"When I received the transfers, my major challenge was buying a liter of milk each day. This is because as a single mum of three I normally rely on casual labor for food. I, therefore, spent KES 32,000 on a dairy cow which has reduced milk expenses. Before, I used to buy half a liter each day for KES 25 after getting KES 200 from casual labor. At times we used to take black tea when there was no casual labor. Additionally, I spent KES 7,200 on two bags of maize of which the remainder can sustain us for the next month. This is because my children are still young therefore do not eat much. Similarly, I spent KES 3, 500 on durable cooking pots and household utensils. This is because I only had a few. I also bought KES 3000 on 10 chicken layers This will help in supplementing household expenses. In addition, I also invested KES 1,300 in merry-go-round monthly contributions. I also bought the latest clothing fashion for KES 8,000 because earlier we could only afford second-hand clothes. Lastly, I bought a 210 liters water container at KES 1,500. This has helped in the storage of rainwater and therefore I seldom go to the river."

"A human being cannot live without water for both domestic and other uses. I am a farmer , keeping both indegenous goats and chicken. My animals sometimes suffer from thirsty because I do not have some money to hire a motorcycle operator to bring water. This problem of water shortage has persisted to be the greatest challenge in my house."

"We have been taking meals on the ground for lacking chairs and a table. It has been always hectic as we are faced by disturbance from chicken and ducks making it impossible to enjoy meals. A month ago, we took four chairs and a plastic table on credit. Though we are faced with a loan, the joy that comes with taking meals without stress is unmeasurable."

"I used almost KES 10000 to help in building a chicken house and used another KES 20000 to buy a dairy cow. The remaining amopunt of money was used to buy food and clothes for my family and we are so excited that we were able to accomplish all these with the money that we received. My two children have their future secured through the investments that we made. In future we plan to buy a piece of land that will enable us practice agriculture that gives more returns and thus better living standards for our family."

"In the last six months, I am happy that I managed to build a kitchen and started living independently from my parents. I enjoy having to take care of only the three of us in my family instead of proving for all the people in my household. It is less strenuous financially and this allows me to put my money into good use such as buying livestock and chicken to keep."

"Maize vending has been the main income source for my family for the last thirty years. But about six months ago I was attacked by pneumonia and had to stop the maize vending business. Since then I have relied on dairy farming and my kids for my basic needs. On arrival of GiveDirectly transfers recently my priority was buying a water tank. I, therefore, spent KES 32,000 on a 5000 liters water tank to curb water scarcity, especially during long dry spells. This is because to get clean drinking water we normally go to a river 3km away. Sometimes we were forced to hire a motorcycle at KES 100 for transporting 100 liters of water. Secondly, I spent KES 1, 600 on four chicken layers in addition to the three I previously had. This will help in supporting household expenses. Thirdly, I utilized KES 6, 600 on two bags of maize. This will sustain my family for the next four months. Initially, we could only afford half a bag of maize a week but GiveDirectly has made it easier."

"I spent KES 30000 of my first transfer on paying school fees for my son who is in college pursuing a nursing course. I had to prioritize this because their exams were fast approaching and I was worried that he would miss them. God answered my prayer since he is in school without any hiccups that I thought would occur. Later on, I bought wire mesh, nails, and timber for the construction of a shelter for the chicken. I am planning to start poultry farming for both broilers and layers of chicken. With the remaining amount of money, I have been buying foodstuffs for my children and other household items that I was lacking."

"My father-in-law bought land in the neighborhood and asked my family to move out of our ancestral land and settle there. The ancestral land is largely fertile but the other one is covered with rocks and hence nothing grows on it. I am a farmer but sadly I cannot practice it here since my farm cannot support it. I desire to start poultry farming because I feel that is the only thing that can be viable here. My husband works as a painter where he earns KES 300-450 per day when he is lucky to get a painting job. This money caters for food such as milk, vegetables and maize flour leaving us with nothing to save for the poultry project. I intend to spend KES 40,000 to buy 50 chicken and also construct a modern chicken structure. I will then start collecting eggs and selling them for KES 15 each and stop depending on my husband. Receiving this money will help me start a poultry business and this will be an additional source of income for my family."

"Our new goal is to do some farming and to place a wire mesh all around the chicken's house because we have a plan to increase the number of chickens that we are rearing. We would like to do the above so that we can get more income that can sustain all our needs. We do not have jobs and hence we usually depend on farming as our source of livelihood. We usually grow crops such as maize and beans and sell them to get money for paying school fees for our six children and to buy food. We also usually sell the eggs from the chickens and the money that we get from the sales, we use to buy essential household items such as sugar, soap, etc."

"I spent KES 20000 on my recent transfer and I invested it in my business of selling clothes. I bought more clothes for sale with it. I decided to do so because schools are closed at the moment for the holidays and it is usually the students that buy from me the most. This business plus that of rearing chickens is what usually helps me to earn income for sustaining my family of four since I am a single mother. The money that I get from my income-generating activities is what I usually use in paying for the merry-go-round group contributions, buying essential household items, and paying school fees for my two children. The merry-go-round groups' money has been of great help to me since I have managed to buy land where I have settled with children with it. Other than that, I also took KES 20000 and I saved it in my bank account. I did so because my child who recently completed her primary education is set to join a secondary school in May 2022. A lot of money will be needed for paying school fees and for buying the necessary school items. The bank account is where I am also saving the profits that I am getting from my business. With the remaining transfer, I used it in buying clothes, shoes for the children, and food for our consumption. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for supporting us."