"I have five children, four of whom are in school right now. My youngest child, who is now 9 months old, has been suffering from heart problems, and I have spent days in the hospital seeking treatment for her. Recently, I have been visiting a referral hospital in Eldoret and buying expensive medicines from a nearby pharmacist, which has stretched my family's finances and prevented me from looking for additional casual jobs because I have been spending most of my time caring for my daughter. With casual labor being scarce and subsistence farming being unsustainable owing to severe weather conditions, I was desperate for any support and was relieved to receive it from GiveDirectly. I made a total payment of $120 on the same day of receipt, which allowed us to be freed from the hospital with some medication that has been helping my child recover since then. I also paid $40 to clear school arrears for my secondary school child, who had been at home for quite some time after being sent to collect the money, which I did not have at the time. I used the rest of the money to buy groceries for my family of seven."

"After we had planted and harvested our crops, the cash transfers were not mostly constrained to food. So, I decided to allocate $25 to buy a goat. Thanks to the cash transfers I've received from day one, I now have three goats. I view these goats as assets that will help me meet my future needs, whether it's for food when I'm hungry or for medicine when someone in my family is sick. I also spent $5 on buying a shirt and trousers, and $4 on household expenses, particularly for toiletries. I engage in subsistence farming when it rains, and my son works as a casual laborer in house construction in town. He is the main provider for his four kids who stay with us back in the village. There was a time when he was struggling to cover the school fees for his children, so I supported him by paying $25 towards their tuition. This ensured they wouldn't risk missing school, and it allowed one of them to sit for his final primary school examination. Recently, another rainy season began, and I used $20 to plow my one-acre piece of land for planting. The remaining funds were used to purchase food supplies other than the maize that I harvested."

"Certainly, the support from Givedirectly has set a positive trajectory for my life. Having addressed pressing needs, I now have the confidence that accessing medicine will be easier in the future. The financial stability provided by GiveDirectly allows me to concentrate on essential aspects like food and healthcare. Moreover, I've made a deliberate investment in my grandchild's education by ensuring she continues to enjoy a quality education. With the newfound financial stability, I'm optimistic that her academic journey will be smooth and impactful, providing her with the best possible learning experience until she completes her studies. The transformative impact of GiveDirectly extends beyond immediate needs, paving the way for a better and more secure future for us. I appreciate the opportunities this support has unlocked, and I am determined to make the most of them."

"My initial intention for the cash transfers was to use the money to build a new house. After my own house collapsed years ago, I moved into my son's structure where I've been staying ever since. I have always desired to build a new house, but I did not have the financial means to achieve that goal. Being advanced in age, I solely depend on my grandson, who works as a public service vehicle driver, to provide for his sister and me. However, the income he makes has only been enough to cover basic needs like food and medication for my epileptic condition. I am very happy that the cash transfers have given me a chance to build a new house. I would be delighted if, by the end of the transfer period, I could have a two-room structure made of mud walls and a tin roof. This is why I spent $300 from the cash transfer to buy roofing materials like iron sheets and nails. Also, at that time, I needed to refill my monthly medication, and I spent $50 to buy the medicine. I'm glad that this monthly refill has helped contain the episodes I usually experience. I spent the remaining amount of the cash transfers to contribute to the household's food needs for the last month and beyond. We were yet to harvest our crops by that time, and I am happy to have contributed, thereby lightening the burden on my grandson's shoulders."

"I am a secondary school student currently in form four, this is my last year in secondary school. My education is very important to me and I have see the transfers help me with ensuring my school fees are being paid. In July $20 of my transfers went into ensuring my school fees balances are reduced, I further reduced them in august by $13. I am also a passionate chicken farmer, I have been using this cash transfers to buy chicken, I bought 5 chicken in July at $2 each for $10 and 2 chicken in August at $4 and I also got chicken feed worth $3 in July. I felt it prudent to set aside $4 in September to buy supplements and medicine for the chicken since the animals need to be in good health to ensure they are not wiped out by disease. I have also started a small vegetable stall in September using $15 of my transfers. I am also now a member of an informal savings group where I save $15 monthly."

"I have been away from my husbands house for a while because he has not paid my bride price. This has meant that I have had to depend on my family to take care of my children. My brother used to pay school fees for my child and so when I began getting Givedirectly transfers I returned the favour and helped pay his children school fees. In August I paid $8 for his two children and my child while in August I spent $3. I am also epileptic and whenever my drugs end I make my way to the hospital to refill them. I used $10 as fare to go get my medicine. I have also been using the cash transfers for foo, in July I spent $10 and in August I spent $5. I also saved part of my July transfers $6 to my informal savings group and my entire September transfers."

"I remember the day we received that cash transfer from GiveDirectly like it was yesterday. It was a lifeline that changed our lives in ways I can't even put into words. My heart swelled with gratitude because that money meant I could finally afford the medication my ailing husband desperately needed. Watching him regain his strength and smile again brought tears of joy to my eyes. But it wasn't just about the medicine; it was about not having to go to bed hungry anymore. No more empty stomachs and worried nights, we could put food on the table every day. That gift from GiveDirectly was like a ray of sunshine after a long, night, and it filled our lives with hope, health, and happiness."

"I have 6 chicken with chicks. I needed to replace my rooster as I had gotten rid of the older one. I spent $12 from my July transfers acquiring a new rooster. I also bought chicken feed for the rest of my chicken at $11in July and September. In August I also added one hen to the already existing hens. This month I have been looking for a goat and still looking with a budget of $20. I also spent some of my transfers buying food in August at $5 and also paying school fees for my child at $60 in July. I sought treatment for my child with speech issues adding $4.5 from my July transfers to my savings to get enough medicine and paying for consultation. I accrued a debt of $2 in July which I paid with August transfers."

"The transfers I have received from Givedirectly have proven productive in my life. I have been able to purchase food, support my husband who works in the city, join a savings group as well as bought livestock. In July I spent my cash transfers paying exam fees for my child $2, I bought a chicken worth $4, I bought shopping exceeding $10 over the month. In August I spent $2 again on exam fees, I saved $10 to an informal savings group, and also got food at $10. In the month of September I sent my husband $5 as he was stuck financially, I bought medicine for my goat worth $5.5, I bought toiletries at about $5, I got shoes at $1.5 and clothes for my child at $2, I bought food rolling over the month worth more that $15 from my transfers."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is the abundance of food since receiving the initial transfer. In the past, we consumed whatever food was available, without considering whether it constituted a balanced diet or not. Thanks to this support, I managed to obtain a sufficient supply of maize and have been able to purchase various groceries with the daily income I earned from selling herbal medicines. This has entirely replaced our reliance on potatoes, and now my family and I can enjoy more than one meal a day."