"When the flash floods struck our village three months ago, they wiped out my entire maize and tomato farm. Since then, I have struggled to recover because I lack the finances needed to replant. Currently, I rely on occasional casual jobs where I earn about $4 on a good day. Every penny from these jobs goes towards the school fees for my three children—two in secondary school and one in college. There is nothing left to save. Thankfully, I have upcoming transfers that bring a sense of relief. With these transfers, I plan to spend $500 in cultivating maize on my 2-acre piece of land. This not only promises income but also ensures food security for my family of eight. Additionally, I will spend $220 to purchase a water pipe for irrigation purposes, essential for nurturing my crops effectively. The remainder of the transfers will go towards covering the school fees for my children. This financial boost will significantly ease my burden, allowing me to spend less time on exhausting casual jobs and more time ensuring my family's future and well-being."

"Living in my one-room house without any furniture has been a challenge; often, I make do by sitting on water jerricans or borrowing from neighbors when visitors come. My income from vegetable farming is barely enough to maintain the farm, leaving nothing to save. However, with anticipated transfers, there is finally a glimmer of hope. I plan on spending $100 on purchasing furniture for my house, providing some much-needed comfort and dignity. Another $150 will be used to fence my 0.5-acre plot where I plan to grow tomatoes, creating an additional income stream. The remainder of the transfers will be invested back into tomato farming, aiming to improve my financial situation and secure a more stable future."

"My happiness over the past 6 months came from my half and hector maize plantation. During the floods my neighbour's maize plantation was taken by the flood water, however, mine remained standing which made me very happy. I thank the almighty because he spared my maize since it is the only thing I depend on for food and money this year. Whenever I see the maize I can't stop smiling as my heart is filled with joy and gratitude."

"I live with my two grandchildren in a two roomed iron sheets house. It's in a bad state, with a leaking roof and mud floor. When it rains, it's difficult sleeping. We fetch water from inside using a container to reduce spillage inside. This has affected my family since we cannot sleep in peace, we're always worried about the next rainfall."

"It was late in the afternoon, and I was busy washing clothes for my family. As I hurried to finish, my phone, which I had placed on a stool next to me, beeped, signalling an incoming message. I quickly wiped my hands dry with my skirt and picked up the phone to check the message. I couldn't believe my eyes; it was a Mpesa SMS indicating that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. I had to reread it twice to confirm what I had seen. Overjoyed, I shared the good news with my youngest daughter when she returned from school that evening. That same evening, I also sent $40 to my spouse, who was at the farm that evening, to buy petroleum for the generator to help pump water to our tomato farm for irrigation. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for the transfer!"

"The impending transfers will be a relief for my family, who have been struggling to meet our basic needs such as food, fees, and other essentials. I plan to allocate the funds towards paying university fees for my son, alleviating the pressure of sourcing funds for education. Additionally, I will purchase enough food for my family and invest part of the amount in farming to establish a sustainable income source. This includes buying a water pump, seeds, and other necessary inputs. If successful, this initiative will ensure that we have food and income, helping us to meet ongoing fees and essential family needs. Furthermore, I plan to prioritize a medical check-up for my eyes, which have been troubling me lately."

"To improve my family's livelihood, I plan to invest the transfers by purchasing essential farm inputs like pipes, a water pump, and other necessary supplies to make my farm more productive. This investment aims to ensure a steady source of income and food for us. Additionally, to address the issue of insufficient living space, I intend to expand our house to comfortably accommodate all family members. Part of the funds will also be allocated to acquiring household items such as utensils, bedding, and clothing, enhancing our overall comfort and well-being."

"This is a lucrative farming area, we depend on crop farming. Crops such as maize, beans, onions, vegetables or even tomatoes. They do well here although it needs a lot of capital to pump water and general farm supplies. Since we depend on irrigation, we can farm at any time of the year. In order to succeed in farming, we need funds. I have enough farm area but cannot utilize it due to financial constraints. This has affected my ability to provide for my family. I have about an acre of unutilized land."

"Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I faced the challenge of saving my two-acre maize farm, which had almost been swept away by floods. The floods had passed, but now I had to deal with a drought. My farm desperately needed water, but I had no money to buy petrol for irrigation. I used $40 of the money to buy petrol and irrigate my farm. Now, I am on the verge of harvesting. I plan to use the surplus from the harvest to buy land in a safer place, away from the threat of future floods. I also bought a mattress for $57 because the floods had swept away my household items, leaving me without a mattress and causing a lot of discomfort. Now, I can't wait to go to bed at night. The remaining money was used to address food security issues. The floods had disrupted local work opportunities, making it hard to get food. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to provide for my family during this tough time."

"The challenge we are facing currently is the effect of floods. A few weeks ago our maize plantation was affected by flood water which led us to lose all our crops. This saddened us so much and we almost lost hope since that is the only farm we were depending on. This makes life difficult since the planting season has passed and we don't have enough money to replant."