"I work as a hairstylist and earn a commission based on the services I provide. After receiving my latest payment, I realized I was running low on shampoo for my customers, so I decided to buy a small bottle for $400. I also paid my child's school fees of $100 to ensure she wouldn't be sent home. Additionally, I joined a savings group where members contribute monthly, and when it's your turn, you receive a substantial sum for personal investments. I saved $60 in this group. I also purchased four chickens for $20 to start my poultry investment with the goal of selling them once they multiply and using the profits to buy more goats. Finally, I spent the remaining $4 on medication when I was unwell."

"My main focus is to make sure my kids get a good education, so I consistently set aside part of my income for their schooling. I also want to ensure they have nutritious meals because it's important for their well-being. I plan to use some of my income to expand my livestock, including chickens and goats, and take good care of them so that they can multiply. This investment will serve as a future source of income to support my children's education. Ultimately, my children's well-being depends on having access to food and education, and making sure these needs are met brings me great joy. Additionally, I want to maintain my poultry and goat projects as they are essential for my future financial stability. The income support I receive will end in about five years, so I need to invest wisely to avoid falling back into the level of poverty I was in before."

"The transfers from GiveDirectly have been incredibly beneficial for my family and children's education. Recently, I used $30 of my transfers to pay their school fees, ensuring they wouldn’t be sent home due to unpaid bills. Given the current hunger crisis in our community, I also spent $43 on food for my family to keep us healthy and well-fed. In an effort to create a future source of income, I invested $10 to buy two chickens, hoping they would multiply. Unfortunately, a coccidiosis outbreak occurred, and I lost all of them. Lastly, recognizing that both my children's clothes and mine were old and worn out, I spent the remaining $19 on new clothes for my family so that we could all look presentable. It brings me so much joy to see my children happy in their new outfits."

"Upon receiving my most recent transfer, I felt a wave of relief knowing that my children needed money for their school fees. They had just been sent for the remaining fee balances, and I was worried about how to cover the costs. Just as I was pondering where to get the money to pay the school, my phone vibrated with a notification confirming that the transfer had come through. My first priority was to pay their fees so that they could return to school immediately. I spent $1000 to cover the fees for all three of them. In addition, I purchased $37 worth of food to ensure we had enough to eat while we worked to support our family. I used $25 of the transfer to repay a loan from our merry-go-round group and set aside $20 for emergencies. With the remaining $10, I bought sandals for myself and my children, as well as a chicken for my poultry project."

"My dream has always been to own rental houses, providing me with a reliable source of monthly income, especially once this program comes to an end. This would help me support my family. As a fisherman, my work has allowed me to take care of my loved ones, but I wanted to create something more sustainable. To pursue this dream, I took out a loan of $70, which enabled me to purchase a piece of land. My plan is to use part of my transfers to pay off the loan. Once I have cleared the loan, I intend to save more from my fishing earnings and the transfers I receive. I will then gradually buy building materials and start to construct the houses. These houses will serve as valuable assets, allowing me to provide for my family and support my children's education. I also ventured into poultry farming, but I've faced challenges due to a coccidiosis outbreak that has resulted in significant losses. I hope that once this outbreak is over, I will be left with enough chickens to continue breeding them. In the future, I aim to sell some of them to help support my family during tough times."

"When I received my most recent transfers, I decided to invest in two goats for $60. Since the transfers are almost ending, I plan to transition to goat keeping, which will remind me of the support I received. In the future, I intend to buy cows, but for now, I will focus on taking care of the goats until they multiply to a sufficient number. At that point, I will sell some of them to raise money to buy a cow. I also used a portion of the transfers to pay the school fees for my four children, ensuring that they won't be sent home for outstanding balances. Additionally, I invested in two chickens for $10 as a future financial resource. Finally, I purchased food worth $10 for my family, as we ran low on supplies. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial assistance."

"I am on a mission to put my house in order by finding a wife and starting my own family. In our traditions, paying a bride price is essential to receive a wife, so I have been diligently saving towards this goal. Recently, I saved $20 from my transfers, and I am excited about this decision as I look forward to beginning my family. In addition to this, I started a shop where I sell fast-moving consumer goods. To ensure the growth of my business, I invested another $30 from my recent transfers. I am determined to make this venture successful. Furthermore, I took a solar panel with lighting on credit and spent $14 to clear that debt, which I am happy to have accomplished. To prepare for future needs or emergencies, I bought four chicken using $20 of my transfers, hoping they will multiply and provide me with some financial flexibility. Lastly, I allocated the remaining $18 to buy food for my family so that we would not go hungry. I am grateful for the opportunities that GiveDirectly has provided me, and I eagerly anticipate the day when I can marry my wife and start my own family."

"I have always envisioned having my own herd of livestock, particularly a pair of bulls that I could use to plough my farm. Farm preparation has become quite costly, and by having my own bulls, I would eliminate those expenses. To achieve this goal, I have been diligently saving a portion of my ransfers. Recently, I saved $79 of my transfers with the aim of purchasing cows at the end of the year when the funds mature. I am hopeful that this dream will come true. Additionally, two of my siblings were sent home due to unpaid school fees, so I spent $10 to cover their fees and help them return to school. I also invested $9 in buying some chicken, hoping they will multiply and increase in value. My plan is to sell them and save the proceeds in our savings group to further fund my goal of buying cows. Lastly, I used the remaining $4 to purchase soap and oil for cleanliness purposes. I am optimistic that my dream will come to fruition, and I am grateful to GiveDirectly for making this possible."

"When insecurity broke out in Ng'aratuko, my family of eight relocated to Chebarisiat village for safety. The trauma was unbearable, especially after losing my husband to gunshots in 2022. Here in Chebarisiat, a kind-hearted person offered us space to set up a temporary tent. Life has been challenging, particularly when it comes to finances and putting food on the table. We depend on goat rearing and poultry farming to make a living, and I often sell some goats and chicken to buy food for the household. However, I am worried as their numbers are decreasing, and I fear I might soon struggle to provide for my family."

"With my children in school, my top priority is to ensure they continue their education so they can achieve their dreams. To support this goal, I plan to use a portion of my transfers to pay their school fees while also establishing a reliable asset that will help cover their educational expenses as they advance to higher levels. I have always envisioned this asset to be a livestock venture. My plan is to continue saving a portion of my transfers to buy more goats and chicken, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in both number and value. Eventually, I aim to trade some of these livestock for female cows, which will also reproduce. This way, I can rely on my livestock to support my children's education as they progress through school into higher education levels. I am truly grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has provided us. It is helping us realize that a better life is possible, even in our current living conditions."