"My husband works at Mombasa as a casual laborer. On December 2022, he brought shopping and slaughtered two chickens for the family to celebrate Christmas day. The family had last taken chicken meat two years back. It was a happy day for me and my family."

"When I got my first transfers from Give Directly, I was overjoyed and grateful. The village's way of life was getting intolerable because we were no longer able to rely on farming, which was our main source of income. We haven't practiced farming for the past three years because we haven't had any rain. For a total of $275, I invested in seven goats so that I could start a livestock farm. Given that we can no longer work on the farm, raising livestock would be a good alternative source of income. Additionally, I spent $67.5 on broiler hens. I've wanted to start a poultry project for a long time, but I was unable to do so due to a lack of funding. Along with using the money to purchase various livestock, I also spent $6.6 to purchase six pieces of iron sheeting for the construction of a larger church. The church building where I serve as an elder was too small to hold a large gathering. We pooled our resources with those of the congregation to purchase iron sheets so that we could grow and construct a larger church. The remaining funds were then used to purchase food and chicken feed for the hens so they could grow quickly and be ready to be sold at the market."

"The cash transfers have allowed me to actively contribute towards the household needs instead of relying on my husband, and two sons to bear the responsibilities. Besides that, I have secured livestock as a future investment that will raise money, especially after the transfers end. From the recent cash, I used $10 to pay school fees for my five grandchildren who had missed two days of school due to tuition debt. They happily resumed classes and have never missed any to date. Also, I bought four chickens using $10, to rear them. As the household had run out of food, I spent the remaining on securing more maize flour. In January, I spent $25 on a goat and the rest on food. I saved the entire December transfer through a self-help group. The aim is to increase my savings until I have enough to build a new house as the current one is in a poor condition. "

"Being a widow, I take on the responsibility of providing for my three children, and sometimes, my six grandchildren whose parents are both unemployed. Making charcoal is the only activity I can rely on to fend for my family. Sadly, the earnings I make can barely put daily meals on the table. This makes me prioritize basic needs like food, whenever I receive my cash transfers. From the most recent one, I deducted $14 to secure maize flour as the household had run out of food the previous night. Additionally, I used 410 to top up some savings and acquired a mattress for my son, who is physically impaired. Given his condition, I used to carry him to bed, which took a serious toll on my physicality. At least, he can comfortably move around by himself from the mattress on the floor. I bought two chickens with the remaining funds, just like I had spent $10 from each of January’s and December’s transfers. The remaining cash from the two months mostly went towards the purchase of food. Am extremely grateful for the far the financial aid has taken my family. "

"It had always been my wish to get from the level I am to a greater level in life. I want to have a cattle-rearing project and to achieve this, I would start by buying goats and chicken, keep them for some time and later sell and buy cattle. I believe that the project would be of help in terms of milk production and farming."

"I am glad that the cash transfers have allowed me to acquire poultry for rearing. Am confident that this would have been impossible to accomplish through the money I make from my electronic repair tasks. Having started this journey, am sure that securing chickens in the future will be made easier, thanks to the cash transfers. I am excited to dive more into this venture and expand my flock, which will serve as an alternative stream of income for me. "

"currently rely on construction jobs whose income is not enough to support the needs of my family. But luckily, I was lucky to be part of the GiveDirectly program that had so far been of great help. With the transfers that I recently received of KES. 3470, I managed to to pay school fees worth KES. 1400 to my 3 children who had been on and off from school. It was also of great help in terms of buying food where I spent KES. 1070 and the remaining amount KES. 1000 helped me in buying livestock (chicken) to start me off with my farming project."

"I spent $20 from the recent cash to buy my children a solar lamp, which they could use when studying at night. All along, they had been using a globe connected to dry cells for studying that provided extremely dim light. They are now happy about their new lamp and this has motivated them to read. Next, I used $10 to buy them new books for their new classes. My husband, who mostly finances their education, was yet to earn that month’s salary from his security guard job and I was obliged to support him. I spent the remaining $4 on food as there was none left in stock. In January, I bought five chickens worth $20 for rearing and in December a bought a goat worth $24 for the same purpose. I am confident that these animals will help fund the education of my six children in the future. The remaining $14 and $10 went toward a tank for storing water and my savings at the merry-go-round club respectively. "

"By the time I received the cash transfer, two of my children had stayed home for two days following an overdue school fee balance. My husband and I had not made enough money from our casual jobs of selling water and burning charcoal to cover the balances.  I was glad to settle the $10 debt and see them resume their studies. Am more relieved now because they have never missed a day of learning since then. Next, I spent $2 to buy a chicken. At least when it reproduces and grows the flock, I can easily sell the chickens to fund the education of my six children. Finally, I spent the rest on food as the household had none and we had survived the entire afternoon on porridge. "

"I do some small business of selling mangoes and local fish referred to as "Omena" which I try to get an income from, My husband is a bus tout and does not make much as well. We usually struggle to settle my sons school fees and the case wasn't different at the beginning of the school term. I spent $8 from the trasnsers on settling the school fee payments and the remaining amount I spent on buying chicken."