"I used KES 30000 to build a new house and another KES 10000 to buy goats for keeping. The remaining amount was used to buy food and school clothes for my children. For a long time, my family and I have been staying in a single roomed house that is grass thatched and with a leaking roof. Each and every passing day, I was reminded of the need to build a new house or improve the one we had but sadly I did not have the money to do this. I hoped against hope that some day we would be able to accumulate enough money to be able to put up a better structure. The situation got worse whenever there were rains and we had to keep shifting our sleeping positions to where we would not be rained on. This pained me a lot and I often felt like I was failing as a parent. I could not do this though because I could raise at most KES 400 per day from the casual work that I did. I am so happy that we did not only build a new house but also improved the house we were living in before by changing the roofing. The roof does not leak anymore and this has meant that we have a separate extra room that serves as a kitchen and a sleeping place for our children. My whole family is extremely happy about this. I do not know how much longer we would have had to wait before we could fix this up had we not received the money."

"Before receiving the second transfer, I had planned to invest in livestock. Therefore, I bought three goats for KES 12000.00. I did this after seeing how the climate was. It was a dry season and cows could not cope with drought, unlike goats which are somehow drought resistant. Thereafter, I constructed a kichen for KES 12000.00 because I used to cook outside of my house and it was troublesome during rainy days. Therefore, I thought it was wise to build the kitchen. Currently, even if it rains day and night, I have no problem because I have a nice and well covered cooking area. I also bought a table for KES 1650.00 and five plastic chairs for KES 3500.00 because I had no chairs at all. It was shameful to welcome visitors and offer them some pieces of logs to seat on. I am now happy and comfortable welcoming friends to my home because I have some chairs to offer them. Since my children had no bed, I bought them one and a mattress for KES 15500.00. I am now happy seeing them sleeping comfortably, unlike before GiveDirectly aided me. For entertainment and news purposes, I bought a television in a hire-purchase. I paid a deposit of KES 5000.00 and I am paying a daily installment of KES 95.00 for three years. Lastly, I bought 12 buckets of 20 liters each for storing water for KES 1800.00. I did this because fresh water in our area is not reliable. By so doing, it is an assurance of having enough water if all the 12 buckets are full."

"I invested KES 32,000 into my goat rearing an activity that I have depended on to educate our 4 children and support other needs like food and shelter. I bought 8 goats more and currently have a flock of 10 goats. This is our long-term investment for my children as it will help me to educate them. Especially, when they are sent out of school I would sell them to clear their fees. Additionally, goats are good compared to cattle since they can endure harsh weather conditions like long droughts. Furthermore, I used KES 10,000 to clear all the fee arrears as well as pay the term two fees in full. Currently, they are learning without any interruption something that makes me happy. The remaining amount assisted me to acquire modern and proper bedding for the family since we were using old rags as bedding which was not comfortable."

"I spent KES 40,000 of the recent transfer together with my personal saving to purchase a brand new motorbike for my husband. He is in the motorbike taxi business and had not been able to own one for himself since we lacked the finances. For over a year, he was using a neighbor's motorbike for the taxi which require him to pay KES 1800 per week. The income he could get was KES 200 per day which was not enough to sustain the needs of our family of 5 as well as pay for the educational needs of the 3 children. Currently, we are happy that he can get at least KES 500 per day which can comfortably meet most of our needs like food and no longer go to bed hungry. Also, I used KES 6400 to start livestock rearing by purchasing two goats as a future investment for the family. With the remaining amount, I bought sufficient food for the family."

"In 2020, my mother lost her house managing job owing to the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. This marked the start of hardships in the household since she was the breadwinner. She could no longer financially support my high school education. The only hope for my academic progression was the government-issued bursaries that I had applied for; luckily they proved useful. However, I had to sell my entire herd of goats to supplement the grunt fund. I am glad that I graduated from secondary school six months ago with no outstanding fee balances. Since then, my desire has always been to start rearing livestock but financial constraints have barred me. Gladly, Give Directly presented an opportune deal to actualize this wish. That is why I spent KES 2,500 on a goat to start the rearing journey. Also, I gave out KES 300 as church tithes. Being a Christian, I feel obliged to bear 10% of every money I earn for offerings, and the transfer felt like an income to me. I used the remaining amount on personal essentials like sugar and sanitary supplies because I had run out. "

"Being the first child in my family to ever get to high school motivates me to keep climbing the academic ladder even higher to the tertiary level and make my parents proud. However, the little earnings my father and mother make from house construction tasks and kiosk business, respectively, can barely see me through high school. There are two siblings behind me in primary school who need financial support and the constraints may prove heavy on my parents’ income. To help, I have always desired (from two years ago) to raise livestock that will multiply and provide funds in the future, especially for my education. Give Directly turned this dream into reality through the cash transfer, from which I deducted KES 2500 to buy a goat. There is nothing that gives me more joy than owning livestock at the young age of 18 years. I spent the remaining money to boost the little food left in stock. At least it lasted my family of five at least three days. "

"I spent part of my second transfer on buying iron sheets, doors, building poles, and the labour charges at a total of KES 25000. I had intended to finish building my house which was still under construction. The initial house was in a poor state and it would collapse at any time. Also, it was very small to accommodate my two children. They have therefore been sleeping at their grandmother's house which was a bit of a challenge as well since her house was very far from the village we lived in. I am now a proud single father because I will be sheltering will all my family members under one roof. Additionally, I cleared the arrears of KES 5000 for my two children in grades three and four respectively. They are now studying comfortably without any disturbances. Also, I bought livestock ( two goats, three ducks and a chicken) which cost around KES 10000. They will now serve as reliable assets that I can readily lean on in case of any financial constraints. With the remaining amount, I bought food for my family and other household needs that I was lacking."

"I run a small business selling chapati, but it does not bring in a lot of money. My husband also lacks a job and hardly ever works in construction. As a result, we were starving when I received my transfer. I, therefore, had to buy food worth KES 1,000 because I did not have enough food for my family of four. I bought enough food to feed us for two weeks. I also spent KES 1,000 on a new set of clothes. It has been a long since I last bought decent clothes, so I bought clothes for myself. I am happy to have bought three outfits that make me look presentable. To be able to raise some livestock, I also spent KES 1,000 on buying a young goat. They are live assets that may be of great help in the future."

"Receiving this cash means that I would be able to buy 3 bags of fertilizer to apply in my maize field, thus, a warrant for bumper yields next harvesting season. I will do this because I would like to be food secure. If the funds can come even earlier it means I would be able to top up my current food stocks with 4 bags of maize for the meantime. Thereafter, I plan on buying 2 goats and have them procreate so that whenever I am faced with challenges I would be able to sell them and solve my problems even after you guys are gone. For instance, it means I would be able to pay for medical services."

"I plan on buying 2 goats so that I remember GD by. This will also mean that I will have continued financial support since I will be selling the goats for profit in future after they multiply. I believe that way I will have a reliable poverty alleviation step in my household. Furthermore, I will buy 4 bags of fertilizer to apply in my maize field to achieve a bumper harvest next year, thus, being food secure."