"I am a carpenter, and my wife is a charcoal burner. We have four children who are in school. The biggest challenge I have faced is drought. We derive water for human consumption and other uses from rivers whose recharge depends on rainfall. This situation has left us with nothing to be harvested and buying everything from food to water that is being consumed. After receiving my cash transfers, $15 was used to pay my children’s school fees while the rest was used to buy food and water. I even used $3 to repair my bicycle, which helps me transport water to my home and also deliver some items to my customers"

"The transfer was of great help to me, It came at a time when I was stranded since my sixth-born son was returning to university after the long holiday. I did have enough money to pay for his transport as well as pocket money. I used $20 of my recent transfers to pay for his fare back to school. In addition, I have one kid who is still in primary school. I used $5 to support his education by clearing his fees arrears. I acquired food and water with the remaining $5 that took the family for two days."

"I am happy to say that GiveDirectly's transfer changed my life. When I received my recent transfer of $ 30,  I spent $ 25 to pay for my school to help in my studies. I am currently a form 4 student at Mnazimwenga secondary school and I will be doing my final exams in December 2022. Paying my school fees was my number one priority since I am about to sit my exams and I wouldn't wish to miss lessons again. On many occasions, I would be sent home to collect school fees during class hours and I missed a lot. I tried pestering my parents to pay even half of the arrears in vain due to financial constraints. Being the second born in a family of 10, I could feel the pain my parents went through to educate my other 5 siblings and provide food with their daily pay of $ 5. My mother only does small-scale subsistence farming while my father is a motorcycle taxi driver. what they earn from daily hustle ain't enough to support the entire family's basic demands such as food, water, and fees. Furthermore, I spent the remaining $ 5 to buy my personal items such as soaps, shoe polish, and toothpaste&Colgate. This changed my life since my self-esteem improved unlike before when I was unable to polish my shoes nor brush my teeth, we would use traditional toothbrushes (sticks) and salt/charcoal to brush."

"It was in the evening around 5 pm when I heard a phone vibration on the table. I was just at home completing my homework. I checked the message notification and confirmed to have received $ 12 from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed and I couldn't keep the little secret anymore from my family members. I ran helter-skelter toward my mother to show her the message. She never believed the news until I withdraw the amount the following day from Mpesa. It was a new dawn in my life to receive the transfer as I was able to buy two revision textbooks and a school sweater. This at least helped reduce the burden on my parents and proving for my other 5 siblings. I also plan to use my subsequent transfers in starting a goat-rearing project to assist with my fees and also support my parents in providing food. Goats can easily multiply within a very short time hence more profits. Hopefully, from the project, I would be able to provide my family with water which has been the greatest challenge for the whole village due to the prolonged drought. It has been so traumatizing to go to school for a number of days without taking a bath due to a lack of enough water."

"My husband died nine years ago and left me with three children. It has not been easy raising the children without him. I sell charcoal once a week in the market. It does not give me much but the $5 I get, I spend on food since I am alone at home. My children are adults and are all married. Last month I was admitted to the hospital due to dehydration and paid a bill of $24 and for the rest of the transfer, I bought food and water."

"I am a widow, my husband died in 2020 and left me with eight children. Three are in school and five are at home since they have not attained the legal age to go to school. On the weekend especially on Saturday when they are not in school, I go and sell charcoal in the market. I make a profit of $8. The money is not enough to take care of my family but I am thankful my mother-in-law helps me out with some of my bills. I used the most recent transfer to pay school fees of $5, and food and water of $25."

"My name is Jackson Karisa Tumo, I live in Mudzimure village in Kilifi. I am married to one wife who is the breadwinner of the family. Two years ago I got sick and my arm and leg were amputated since then my wife has been taking care of my family. I have five children, four are married and one is still at home fully dependent on us. My wife has a charcoal business whereby she prepares it every week and takes it to the market. On a good day, she makes $2. This money together with the one I receive from Givedirectly helps my family to buy food and water."

"Upon getting the seventh transfer, I was undergoing a hard time as far as hunger was concerned. Our area was affected by drought and we hardly find anything to eat. When I received the money I saw some light at the end of the tunnel. Since I am a widow and I depend on myself for survival I opted to use the whole amount of $30 for my upkeep; buying some food and water."

"Since I do not have children who are in school, and I am a widow, the biggest challenge I was passing through was the scarcity of food and water. Therefore, I opted to use the whole amount of $30 to buy some food and water because I do not have anyone to look after me. Currently, I am living happily because I have access to enough food not like before when I was living a sorrowful life."

"When I received the money, the season we were in was a drought season. Water and food were scarce. Therefore, I opted to use $25 in buying some foodstuff and water, and for the remaining $5, I bought a hen to start with as I plan to do poultry farming in the coming days. I discovered that poultry farming using the local breed of chicken is not demanding and it is cheap to do."