"The moment I received the cash transfer, a wave of hope washed over me, knowing this was a chance to change my family's life for the better. I immediately spent $35 on plastic chairs and $10 on a table, creating a proper space for my children to study and for us to share meals together. Having these simple yet essential items made a profound difference in our home, allowing us to gather as a family and bond over our daily lives. I felt a deep sense of pride knowing that I could finally provide a comfortable area for my kids to read, eat, and feel at home. Furthermore, I used $30 to pay for my child's school fees. Before this, I struggled to raise enough money for their education, often resorting to burning charcoal, which was exhausting and filled with uncertainty. Now, I can finally breathe easy, knowing my child can attend school without the fear of being sent home for unpaid fees. Additionally, I spent $20 on cooking pots, as our few utensils made cooking a challenge. With these new pots, preparing meals became more manageable, allowing us to enjoy better food together as a family. Lastly, I allocated $20 for clothes to enhance our appearance, which lifted our spirits and boosted our self-esteem. With the remaining $50, I bought food, a necessity since my husband and I relied on casual jobs to put meals on the table. When work was scarce, we often went to bed hungry, but now we can savor regular meals together as a family. This cash transfer has lifted a heavy burden from my shoulders, and I am truly grateful for the support that has transformed our daily lives into something brighter and more hopeful."

"Before receiving the cash transfer, paying for my children's school fees was a constant source of stress for me. I had to rely on fundraising and saving small amounts from my casual job earnings, which were not enough to keep my children in school. They were often sent home due to unpaid fees, and it broke my heart to see them missing out on their education. However, after I received the transfer, I was able to pay their school fees without any worry. Now, my children can attend school regularly and focus on their studies like other children. This change has brought me so much peace of mind, knowing that my children are not only learning but also feeling secure and happy at school. I am grateful for this support, which has made such a big difference in our lives."

"The biggest difference in my life after receiving the transfer is that I was able to pay my children’s school fees. Before, they were constantly being sent home because of unpaid fees, which made them sad and made me feel stressed. Now, they are happy in school, studying without any interruptions, just like other children. It brings me peace of mind to know they can stay in class and focus on their education. I no longer worry about how to raise money for their fees, and I feel relieved that they can have a better future. Seeing them at school every day brings joy to my heart."

"Before receiving the cash transfer, life was really tough. We were living hand to mouth, and as a cook at a nearby school, my earnings were barely enough to get by. Providing for my family felt like a constant struggle—some days, we couldn’t even afford a proper meal and had to skip it altogether. It was heartbreaking, especially knowing that my son’s education was also at risk because we couldn’t keep up with the school fees. After getting the money from GiveDirectly, everything changed. I was able to buy food items in bulk that lasted us over a month, which lifted such a huge weight off my shoulders. The money that we would have spent on food has now gone toward paying for my son's school fees, ensuring his education continues uninterrupted. We feel more at peace and happier as a family now—there’s less stress, more time to connect, and a renewed sense of hope for the future"

"Food is of utmost priority due to the biting drought. We need to sort our immediate food crisis. Spending about $150 will give us food supplies for almost three months. We will buy maize, sugar, cooking oil, beans, tea leaves amongst other essentials. I have children in day school, settling them in school is important. Will spend approximately $200 on their fees. Education will give them a better future, it enables one to get better employment opportunities. My house is also in a bad shape, it's not cemented either. I plan to improve this by repairing it and cementing the floor. It will give us a better living environment due to reduced dust levels. This can cost up to $200. The rest of the transfer will be spent on buying more goats. When they expand, I'll be able to get more milk and additionally more available for sale. Goats multiply fast in this area. They're easy to manage due to the availability of feeds."

"Diabetes, as powerful and invincible as it may seem, is a mere fraction of a person's life. In the year 2016, our third born son was diagnosed with diabetes. We have been in and out of hospital for medication which has drained us financially. Being a university student, a forth year to be specific, has catapulted our financial constrains as we depend on livestock for upkeep which has proven to be an almost futile source of income during this time of drought. Getting this transfer will play a major role in meeting his medical expenses and part of it, we will pay for his education. I believe this will give him emotional and mental strength to escape interruption and continue living a normal life."

"I am a Standard 8 leaver, which means I didn’t finish my education and have no certificates to help me get a formal job. Because of that, my plan is to focus on farming, which I believe can provide a stable income for my family. I want to make sure that through farming, I’ll be able to grow enough crops to sell and earn money. This income will go toward paying my children's school fees, so they can have better opportunities than I did. Farming is something I understand well, and I am confident it will support us. I also hope to grow enough to feed my family and avoid the struggles we've faced before. With hard work and determination, I know I can make this plan a success."

"As a subsistence farmer and community health officer in my village, I face significant challenges due to the harsh and hot weather conditions that have made farming, our primary source of income, less productive. My husband, the breadwinner of our family, is also a farmer, but without the rains, it has become increasingly difficult to grow crops and sustain our livelihood. My earnings as a community health officer are limited, making it hard to meet the growing needs of our family. I used $48 from the financial transfers to pay school fees for our four children, who had been sent home due to a large outstanding balance. This payment ensured that they were able to return to school and continue their education. I also spent $40 to purchase food for my family, ensuring that we had enough to eat and didn't miss any meals. In addition, I saved $14 in a saving group, with the goal of using this money to invest in goats. Owning goats will give me a financial safety net to rely on in times of need. I am deeply appreciative of the financial support, which has been instrumental in helping me care for my family, including paying for my children's education."

"Both my husband and I work as casual laborers, earning our income from odd jobs that pay very little. I sell charcoal, while my husband takes on any available casual jobs. This low income has caused significant financial challenges for our family. We have five children—two in secondary school and three in primary school—who all depend on us to pay for their education. The lack of stable jobs has made it difficult to keep up with their school fees. Thanks to the financial support from GiveDirectly, I am now able to partially pay their school fees. I spent $90 on school fees, ensuring that our children could remain in school and continue their education without any interruptions. I used the remaining $12 to purchase food for our family of eight. This purchase ensured that we had enough to eat and didn’t go hungry. The transfers have been a tremendous financial boost, and I am incredibly grateful for the support that has helped improve our family's quality of life."

"I have been purchasing, rearing, and selling livestock for profit for quite some time now. Despite facing challenges, especially the lack of enough capital to expand the business, the financial transfers I received have significantly boosted my ability to purchase more livestock. As a result, my herd has expanded, and I now proudly own 16 goats and 12 sheep. Recently, I spent $68 from my transfers to purchase two additional goats, further increasing my herd. Livestock, especially goats, have become an essential pathway for generating income, helping me provide for my family's needs and improving my financial stability. In addition to investing in livestock, I also spent $34 to pay school fees for my son, who is currently in secondary school. He had been sent home due to a school fee debt, but thanks to the payment, he was able to return to school and continue his education. I’m grateful for the financial support from the transfers, which has helped me not only grow my livestock business but also support my family in important ways."