"Starting fresh after losing everything to the floods has been a challenge, but I am determined to create a better life for my children. I used $50 of my unconditional cash transfer to pay school fees for my children, as their education is my top priority. Previously, I relied on my business of selling food and other goods to support us, but the floods destroyed my shop and wiped out my stock. Despite this setback, I borrowed money to restock my shop and get back on my feet. However, the competition has increased, and my daily income has dropped from $15 to $8, as more people have opened businesses after receiving their own cash transfers.Being a single mother is tough, especially when my children depend solely on me for their needs. The pressure of paying school fees was overwhelming, but now I feel more hopeful. Although I faced struggles and moments of depression, I am gradually finding my way. My children’s happiness motivates me to keep pushing forward, and I am committed to providing them with the education they deserve.Furthermore, I have managed to save $400, which I plan to use for school fees when they return in January. This financial cushion gives me peace of mind and shows that my hard work is paying off. I am determined to ensure that my children have a brighter future, and I believe that with continued effort and support, we will overcome these challenges together."

"Investing in watermelon farming has always been my goal, but limited resources kept me from moving forward. This time, I finally managed to make it happen. I spent $420 to buy seeds, prepare the land, and hire a tractor to get things ready. Additionally, I needed to buy fuel for the generator to pump water from the lake. Planting one acre of watermelon was a significant expense, but now the field is flourishing, and I’m hopeful for a great harvest. In our area, watermelons tend to do very well, and if all goes as planned, I could fill one lorry, which might bring in around $1,000.Since we’ve faced challenges in the past, this opportunity feels like a turning point. I used to farm maize, but frequent flooding would ruin the crops, leaving us struggling to make ends meet. With the extra cash, I also spent $30 on food for my family, as we’ve had to depend mainly on what we grow. Unfortunately, we lost all our maize in the last flood, so this support has allowed us to put food on the table while my watermelon crop matures.My wife is an early childhood teacher, and her salary helps us pay school fees for our three children, though it’s modest. Her support has been invaluable, especially during tough seasons when farming yields were low. Now, with this new venture, I feel more optimistic about our future and the stability it could bring. Watermelon farming holds real promise, and this cash transfer has allowed us to start building a more secure and hopeful future."

"Investing in my family’s education has always been a priority, so I used $200 from my cash transfer to pay school fees for my five children. Normally, I would have had to sell livestock to cover the costs, but this time, receiving the money allowed me to avoid that difficult choice. Knowing my children’s education is secured for now brings me peace of mind and helps me focus on other areas of our lives.In addition to covering school fees, I allocated $230 to farming. My husband and I decided to plant two acres of watermelon and beans, as we believe these crops have the potential for a good profit. Farming is our main source of income, and by growing crops that sell well, we hope to recover from the setbacks caused by the recent floods, which damaged our land and made life tougher. We’re hopeful that this season’s harvest will not only sustain us but also improve our financial standing.The remaining $20 went towards purchasing food, as we had very little at home. With our main focus on farming and sometimes burning charcoal for extra income, having this extra support for groceries has been a relief. Thanks to this transfer, we’re able to sustain ourselves through this challenging period, and I feel optimistic about the future. It has made a big difference in our lives and has encouraged us to keep working toward a better future."

"I am a widower with 3 children in school, I plan to spend KES 50000 on paying my children's school fees.My elderly daughter has taken up this responsibility for the past 1 year,this does not make me happy because as a father I should be the sole provider for the my family. Receiving this transfers therefore means I can relief my eldest daughter from this yoke of paying fees .With the remaining amount I will restock 10 herds of goats to secure my future with it.This will cost me KES 5000 each."

"I plan to expand my livestock by purchasing more sheep. I had never owned any goats or sheep until I received my second transfer from GiveDirectly. My aim is to eventually have more than ten sheep, as I believe they thrive in our area. I am planning to use part of my final transfer to buy additional sheep, as this investment will be instrumental in improving my family's financial situation. As a single mom, raising these sheep will help me cover school fees for my children and address other essential needs in the future."

"After receiving my second transfer, I was finally able to improve our living situation. Previously, my family of five was crammed into a single room with an iron sheet roof and muddy walls. Our home was vulnerable, especially during the rains when the walls felt like they could collapse at any moment. Cooking outside was not only inconvenient but also unhygienic, and when it rained, we could not cook at all. With the $200 from my transfer, I built a one-room iron sheet house and a small kitchen, using some iron sheets I had already saved up for. In addition to improving our shelter, I wanted to secure our future, particularly concerning my children's school fees. I decided to invest in livestock by buying three female goats for $165, knowing they would multiply over time. As a crop farmer, I also allocated $70 for plowing and creating ridges for my next planting season. I plan to plant green grams next month, which I believe will provide a good yield. Food was a struggle. With the remaining money, I purchased half a bag of maize, as our previous maize crop was swept away by floods this year. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Receiving the cash transfers means so much to me since I intend to use it to meet my most felt needs. Firstly, I intend to use the cash transfers to purchase posts and chain links for fencing. I intend to use about KES 40000 of the cash transfers on this. Secondly I intend to purchase a cow which I will milk. This will cost me approximately KES 25000. Thirdly I intend to purchase 5 goats which will cost me about KES 20000. This will be my investment into the future. Finally, I intend to use the cash transfer to pay for my grand daughter's school fees. This is important because I will be able to pay off part of the school fees which she owes the school. I'm grateful that I have been considered to receive the cash transfers since I really needed money for these things but I didn't have a way of getting them."

"Receiving this money means my compound and farms will have proper fencing. I have an acre of grass which I sell during the rainy season to be able to pay school fees but has poor fencing. Hippos, goats and cows access it and destroy a better part of it hence low production hence affecting my income. I plan on purchasing fencing poles and mesh at a cost of $400 using the transfers. I am so excited because my farm will be secured and my yield will double from that."

"My primary goal for the coming year and beyond is to complete building my dream house, a project I’ve already begun. Not having a proper home has been challenging, but I’ve always envisioned living in an iron-roofed house. To bring this dream to life, I’ve been setting aside a portion of my monthly income to buy building materials gradually. So far, I’ve managed to buy a few iron sheets and some building poles, and I’m hopeful that construction can begin soon. An iron-roofed house will provide much-needed protection from the rain, which has been a constant struggle in my current living situation. I am determined to save more to purchase the remaining poles, timber, nails, and cover labor costs to bring this dream to fruition. In addition to my housing project, I’m also committed to enrolling my child in secondary school, as he completed primary school last year. Ensuring he continues his education is very important to me, so I’ve started saving $1,000 each month towards his school fees. Thanks to these efforts, I have managed to build most of the house and only have the door left to complete."

"In the coming year and beyond, I plan to invest in buying goats. My goal is to sell them in the future to earn money for food and school fees, especially as their numbers increase. I have already purchased seven goats and two sheep using my monthly savings. My children are still in school, and as they progress, their school fees continue to rise. I want to stay ahead by preparing for this financial need. Currently, I have a total of eight goats, three of which are expecting. I've witnessed my goats reproduce, and I am confident they will keep multiplying. This will ensure that when the need for school fees arises, my husband can sell some goats to provide the necessary cash. Additionally, I want to be able to buy them school uniforms and shoes as needed, which will also be supported by the sales from these animals."