"My health has been a constant challenge, and I rely on monthly medicine refills to manage my condition. Recently, I used $30 of my transfer to restock my medication, hoping it will help me feel stronger and healthier. Currently, things have been made much more challenging by the season's extreme dryness. The terrain is dry, almost everything has dried up, and food and water are limited. I, therefore, spent the remaining $72 to buy food and pay for water delivery. We have to fetch water from a very long distance, and the only way is by hiring a motorcycle to bring it to us. With no harvest this season due to the drought, most of my transfer goes toward making sure my family has enough to eat. Despite these tough times, I am deeply grateful for the support from GiveDirectly. It has been a lifeline, helping me care for my health and meet my family’s basic needs in such a challenging season."

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, I carefully planned how to use it for my family’s needs and future growth. First, I spent $50 on kale seedlings because I had already prepared the farm for planting vegetables. Kale is a good investment since it grows for a long time, and I’ve already started harvesting, which helps us sustain our income. I also bought a bag of maize for $30 to make sure we had enough food to be secure, so we don’t have to worry about our basic needs. I wanted my wife to feel valued and appreciated, so I encouraged her to use $32 from the transfer to buy new clothes. I also used $15 to buy two plastic chairs since we didn’t have proper seating, and we had been sitting on stones for too long. Now, we finally have something comfortable to sit on at home. Additionally, I used $20 to pay school fees for my sister-in-law, who had been sent home because we couldn’t afford it. I also spent $8 on deworming medicine for our goat, which needed urgent care. Finally, I used the remaining money to manage the kale farm, ensuring a healthier yield. This transfer has truly been a blessing, helping us meet immediate needs and invest in things that can improve our lives in the long run."

"The floods took everything from me, leaving my family in despair. Five goats, twenty chickens, and even my clothes were swept away, and one of our houses collapsed, dragging my life down to zero. I felt hopeless as my generator was also destroyed, and with five children to care for, the burden became unbearable. However, when I received the unconditional cash transfer, it felt like a new beginning. I used $350 to pay a down payment on a plot of land far away from the floods, where my family could finally settle and rebuild our lives.Furthermore, I allocated $50 for my children's school fees because education is crucial for their future. I want to ensure they have the opportunity to learn and grow despite our struggles. The remaining money went towards buying small essentials like food and medicine for our remaining livestock. My wife and I work casual jobs and farm to make ends meet, but it has been challenging since the floods caused sickness and forced us to relocate.This support from GiveDirectly has been a blessing in our lives. We were overwhelmed by the difficulties we faced, but now we have hope for a better future. I feel grateful for the chance to start anew and provide for my family again. With this help, we can focus on rebuilding our lives and ensuring our children have a brighter future."

"my house was build made long a go -grass thatched seruioslt leaking 6600-two iron sheets 420-paid loan 1200-saved in chama-buy more goats and kitchen 390-saved goat medicine-1200 E"

"When I received the cash transfer, it felt like a lifeline for my family. I immediately used $125 to pay the house rent for my child who is in university. The landlord was about to close the room due to unpaid rent, which had been giving me sleepless nights. As a parent of 13 children, managing our finances is challenging, especially since my wife and I only work in farming and burn charcoal to provide for them. It was a relief to secure my child's living situation and ensure they had a safe place to stay while studying. Furthermore, I spent $10 on medicine for my seven-year-old child who has leukemia. Watching my child suffer has been heartbreaking, and the medical expenses were adding up. This small amount helped me purchase essential medicine, easing my worries about his health. I felt a sense of comfort knowing that I could provide him with the care he needs, even if just for a little while. With the remaining money, I focused on buying food for our family. We had been struggling to eat, relying solely on our farming efforts, which had not been fruitful lately. I had to sell some of our livestock to cover school fees, leaving us with little to eat. Now, with this cash transfer, I could finally fill our pantry and provide proper meals for my children. This support has lifted a huge burden off my shoulders and brought some hope back into our lives."

"I recently spent $10 on medicine for my two goats to keep them healthy, and $60on purchasing two sheep as part of my long-term plan for financial security. These animals will help create a steady income stream in the future. I also used $21 to buy food for my family, ensuring we have enough to get by during this challenging time. Additionally, I saved $9 towards school fees for my child when schools reopen, as education is a top priority for me. Unfortunately, I’ve been dealing with a chest problem that has prevented me from working on my tailoring business as frequently as I’d like. I had to spend $2 on my own medicine recently due to illness. Despite these health challenges, I am determined to keep up with my child's education, as I have one child currently in school. Supporting her learning is important to me, and I am trying my best to manage my finances carefully to make this possible."

"I decided to spend $300 on tomato seeds because tomatoes grow well in this area. Last season wasn’t great—the prices were low—but I’m optimistic things will improve. I planted them on half an acre, hoping to make a good profit this time around. The plants are coming along nicely, and I’m currently weeding the farm to keep them healthy. With another $190, I bought a cupboard for storing utensils, medicines, and important documents. My old cupboard was broken and not safe, especially with kids around. Now, I can organize everything properly, and I don’t have to worry about the children accidentally getting into the medicine or misplacing our papers. To afford the cupboard, I had to sell six of my roosters to top up the deficit from what the transfers could cater for. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was necessary. The new cupboard has already made a difference in how we manage things at home, and I feel more at ease knowing everything is in its place. Now I can focus fully on my tomatoes and hope the market works in my favor."

"Starting a poultry project has been a dream of mine for a long time. With the unconditional cash transfer, I finally had the chance to make it happen. I spent $70 to buy 60 chicks because I believe chickens can provide eggs for our family, and I can sell any extras if needed. I also spent $70 on feed and $10 on medicines to keep the chicks healthy. I hope to earn about $700 a week by selling eggs at $20 per dozen. This money will be important for paying my children's school fees and covering our basic needs.I set aside $50 for my children's school fees because their education is important. I was mostly depending on farming and casual jobs to make sure I can pay for their fees and secure their future. I used another $50 to buy food for the family to ensure we have enough to eat. Sometimes, we rely on my wife's salary for food at home, so I thought it would be a better idea to relieve her of that burden. Additionally, I invested $20 in planting watermelon and beans on three acres of land to grow different crops and ensure we have enough food. Farming has always been my passion, and I enjoy growing crops and raising animals. In our area, we have a good opportunity to plant maize through a contract with Kenya Seed, which allows us to sell our maize at higher prices and earn more money. Overall, this cash transfer has really helped improve our lives, and I feel hopeful about the future. I have two children, and my wife is a teacher who helps support our family with her salary. However, I still handle most of the household responsibilities. With this poultry project and the crops I am planting, I am confident that we will do well as a family and secure a better future for our children."

"I have been dealing with some health issues for quite some time, and I thank God that the transfers I have been receiving from GiveDirectly have helped me afford medication and better nutrition. Recently, I used $10 of my transfers to get a refill on my medicine, ensuring I do not miss any doses and can continue taking them as prescribed by my doctors. I am truly grateful for this support because, given my health, I am unable to do manual work. I also spent $25 to buy special food, as recommended by my doctors, to help maintain my health. Additionally, I used $18 to buy food for my family, adding to what we already had so we would not go hungry. To lift my spirits, I treated myself to a new shirt using $4 of the transfers. Finally, I used the remaining $45 to buy a goat and some chicken, hoping they would multiply and grow in value. My hope is to eventually sell some of them in the future and invest in a business. I am incredibly grateful for all the support."

"When I received the cash, the first thing I did was spend $56 on a bag of maize and other household food items. We needed to be food secure because my salary often comes late, and I didn’t want us to struggle with hunger again. After that, I used $65 to buy a bigger chicken coop since the old one had become too cramped for the 30 chickens we have. This new coop can fit up to 50 chickens, so it gives them more space and room to grow. I also bought a small mattress for $30 so my wife and the baby could sleep comfortably. With a new baby in the house, it’s better if they have their own bed, while I sleep on the other bed with the older children. I wanted to make everyone happy, so I used another $30 to buy clothes for my wife and the kids. Their clothes were worn out, and seeing them smile in new outfits gave me joy. I didn’t forget my brother in college—he had told me he needed money for food, so I sent him $10 for upkeep. Additionally, I spent $7 on medicine for my goats and chickens to ensure they stay healthy since they’re important to our livelihood. The remaining amount, I’ve set aside for food or any emergencies that might come up later. This way, I feel more prepared to face whatever comes next."