"The money arrived during the night, and although I heard the message, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Then, in the morning around 8 a.m., I decided to check my phone, and to my surprise, I found that the transfer had come through! I felt a wave of joy and relief, thanking God because just the day before, my child’s teacher had called, reminding me about the school fees that were due. I had been so worried, knowing I didn’t have any way to pay. This money came at the perfect time, and I couldn’t believe my luck. It felt like a true blessing, lifting a huge weight off my shoulders."

"Given the current drought and the hunger we are facing, my plan for this year is to continue using part of my transfers to make sure my family has enough food to avoid going hungry. It is a struggle, but I will keep prioritizing our food needs, especially during these tough times. At the same time, with my grandchildren still in school, I am committed to using another portion of the funds to pay their school fees, ensuring they can stay in school and continue their education. Another big concern for me is the roof of my house. It is very old and rusty, and it desperately needs to be replaced. However, with the drought still ongoing, I cannot focus on the roofing just yet. So, I am waiting for the rains to come, hoping that we will farm and have a good harvest to sustain us for a long period. Once we have enough food stored, I will begin redirecting part of my GiveDirectly transfers from buying food to gradually buying iron sheets to replace the roof. It is a slow process, but I am determined to fix our home, step by step. The support I am receiving from GiveDirectly gives me hope that I can take care of my family and our needs, even in the face of so many challenges."

"I am optimistic that all my children will successfully finish their education. The assistance we've received from GiveDirectly has been essential in supporting our children's educational needs. A portion of the funds has also been used to buy food for our family due to our decreased food supplies. Unfortunately, our maize farm has suffered because of insufficient rainfall. Nonetheless, if we manage to harvest a substantial amount of maize in the coming season, I intend to use part of my transfer for our children's school fees. Additionally, I hope to acquire some livestock, specifically goats, as they can reproduce and provide extra income for our family's needs. Eventually, once the goats increase in number, I plan to trade them for cows, which can be more profitable. This is my focus, particularly as my older children are about to start secondary school. We do not have steady jobs, my spouse runs a small house construction business, and I assist him with farming, although this can be inconsistent due to unreliable rainfall. Because of this, we need to prepare by establishing an alternative source of income hence the reason why I want to invest part of my transfer in goat rearing. All in all I am grateful to GiveDirectly because since I began receiving these transfers, my financial stress has decreased, my children are receiving meals without going hungry, and I can pay their school fees on time."

"Upon receiving my latest transfer, I used $10 to settle a debt from a shop incurred when I had no food at home. Additionally, I purchased $38 worth of food for my family since our supplies were low. I also paid $14 in school fees for my child who is in second grade. I save part of my transfer in our merry-go-round for future investments, so from this recent transfer, I allocated $20 for savings. I'm thankful for the financial support that has made life easier. Without GiveDirectly, we would have faced significant challenges, especially since the prices of goods continue to rise daily."

"I have eight children in my home, six of whom attend school while the other two are still too young to enroll. My spouse is involved in the fish business, while I produce and sell charcoal to help support our family. We are grateful for the financial assistance we received from GiveDirectly, which has significantly helped us with our children's school fees. Previously, our kids were often sent home due to unpaid balances, but now we are able to pay their fees on time, so they are no longer sent home as frequently as before. Recently, I received a transfer and used $102 to reduce the fee balances for all six of my children, ensuring they could sit for their end-of-term exams."

"I've always had a desire to pursue poultry farming, particularly raising chickens. Unfortunately, earlier this year, there was an outbreak of chicken disease in my area that wiped out all the poultry. As a result, I've decided to abandon the poultry project and focus on goats instead. I believe that goat farming presents a great business opportunity, as one mature goat can generate significant income. This investment will help me cover my children's school fees and other essential expenses while also providing support for my husband. Furthermore, I'm interested in starting a small fish business to complement the goat rearing project. To achieve these two goals, I plan to use my transfer to invest in them, and these are my objectives for the coming year and beyond."

"Goats do very well in our area, and even though I don't own any yet, my plan is to buy three goats with my final transfer. I believe this will be a good investment because the goats will provide me with milk, helping to reduce the cost of buying it for my family. Additionally, having these goats will give me some financial security for the future. I can sell a few when the need arises, such as for covering school fees for my four children, whom I support alone. This plan not only supports my children's education but also ensures we have a steady source of nutrition at home."

"I have been thinking a lot about what I hope to achieve in the coming year. My main plan is to keep working on my farm, especially growing maize. Farming is hard work, but it’s something I know well, and it’s my best chance to make the money I need. You see, I have two children in high school, and school fees can be expensive. So, by continuing to farm, I hope I’ll be able to afford their education and make sure they stay in school. Every season, I plant maize, which we sell to Kenya Seed. They pay a good price, and that really helps me. Plus, selling to them is reliable—they offer a steady market, so I know where my maize will go, and I don’t have to worry about finding buyers. If all goes well, I’ll make enough to keep up with the school fees."

"It's unfortunate that strong winds have destroyed my house, forcing me to seek shelter with my neighbor. This situation is challenging, but we must adapt for now. My spouse and I depend on farming and casual work to support our four children, which makes it hard to quickly gather the necessary materials for rebuilding. At the moment, we are experiencing a drought, halting our farming due to the lack of rain. After receiving my recent transfer, I bought three iron sheets for $30.50 to begin the rebuilding process. I also set aside $45 from the remaining funds for my children's school fees to ensure they are not sent home for unpaid balances. Lastly, I used the remaining $40.50 to buy food for our family since we had exhausted our supplies at home."

"At 5 a.m., I was woken up by the ding of a message notification, and I couldn’t help but wonder who could possibly be texting me at such an hour. When I checked my phone, I was stunned to see it was an alert—it was the money we’d been hoping for from GiveDirectly! I felt a rush of excitement and couldn’t wait to share the news. By 6 a.m., I was on the phone with my husband, who works away, and as soon as I told him, he was just as thrilled. We’d been planning to pay my daughter’s school fees, and now, finally, we could go ahead with it."