"Initially we were living in sad, poor conditions. Our house was old and falling apart, in fact we were vividly able to see the stars and the moon in the sky while in the house at night. Rainy seasons were like hell in our family since we were forced to seek refuge from our neighbors at night. My children slept on the floor since we could not afford to buy a bed. Our safety was not guaranteed due to the poor condition of our house. I couldn’t afford my family's basic needs, especially education. I only relied on selling firewood and some charcoal to get some meals though not on daily basis. Some days we slept without food. Thankfully, heavens opened and Give Directly came for our rescue. We were able to construct a good house that can accommodate us. Therefore at a higher percentage, our safety is guaranteed. Currently we have nice-looking clothes not as before, we still have some food and finally my four children are happy in school full time not as before when they could spent almost have of the term at home due to lack of school fees. It’s my joy that our lives have transformed for the better."

"When I received my transfer, my priority was to purchase a dairy cow as I have been buying milk daily and it is expensive to me. Being an owner of a dairy cow is the biggest difference in my daily life as it has always been my wish to own one. When it calves, my family will have enough milk for consumption and for sale to earn an income. Also, I will be able to save the money I would otherwise have used in buying milk and use them on other projects like paying school fees for my children. I am so happy because GiveDirectly enabled me to fulfill my dream."

"The biggest difference in my life is that I am happier since I have been able to pay this year's school fees for my son. I am glad that he will no longer be sent back home due to fee arrears thus he will have enough time to concentrate on his studies as he will not be missing any classes. This gives me satisfaction as a parent as I have always seen education as an investment that will be of more benefit to my children since education is key to a bright future."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought a heifer. I always buy milk from my neighbors and it's so costly for me since I do not have a continuous source of income. I do small scale farming and the harvest that I get is only for consumption. I do not always get surplus to sell. My spouse is a motorcycle taxi rider. He brings home little money, which we spent on paying school fees for our children in secondary school and collge. We had no savings at all. We had wish to own a dairy cow but it was not possible because we had no extra money. When I received money from GiveDirectly we decided with my spouse to purchase a heifer. When it produce in the next few months, we will no longer buy milk. We would have cut the daily cost. The money which we could have used to buy milk, we will save to meet other family needs. I am so grateful because were it not GiveDirectly I could not have own a dairy cow."

"The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy I remember it was around 9:30am when I was doing my morning chores. I heard a message tone from my phone. I reluctantly check it out since I didn't expected any messages from anyone. I could not believe my eyes, it was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I stopped whatever I was doing and went to inform my family members. They all celebrated with joy. I knew I would be able to pay the school fees for my son. We prepared and went to withdrew the money the same day. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly enabled me to pay the school fee."

"I am a farmer who relies on selling cassava and maize to survive, pay fees for my four school going children and also medical care. As it is now, there has been no rain in the past months and the drought set in just when I was struggling to make ends meet. It's been very tough to put food on the table and pay school fees but there's hope because I'm looking forward to receiving funds from Give Directly and that will help me afford some food and send my children to school effortlessly."

"I am a single mother of five, my husband passed on in the year 2020 leaving me with the responsibility of paying school fees for our two school going children as well as feeding them. At my age of 62 years, it is very difficult to get employment, therefore, I have to depend on neighbors for food because three of my children who are not in school do not make enough money to share with me. With this money, I will be able to see my two children through secondary school and also afford some food."

"Receiving this money means hope to me. I am a family man married to two wives with ten children. For the past five years I have not been able to work due to health challenges. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and this has affected my ability to move around or even take care of myself. I have no income, my wives have to work inorder to feed the family. We live in a one roomed house, little space with no privacy. My priority is to build a four roomed house where both my wives can have their own rooms and my children their own. My children are constantly sent home for lack of tuition money and they have to stay back home for days before we can get money to send the back to school. Part of the transfer will be channelled to school fees as I construct a better and more spacious house."

"This money will be of great significance to, I plan to take a loan of about ksh 30,000 with Silk, a Sacco I bank with. I will use the money to open a small shop selling household goods, once I start receiving transfers from Give Directly, I will be clearing the loan slowly. I will later still take another loan to assist with paying school fees for my six children. Two of them are in College, two in high school and two in primary school."

"Financial challenges have become part of me since I do not have a stable source of income. Subsistence farming cannot be relied upon because of unpredictable rainfall patterns. It is therefore a problem to provide food and school fees for my children. My wife who works as a house help takes care of almost everything and it embarrasses me as a man."