"I have always wanted to have financial independence by doing something that I have been so passionate about and that is poultry farming. Since I couldn't not raise enough capital to start the business from average daily wage of $2 that I earn from working on people's farms, my hopes had faded. When I was enrolled in the program, I was so happy because I was not far from achieving my dreams and this was the perfect opportunity that I had waited for. I spend $90 of my second transfer to pay fees arrears that were long overdue and had made it impossible to pick my driving license. I spend the balance to buy eggs incubator worth $240 and the balance to build structures and buy some few chicken. My business is now picking up well and I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for making this dream come true."

"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. "

"To reduce my dependence on my son and actively contribute to the family’s needs, I desire to own and rear livestock as a stream of income. Particularly, I wish to venture into goat and chicken keeping, as these animals tend to multiply faster than the other kinds. Having already secured two goats from previous cash transfers, my aim is to buy more and expand the herd by the end of the year. I hope that the transfers will allow me to buy as much as I can because they are my only source of income at the moment. "

"Since I started receiving the cash transfers last year, they have become my major source of monthly income, which puts food on the table and pays school fees for my son who recently graduated from elementary school. Additionally, through cash transfers, I started a business selling dried sardines to people in my village. The little profits I get from the small business aid in securing food as I wait for the next transfer of money. Apart from that I have also secured chickens through the cash I received from Give Directly. I wish to let these birds breed so that they can increase in number and trade them for goats in the future. From the recent transfer, I used $6 to buy two chickens and the remaining $28 on food as my household had run out of maize flour. In December, I spent everything on food that we mostly consumed during the festive season. From November’s cash, I spent $3 on a chicken and bought food with the rest. Am grateful that through the transfers, my household has rarely missed meals. "

"I used $200 from the second transfer to finish the construction of a new house that we had begun with a portion of the first transfer. I am relieved that my family of four is now living in a decent house with spacious rooms. We previously lived in a single house that was so small that I was always forced to find shared accommodation for my visitors among my immediate neighbors. We now have an extra room and are no longer concerned about how my visitors will spend the night with us. I needed to save some of the remaining funds, but we decided to save money by purchasing 15 chickens for $100. Since then, we've been collecting and selling eggs to cover minor household expenses, as well as occasionally selling chicken to fund an informal savings group we started with other neighbors. In addition, I spent $40 to pay off a debt I had in the immediate food shop and got $60 worth of foods for my family. I also spent $20 on new clothes for my children and the rest on school fees after enrolling in a course at Kenya Highlands University in Kericho."

"I spent $130 on the construction of a chicken coop and the subsequent purchase of 10 chickens after receiving the second transfer. Collecting and selling chicken eggs has helped us pay household bills, and we occasionally sell some chicken when there is a pressing need. I also spent $400 on school fees for my two children, one in third grade and the other in second grade. I am glad one of them completed secondary school and hopes to join one of the tertiary institutions soon. It was a relief to know that their school fees could be easily paid thanks to GiveDirectly's generous support. I rely on subsistence farming, which is constantly hampered by adverse weather, which can result in crop failure. The loss is sometimes unbearable, but we are grateful for GiveDirectly's timely support"

"We will buy a cow of $150, we will renew our house with $ 300, we will buy matelas of $100, livestocks (pig and chickens) of $100 and use the rest buying food, clothes and shoes"

"My husband works in house construction to provide for our three children and me. However, his jobs rarely come by as not many people can afford to build houses in our region given the tough economic conditions.  Not to entirely depend on him, I sometimes make and sell charcoal to raise money for the family’s needs. But this is still not enough as the household keeps running out of food, forcing us to sleep hungry sometimes, and our children miss days of school following unpaid tuition balances. In fact, one of my children was supposed to join high school last week but we had to postpone to a later date in the month to accumulate his admission fees. This is why I direct most of my cash transfers toward food and the education of our children. I spent $23 from the recent cash on maize flour and $5 on buying clean tap water. I spent the remaining $6 to secure three chickens to start rearing. From each of the cash I received in November and December, I saved $20 in preparation for my son’s high school admission which is set to happen next week. The remaining $14 went towards food. "

"This year has me really thrilled because I want to establish a business where I can sell motorbike spare parts. To do this, I'll be saving up the money from each transfer. Additionally, I want to invest the money by purchasing goats and chickens to help me financially in the future. Last but not least, as it has been a constant struggle for my family and I, nutrition is unquestionably a priority."