"I am a father of seven, doing my best to provide for my family through casual jobs and subsistence farming. Four of my children are still in school, and their education is my top priority. With the recent three transfers amounting to $102, I made careful decisions to ensure my family’s well-being and future stability. First, I used $10 to buy two chickens. This small purchase is part of my plan to gradually increase our livestock, providing both food and potential income. Through the monthly transfers, I now have 8 chickens. I also spent $37 on food to ensure that my family had enough to eat. This was a necessary and immediate priority. In addition to securing food, I also focused on long-term investments. I used $25 to buy a she-goat, adding to the livestock I’ve been slowly building. With the help of the monthly transfers, I now have a total of five goats, which are crucial to securing our future. Finally, I used the remaining $30 to pay school fees for my children, who had been sent home due to unpaid fees. Getting them back in school was a huge relief and a proud moment for me. These transfers have been a lifeline, helping me to meet both immediate needs and long-term goals for my family."

"My main focus in my life revolves around building a substantial number of variety of livestock to secure a sustainable income for the future. To achieve this, I plan to use my transfers gradually to purchase chickens and ducks, allowing them to grow and multiply over time. As their numbers increase, I will sell some of these animals and reinvest the proceeds into acquiring goats. The income from selling goats will not only support my child's education but also help in expanding my business ventures, especially the kiosk that I have where I sell household consumables that are fast moving. I aim to grow my business further using both a portion of the transfers I receive and the profits from the sales from the business. In addition to the livestock and kiosk business, I am also involved in making and selling charcoal, which provides another source of income. The money I earn from charcoal sales will also be used to expand my kiosk business. By diversifying my sources of income and strategically reinvesting, I hope to create a stable and prosperous future for my family."

"My main goal for this year and the coming years is to expand my livestock base to secure a future financial stream of income. To achieve this, I plan to continue using a portion of my transfers to buy more chicken and save another portion in our local savings group. Once the savings mature, I will use them to buy goats. I also hope the chicken that I will buy will multiply, increasing in number and value, so that I can sell them to buy more goats. As the goats increase in number and value, I am also planning to trade them in the future for male and female cows. Over time, my goal is to own several cows and goats, allowing me to sell them when needed to support my family and my children's education, especially when this project comes to an end."

"I have two school-going children, so I used $15.50 to pay their school fees. This ensured they wouldn’t be sent home due to fee balances and could focus on their studies. I also invested $34 in purchasing a goat, knowing that goats multiply quickly and are a profitable asset. They are easy to manage, adapt well to our environment, and provide a reliable fallback in case of future financial challenges. Additionally, I bought soap for $1.50 and two chickens for $5 for domestic rearing. Finally, I spent the remaining $25 on food for my family's consumption."

"My current house has mud walls, and despite my ongoing efforts to maintain it, the persistent rains have made it clear that frequent repairs are both challenging and costly. I’ve always wished to provide a stable and secure house for my family, which is why I’ve decided to save my transfers and begin building a new, more durable three-roomed house with a verandah. This decision fills me with optimism and excitement, knowing that this new permanent house will not only offer shelter but also comfort and stability for my loved ones. It’s a significant step toward a brighter future, and I’m eager to see my family thrive in our new house. To achieve this, I plan to save diligently, not only from my transfers but also from the profits of my broiler chicken business. I’ve also opened a bank account specifically to save for this goal. With careful planning and perseverance, I’m confident that we will soon enjoy the security and comfort of our new house."

"I am a father of three children, but my wife and I separated 11 years ago, and she left with all the children. Since then, I have been alone at home, struggling to find ways to get food. I am a charcoal burner, producing five bags of charcoal per week, and selling each for Ksh 500. This has been my only means of survival and getting food. However, whenever you visit my home, you would never find me because I leave early to the bush to burn charcoal. When I received the cash transfer, I used $75 to purchase food, ensuring I have enough stock to last for 90 days. This way, I can be sure there’s sufficient food at home. Additionally, I used $45 to purchase a goat, which will serve as my future investment since I had nothing of value as an investment in my compound. I also spent $6 to buy two chickens that will lay eggs, which I can eat with ugali if I don’t have vegetables.With the remaining $40, I bought clothes, as I had none. I was wearing the same clothes from January to December, with nothing to change into. So, I decided to remove this shame and now have three outfits."

"Receiving this transfer has made a significant difference in my life. I'm certain that it will change things for the better. The stress I had about my future has eased, especially after losing my six chickens and 3.5 hectares of maize to floods. Now, I’m grateful to own two goats and 30 chicks, which will not only help me in the future but also provide the means to pay for my children's school fees and meet their basic needs."

"My goal is to have cows in the coming year. I have bought 3 goats so far, 4 ducks and 6 chicken which I have all gotten thanks to the transfers. My plan is to build this number to be able to exchange them for cows. I cow can be bought for the price of six goats. I believe animals are a good place to start with investments that will ensure I educate my children and feed them"

"I am a widow who works hard to provide for myself and my six grandchildren after their father passed away. Life has been challenging, but with the support from GiveDirectly, I’ve been able to manage better. With the last three transfers, totaling $102, my priority was to ensure my grandchildren could continue their education. I used $36 to pay their school fees, knowing that education is the key to their future and the best way to honor their father's memory. After covering the school fees, I bought two chickens for $8 to replace the ones I had lost to an infection. Raising chickens helps provide eggs for our meals and a little extra income when we need it. The remaining $58 went toward buying food for my family. This allowed us to have enough to eat without worrying about where the next meal would come from. These transfers have been a lifeline for us, helping me to take care of my grandchildren and give them a sense of stability in these difficult times."

"Before receiving the transfer, life was challenging for me and my family. My husband is a farmer, and I run a small shop at home selling foodstuffs. The floods nearly wiped out my business as many people in the village, including us, had to relocate. The damage was extensive—I lost sugar, maize, 14 chickens, and even their eggs. I had to sell my goats just to restock my shop and replace the utensils and shoes my kids lost. Although food was not too difficult to access due to the shop, the strain was immense, especially with a 2-year-old son to care for.When I received the transfer, I wanted to ensure that I made investments that would support us in the future. I bought three sheep for $150, seeing them as a safety net that I could sell in case of an emergency. I also spent $20 to purchase flasks and jars to add stock to my business, expanding it beyond just selling foodstuffs. Additionally, I used $30 to buy clothes for my family and two plastic chairs to add to the two we already had."