"I'm truly grateful for the financial support provided through these transfers. With the funds, I invested $41 in farming by hiring labor and also managed to allocate some money to purchase seeds. Given that my family was running low on food supplies, I used part of the transfer to buy food for consumption. Additionally, I allocated the remaining amount to pay school fees for my two children who are currently attending school. These investments and expenses have been crucial in ensuring that my family's needs are met effectively. The support from these transfers has not only enabled me to enhance our farming activities but also ensured that my children's education is not disrupted. I am deeply appreciative of this financial assistance, as it has significantly contributed to our well-being and provided us with opportunities for improvement."

"Our household's primary source of income comes from surplus produce from our subsistence farming efforts, which helps cover a portion of my four children's school fees and other household expenses. During times of low harvest, GiveDirectly transfers provide a critical safety net, ensuring we can meet our basic needs and educational expenses. Currently, I am saving $10 monthly in an informal group with nine other members, to accumulate funds to purchase a new bed and mattress in the coming year. Achieving my initial goal of acquiring a goat within less than a year has motivated me to invest in improving our bedding situation. Our current bedding is in poor condition, with old and worn-out items that no longer provide adequate comfort. Acquiring new bedding will significantly enhance our quality of life and ensure better rest for our family. I am deeply grateful for the financial assistance from GiveDirectly, as it has positively transformed our lives in various ways and enabled us to pursue important goals that improve our living conditions. This support has been instrumental in allowing us to plan more effectively for the future and address immediate needs with greater confidence."

"My wife and I rely on farming and selling charcoal to support our family, but the scarcity of tree stumps has affected our charcoal production and business. Despite these challenges, I strive to provide for our school-going children and meet their basic needs. The financial support from GiveDirectly has been a relief, especially in paying school fees for my children, lightening our financial burden. Looking ahead to the coming years, I aim to maximize my savings from the transfers, combined with earnings from casual jobs, to prepare for my son's junior secondary education in two years. I anticipate needing approximately $150 for his admission, and I'm optimistic that diligent saving will ensure we're ready when the time comes, easing the admission process."

"Once I receive my transfers, I plan to invest in a water pump for irrigating my 2-acre piece of land. I will set aside $450 for a Honda water pump because of its horsepower and ability to pump over long distances. This investment will allow me to cultivate vegetables during the dry season to provide for my family of 10. The remaining funds will go towards school fees for my children and reviving my retail shop to earn extra income. I will be excited to involve my wife, Jackline, in managing the shop to keep her engaged and contribute to our family's financial stability."

"For the past decade, I've earned a living by selling local toothbrushes, a job that has supported my family's needs. Currently, my wife and I are actively cultivating maize on our two-acre farm, hoping for plentiful rains and a bumper harvest. A successful harvest will not only ensure food security but also provide financial resources to enhance our quality of life. Recently, I invested in livestock by purchasing a goat for $45, supplementing the cost with earnings from my business. With this addition, I now own six goats, all acquired using funds from the transfers. These animals will serve as valuable assets for the future, offering security and potential income. In addition to supporting my immediate family, I assisted my son in paying $34 in school fees for my six grandchildren. They had been sent home due to outstanding fees, but with the financial assistance, they were able to return to school, complete the term, and sit for their exams. Furthermore, when my son's house collapsed earlier this year due to heavy winds, I contributed $34 towards purchasing building poles to help him set up a new home. I am relieved that he now has a safe and comfortable dwelling, protected from the elements. I am grateful for the financial support provided by Give Directly, as it has enabled me to fulfill my responsibilities to my family and improve our overall quality of life."

"For the past 15 years, I've been alone since my husband died in a car crash in Meru County. It was tough taking care of our six kids without him. But when I got the latest money transfer, I decided to do something smart with itI used $180 to rent a piece of land and plant beans. Beans are marketable in our area, so I figured it was a good investment. When you harvest one hectare of beans, you get 6 bags. Each bag sells for $170. So, planting beans seemed like a good idea to make money. And I'm thankful to GiveDirectly for giving me the money to start farming.I also spent $50 to buy mango seedlings and planted them in my compound. When I get older, I can sell the mangoes and relax under the shade of the mango trees, enjoying them and remembering the help from GiveDirectly.The rest of the money went towards my kids' school fees. Before this money came, I used to borrow loans or sell my animals to pay for school. But thanks to GiveDirectly, things have improved. I used to have a lot of debt, but now I don't owe anyone. I even have some money saved in the bank for emergencies."

"When I receive my transfers, my heart is set on one thing: clearing the arrears for my children's school fees. It pains me to see them missing out on education due to financial constraints. With seven children in school and $500 in arrears looming over us, I am deeply concerned about the impact it could have on their performance. I plan to spend $200 towards easing this burden, ensuring they can continue their education without interruption. Moreover, the constant leaky kitchen has been weighing heavily on my mind for the past three months. It breaks my heart to see my family endure discomfort, especially when it rains. They deserve a safe space to gather and share meals. That is why I am determined to spend $200 in renovating the kitchen, not just to fix the leaks but to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for my loved ones. Balancing these expenses is a labour of love, driven by my unwavering commitment to their well-being and happiness."

"Currently, the two goals that I have is to invest on livestock keeping through the purchase of goats and to pay school fees for my son. This is because I would love to see him excel in life and achieve his dreams. Due to this, I am willing to do any possible thing to make sure that he completes his studies. The goats will also come in handy when I do not have money to use in paying for his school fees as I can easily sell them. Aside from the financial support from GiveDirectly, the government aid for the aged will come in handy in achieving these goals that I have as I am optimistic that I'll start receiving them from May as we were promised."

"The main goal that we currently have as a family is to build a more spacious and permanent house for my family and to pay school fees for our three children, one being in secondary and the other being in grade four and one. Aside from the support that I will be getting from my spouse, I will be dividing the money I get from the two groups that I am in so that I can pay school fees for the children as well as buy some building materials. The house we currently live in is small and in a bad condition as it is almost falling due to heavy rains that we sometimes experience. Despite doing repairs most of the time, it's still not save for us to continue living in it. Without the financial support from GiveDirectly, it will take us longer time to achieve the goal of building a permanent house that we will no longer have to worry about the heavy rains anymore. This is because my spouse will have to shoulder more burden as he will be the only sole provider for our family."

"For the last four months, I have been able to save $ 60 in a merry go round group that we formed after being enrolled by GiveDirectly. Its members consists of GiveDirectly beneficiaries since we all use part of the transfers as our monthly contribution. In addition, I spent $ 8 on the purchase of shoes for my children since the ones they had had worn out. Aside from this, I used $ 42 to pay school fees for my children. I settled on this since I did not want them to be sent back home and lag behind on their studies. Our source of income as a family is burning and selling charcoal and with the current trend at school where students with fee arrears are sent back home once the teachers discover that the transfers has been sent out, I was afraid that our children will stay at home for a long time if we failed to pay a certain percentage. Using the remaining $ 26, I bought some food items and other household necessities to last my family for some days."