"My father is partially disabled, leaving my mother as the primary breadwinner for our family. Due to the heavy financial burden, I could not proceed to college, as my mother had to prioritize paying school fees for my four younger siblings and providing for the entire family. She works as a peasant farmer and supplements her income by burning and selling charcoal, but her earnings are minimal, often requiring her to struggle to make ends meet. To help alleviate this burden, I have been using part of my transfers to invest in poultry and goat rearing. Currently, I have six chickens and five goats, and I am focusing on building a sustainable livelihood through livestock farming. My plan is to let the chickens multiply, exchange them for goats, and eventually trade the goats for cows. My ultimate goal is to acquire two cows, care for them, and sell them at a profit to fund my college education at KMTC. This aspiration motivates me to work hard, as I believe furthering my studies will lead to a brighter future for myself and my family."

"This year was incredibly challenging for my family, as floods destroyed one acre of our maize crop, leaving us with nothing to harvest. Farming is our only source of income, and losing our harvest put us in a tough spot with no means to support our family. Using $300 from the cash transfer, I decided to plant maize again on one acre and dedicate a small portion to vegetables. This choice was essential for rebuilding our livelihood and ensuring we have both food and an income in the future. The funds gave me hope and the means to restart farming, which had seemed impossible before. In addition to farming, I used $50 to pay the graduation fee for my daughter, who was transitioning to primary school. Before this, I relied on selling vegetables from my farm to pay her fees, but the floods had wiped out that option. The cash transfer arrived just in time to cover this important milestone and also to clear an outstanding arrear of $30. It felt like a relief to know my daughter could continue her education without interruptions. Finally, I spent $50 on maternity expenses since I was about to deliver my baby, and I used the remaining $20 for food to sustain me while nursing at home. Taking care of five children while recovering was overwhelming, but the support from the cash transfer made it more manageable. My husband and I are both farmers, and life has become easier with the capital to restart our farming activities. I feel optimistic about the future and deeply grateful for the assistance that gave us a fresh start."

"Our house is getting smaller as the family keeps growing. We plan to build another two roomed iron sheets roofed house. The walls will be made of mud and sticks. It can cost approximately $300. A new house will provide our children enough space to sleep and also study. Due to food insecurity and lack of essential items in our home such as clothes, beddings and utensils. We plan to buy some using about $300 of the transfer. It will give us better living conditions.The food will also give us strength to focus on other activities such as planting grass. One of our children is in college studying engineering. We plan to spend the rest of the transfer on her education. We hope she can secure employment after school and have a better future. She can also assist us in the future where she can."

"I am currently facing a significant challenge with raising school fees for my two children and one sibling. I depend on livestock trading, which brings in about KES 13000 during a good month. This money goes mainly toward our basic needs like food and school fees, though it is not always enough to cover everything. At one point, my children were sent home from school due to arrears of KES 17300, and they had to stay out of school for almost four days. This had a huge negative impact on their education, and I am doing everything I can to ensure that something like this does not happen again."

"I run a small grocery business that provides me with a modest income to support my family. However, a lack of school fees has delayed my dream of joining college, so I am saving the little income I earn to make this possible. The profits from my business help meet our needs, support my husband, and contribute to my savings for enrolling in an Early Childhood Education course, which I have always wanted to pursue. Additionally, I save through our merry-go-round group, where I contribute $20 monthly to accumulate funds for my school fees. My ultimate goal is to secure a stable teaching job to provide for my growing family. I am grateful for the financial support I have received, which has made it easier to work toward my dreams. If everything goes as planned, I am optimistic about joining college next year."

"Receiving this money feels like a long-awaited miracle after enduring years of hardship and insecurity. One of my biggest dreams has been to construct a permanent structure for my business, as the current iron sheet structure is vulnerable to thieves. I have already taken the first step by purchasing bricks, and these cash transfers will enable me to buy the remaining construction materials needed to build a secure space to protect my stock.With the remaining funds, I plan to buy food for my family and pay school fees for my children, ensuring their education continues uninterrupted. This support is a transformative blessing, bringing hope and stability to my family."

"My husband and I are planning to invest in 7 goats ($350) for our children's education. We will also buy 3 hives at a cost of $90. On a good season, each hive can earn us about $50 worth of honey. With such an income we will be able to comfortably sustain our family of 5."

"My primary goal is to ensure my family has a stable source of income in the future, particularly during emergencies. To achieve this, I have been using my previous transfers from GiveDirectly to purchase goats and plan to buy more with future transfers. I hope these goats will multiply and grow in value over time, allowing me to sell them when needed to cover my family's necessities and support my children's education. Goat farming is a vital part of my plans, and I am determined to see it succeed because it holds great importance for my family's well-being. This vision of a secure and prosperous future motivates me to keep moving forward. To reach this goal, I plan to use part of my transfers to invest in these projects, starting with the one chicken and three goats I already have. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for their financial support, which has made these aspirations possible."

"I suffered from polio as a child. Now 36 years later, the struggles of my childhood are reflected in my 7 year old son, Fabian ,who has been diagnosed with the same problem. I cannot move without the help of my crutches nor go long distances without someone to hold my hand. Fabian began schooling a year ago and I am already feeling the burden of paying for his education with nothing much to do with my disabled self. In most cases, I depend on assistance from my siblings to put a meal on the table."

"I am a mother of six, and together with my husband, we rely on casual jobs to provide for our family. With the last three transfers, I carefully decided how to use the funds to meet our most pressing needs. I first used $11 to pay for a solar panel loan that I had taken on a hire purchase. This solar panel is very important for us because it helps provide light and energy, especially at night. I also spent $73 on food because the drought in our area has made it hard to grow enough crops, and we are struggling to keep our family fed. It was essential to make sure we had enough food to last. Additionally, I used $8 to pay off a debt at a shop that had been hanging over me. It felt like a huge relief to clear that burden. Finally, I spent $10 to pay examination fees for my grandchildren. Education is something I value deeply, and I want to ensure my grandchildren can continue their studies without any hindrance. These transfers have helped me address some of our most immediate needs, and I am truly grateful for the support that allows me to keep moving forward for the sake of my family."