"I am a crop farmer, and this year has not been lucky for me. I lost 1.5 acres of maize and an acre of melon, which was a great loss, but I didn’t give up. When the water receded, I replanted maize, and luckily, it did well. However, when it was ready for harvesting, I didn’t have the money, so my family and I were going to harvest it ourselves, which would have taken longer. With the rains, I was afraid I would lose it again. Thankfully, I received the GiveDirectly cash just in time, which helped me with the harvesting. I didn’t lose my maize for the second time. God bless you, GiveDirectly."

"With my first transfer, I prioritized buying food for us, as my maize was still unripe and we had to purchase our meals. I bought 45 kg of maize for $30 to sustain us, and I also bought other food items, such as milk and beans, for $50. Additionally, during the floods, water came into our house. We had to run for our lives. When we returned after temporarily relocating, everything was ruined. My children were left without a mattress, a bed, or enough clothes, as theirs were ruined by the floods. It pained me as a mother to see them sleeping on rugs on the floor and wearing almost the same pair of clothes. I couldn’t do anything about it since I had limited income; all I relied on were casual jobs, which earned me $3 a day, and it was not consistent. I purchased a mattress, a bed, and clothes for my children, which cost $40, $30, and $50, respectively with the remaining money. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for the support!"

"I am a farmer, and I usually plant maize for the Kenya Seed Company. The day I received my transfer from GiveDirectly, we were in the process of harvesting maize from my 3-acre land. I had lost 1.5 acres to floods, but I was grateful because some people lost everything. I spent $80 to complete the harvest and transport my maize from the farm to the assembly point for drying, shelling, and quality checks. I harvested 4,628 kg of clean maize, and I am now waiting for my payment. During the drying process, I needed a waterproof tarpaulin, which cost $40. Additionally, my bed was old and worn out, and I didn’t have a mattress. I used to sleep on rags and a worn-out tarpaulin, which made my nights uncomfortable and long. I spent $80 to buy a new bed and mattress, and now I can sleep comfortably. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"The biggest difference I've seen since receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is how much I've been able to boost my business. I'm a lot busier now than I was before, and it's been a good change. With the profits I’ve made, which is about $2 from both my shop and small restaurant, I’ve been able to invest in planting half an acre of watermelon. This has given me even more potential for growth. Most importantly, my three children are now constantly in school, unlike before when they used to get sent home for lack of fees. It's a huge relief to know they're getting an uninterrupted education."

"The first thing I did when I received the transfer was buy sticks for staking my tomatoes. I have half an acre of them, and it was the rainy season, so the plants needed immediate support to keep them from lying on the wet ground. I spent $50 on the sticks and another $20 on labor to help with the staking because it’s such a time-consuming task, and I couldn’t manage it alone. That felt like a good investment because, without proper staking, I could have lost a lot of the crop.  I then used $30 to buy clothes for my two children. It’s important to me that they look good and feel happy, and they haven’t had new clothes in a while. Seeing them excited in their new outfits brought me so much joy—it reminded me why every little effort we make for our children counts. I spent $20 on fuel for the generator we use to pump water to irrigate the tomatoes. With the remaining amount, I topped up my savings to buy a cow as part of the dowry for my wife. She has lived with me for five years, and I hadn’t fulfilled that obligation, but this was my chance to make the first step. I was excited to finally show my in-laws that I’m serious about doing things the right way."

"Recently, I received $200 from GiveDirectly, and as soon as I got the money, I began budgeting carefully to make sure I could achieve what I had planned. Out of the total amount, I set aside $90 for butternut farming. This amount covered the costs of preparing the land and buying seeds. I planted the butternut on one acre of land, choosing this crop because it suits our local climatic conditions and fetches good prices in the market. My goal is to use the proceeds from this farm to buy a generator, which will help me with irrigation so I won’t have to struggle with watering my crops. With $40 of the transfer, I bought a goat, which I see as a long-term investment. The goat will not only multiply over time but will also give me peace of mind when facing any emergencies. I can confidently rely on it in times of need without worrying about where to get money quickly. At the time this transfer came, I didn’t have food at home, and it was a struggle to provide regular meals for my family. So, I used $20 to buy food, which has lasted for the last two months. This has been a great relief, as we’ve been able to have consistent meals, unlike before when we sometimes went without. Lastly, I spent the remaining money on household items to improve the look of my house. This has made a big difference, and now my home feels more comfortable and welcoming. Overall, this transfer has made a huge impact on my life, allowing me to invest in farming, secure food, and make my home a better place to live."

"When I received $180 from GiveDirectly, I felt deeply grateful to God. This money was a chance for me to rebuild my life, especially after being displaced by floods. I used $50 to buy iron sheets, and I am planning to add more with future transfers to construct a house. Currently, my family is living in a temporary makeshift shelter, which puts us at risk of floods and diseases. I have a two-year-old child, and this motivates me to use the money wisely to ensure their safety and well-being. With $98, I purchased household items, including utensils, a table, plastic chairs, and a mattress. These items helped me recover from the floods, as all my previous belongings were swept away by the rushing waters. Now, I have essential items that make our daily life easier. Finally, I spent $32 on food for my family. This was crucial because I had no harvest due to the floods and no job to earn money for food. I am incredibly thankful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has made a significant difference in our lives."

"In the coming year and beyond, I hope to transform my home into a safe and sturdy refuge for my family. I have been diligently saving every monthly transfer for the past three months, determined to renovate my house, which feels weak against the strong winds we’ve been facing. As I continue to save, I also wait patiently for the rains, knowing that the renovation will need water, which is currently scarce due to the ongoing drought. With every saved penny, I dream of a stronger house, a place where my family can feel secure and protected, no matter the storms that may come our way."

"I spent my unconditional cash transfer wisely to improve my life. First, I bought four sheep for $80 because they multiply quickly. I already had four goats, so this will help me grow my livestock. Next, I purchased a mattress for $30. I had never owned a mattress since moving here and had been sleeping on sacks. Now, I sleep well every night, which makes a big difference in how I feel during the day. I also bought clothes for $30 because I wanted to look nice when going out. Before this, I didn't have beautiful clothes, and it affected my confidence. Now, I feel much better about myself and walk around with my head held high. Additionally, I bought two plastic chairs for $15 because I needed somewhere for visitors to sit when they come over. This has made my home feel more welcoming. Finally, I spent $16 on a water container to help with storage. Having enough water is important, especially during the dry season. With the remaining money, I bought household food items to ensure I had enough to eat. Overall, these purchases have improved my living conditions and made me feel happier and more secure."

"My two sons are in Form 2, and their school fees have been a growing concern. Normally, I rely on farming to raise the money, but the floods had devastated my crops this season, leaving us with nothing to sell. So, I took $160 from the transfer and used it to pay their fees. Without that, they wouldn't have been able to stay in school. I felt a deep sense of relief knowing that part was handled. After that, I still had to think about their school requirements and transport since they are both boarders. I spent another $20 to buy their school requirements, things like pens and books, and ensured they had bus fare to get back to school. I knew it wasn’t much, but it covered what they needed. Getting them back to their studies was my priority because education is the one thing I believe will open doors for them in the future. With the little left, I focused on our immediate needs at home. I bought water containers for $7, which we had been lacking. Then, I used the remaining money to stock up on basic food items like sugar and beans. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to keep us food secure for a while."