"Building a proper home has been a long-standing goal for me, especially given our difficult living conditions. Before, we lived in a small house made of mud walls and a grass roof that leaked whenever it rained. Sometimes, parts of it would even fall apart during storms, which was both stressful and unsafe. So, when I received my second cash transfer, I spent $43 on building materials to construct a two-room house made of iron sheets. Now, our family finally has a secure and sturdy home, which gives us so much peace of mind. With the remaining $20 from the transfer, I paid for school fees for my three children. Education is very important to us, but it has always been challenging to cover fees. My husband and I rely on casual jobs to support our family, but the work isn’t always steady. Often, there are days when we can't find any labor, leaving us worried about meeting our children's needs. This transfer helped ensure they can stay in school without the constant fear of being sent home for unpaid fees. Life was much harder before this support. At times, we felt defeated, especially when there was no work and nothing left to depend on. Now, though, our new house and the chance to keep our children in school have brought us a renewed sense of hope. I am deeply grateful for this support, as it has helped my family move forward in ways we couldn’t have managed alone."

"My spouse and I are fortunate to have three children of whom two are in school, while the youngest is still small. To support our family, my spouse takes on casual jobs, while I manage our livestock. Life was quite challenging before we received assistance from GiveDirectly; earning a consistent income was difficult, and the little we had was often insufficient for basic needs like school fees and food. There were times when we went to bed hungry, but now, thanks to GiveDirectly, we can plan better and no longer face those hardships. With my most recent transfer, I spent $102 to purchase three goats. I aim to invest in goat rearing, so once the transfers conclude, I’ll have a reliable source of support for my family. As the goats breed and their numbers increase, I plan to sell some of them to pay for my children's education and purchase food."

"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 want to plant maize that will help me pay school fees for my children next year. I have three children in school, and they all need school fees which makes that my priority. Earlier this year, I harvested maize and sold it to Kenya Seed. I’m still waiting for their payment, but they promised to release it in November. Once I get that money, I’ll use it to prepare for the next farming season. It will cover the seeds, fertilizer, and other farm inputs I need. After I complete the farming expenses, I will use the third transfer of the payment to pay dowry for my wife. It’s something I’ve been planning for a while now, and it will be good to finally get it done. I just pray everything goes well. If the rains come on time and the harvest is good, I’ll manage to achieve both—keep the children in school and honor my commitment to my wife’s family."

"I used $320 to buy a young heifer, hoping it will soon mature and eventually give birth. Once it calves, I plan to start milking it, which will reduce the burden of buying milk—something I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember. This small investment makes me optimistic about having a steady supply of milk for my family in the near future. With $62, I was able to clear my son’s school fees. He is in Grade 3 at a private school, and I didn’t want him to miss any lessons because of unpaid fees. Ensuring he stays in school is a priority, and this money brought me a sense of relief, knowing his education won’t be disrupted for now. I used the remaining amount to buy food for the house. With a newborn at home, it’s not easy for me to go out and look for work or income, so having enough food is crucial. It allows me to focus on my baby without worrying about where our next meal will come from. Every cent of the transfer has been a lifeline, helping me take small but meaningful steps toward stability."

"I spent $200 on the farm, ploughing half an acre of land and ordering tomato seeds. I made sure the land was well-watered so that the crops would have a good start. Farming is our lifeline, and this investment will help us get a better harvest and hopefully more income down the road. I also used $50 to clear my daughter’s school fees. She’s in Grade 6, and we had some arrears from last term. If I hadn’t paid, she would’ve been sent home, and I didn’t want her to miss any more lessons. It’s important she stays in school so she can have a brighter future than what I had growing up. With $50, I bought new clothes for my wife, my youngest child, and myself. We all needed to look good—it felt right to celebrate this blessing by dressing well. Another $50 went toward stocking the house with food, ensuring we wouldn’t have to worry about meals for a while. The remaining amount helped me buy essential household supplies to keep things running smoothly. Every cent went to something meaningful, and I feel relieved knowing we’re in a better place than we were before."

"First, I want to ensure that I’ve moved to the new piece of land where I’ve already made a deposit. It’s a big step for me because this land is something I’ve been saving for. My plan is to build a house there and relocate, finally having a place of my own that I can really call home. Luckily, I’ll be using the last of the GiveDirectly transfers I’m receiving to help sort out the costs of building. It’s a blessing to have that support, and I know it will make a big difference. On top of that, I’ve already planted an acre of beans. It’s hard work, but I’m hopeful. If all goes well and I get a good harvest, I plan to sell the beans and use the money to buy goats. I’ve thought about this a lot, and I know goats are easy to maintain. Plus, they’re a solid investment. Over time, I can sell some of them to cover important expenses, especially school fees for my children. That’s really my long-term focus—making sure I have enough resources for my kids’ education. It’s a lot to take on, but I’m feeling positive about it all."

"Since my husband passed away two years ago, I’ve had to take on the full responsibility of covering our children’s school fees, clothing, food, and other essentials. The house was already in poor condition when he passed, and it’s been a struggle to meet all their needs with the limited profits from my charcoal business. With the recent increase in the cost of basic commodities, the situation has become even more difficult. My children were often sent home for unpaid fees, so I decided to dedicate all my transfers toward paying their school fees. Renovating the house is my second priority. Although I replaced the roof, the house is still unsafe as the cracked walls let in insects and rain. My immediate goal is to rebuild the walls, and I plan to save $4 each month to buy construction materials. I can’t save more than that right now due to other basic needs. Once my children finish their education, I intend to invest in goat and chicken rearing projects. These projects will generate more income, as they multiply when well taken care of, increasing their financial value. I'm confident that once these projects are established, they will provide security. In case of a financial crisis, I’ll be able to sell some animals to support my family."

"My plan for the coming year is to plant beans on 2 acres of land within the Eldume Irrigation Scheme. You know, it's the perfect time to plant beans—the conditions are ideal, and the scheme has provided us with good, quality seeds. I'm really hopeful that this will turn out well. If everything goes as expected and I get a good harvest, I can sell the beans at $100 per bag. That money would be a huge help, especially when it comes to paying school fees. I have eight children, you see, and two of them are in secondary school now. The costs are really starting to add up. I’ve been managing to pay their fees by selling my cows. It’s not easy, and I’m now down to just one cow, which I’m keeping mainly for milk to feed my family. But I can’t keep selling livestock forever. That’s why I’m really banking on this new source of income from the beans. If all goes well, I won’t have to keep sacrificing what little livestock I have left. It’s my way of securing a more stable life for all of us."

"Financial constraints are the greatest challenge. Both my husband and I rely on casual jobs to earn a living, it is not sustainable because what we earn only meets our basic needs halfway through. We borrow loans to be able to pay school fees for our children and repay slowly. If we had a better source of income our lives would have been better."