completing the fencing around my land as I wait for the rainy season to begin. I plan to start farming crops, specifically maize and beans, which will help ensure I have enough food. In our area, we lack a water source for irrigation, so I intend to do timely planting. By preparing early and gathering all the necessary resources before the rains. I've already started enriching my farm's soil by applying manure from my goats. This natural fertilizer will make the land more fertile and nutrient-rich, which should help my crops grow better. It also means I can save money by not having to buy commercial fertilizers during the planting season."

"At the moment, being a teacher on a contract basis has not been beneficial enough to support my family of 3. My wife has not established a reliable job and this means, she majorly depends on me. My plan was to have a food kiosk in Kilifi that will be operated by my wife. This will be our additional source of income to solve the financial constraints in my household. To ensure this comes to a reality, I intend to spend $300 of my transfers on this business. On the other hand, I will also invest in agriculture, where I plan to do irrigation to produce maize and vegetables. This will be an extra source of income and I believe it will settle the food insecurity and other problems. On this project, I will use utmost $400 to make it to fruition. The remaining amount will help me to buy a second hand motorbike that will facilitate me as a means of transport to check the progress of my projects. Hence, this is generally what receiving this money means to me."