"I want to continue supporting the education of my two children, one in high school and the other in primary school. At the same time, I aim to build a new house since the current one has a damaged roof that leaks water whenever it rains. Fortunately, we recently harvested crops, easing our food concerns. As this alleviates the food constraints on the funds, I plan to use the cash transfers to address these two priorities of building a house and paying school fees. Additionally, if possible, I hope to start a business before the cash transfers end, one that can continue generating income even after the funds stop in the next couple of years."

"Having tested watermelon farming and realized a good profit margin from the small piece of land I leased, I intend to fully delve into commercial farming as my source of livelihood. I plan to use $600 of my transfers to actualize this right from purchases to harvesting. By doing this, I project that I can get close to $5000 after three months. This will kickstart my journey to financial freedom and life sustainability for my family. For the rest of the transfers, I intend to relocate to my own place and construct a decent house."

"My house is small and enough for us, it is embarrassing that brothers and male relatives have nowhere to sleep when they visit me. This makes me to prioritize building a better house when I receive my transfers. I will budget KES 40000 of my money to build a two roomed house. I am lucky to have canal water close to me, this will supply water to my farm. I will plan KES 30000 of my transfer to prepare and farm my land. This will help me produce more maize crops. With this, I will be no longer struggling to provide for my family."

".I can't help but express how happy and excited I am. GiveDirectly has truly changed my life. Before, my life was hard to explain. When I got the money, the first thing I did was use $150 to pay off my two children's university fees. Before, I relied on government grants and community donations to pay for their education. But now, thanks to the money I received, I don't need to depend on those sources anymore. I also used $50 to buy food because I used to work selling firewood and water door-to-door, but it didn't pay much. It was hard to support my two grandchildren with just that money. My husband passed away nine years ago, so I'm the only one my kids rely on. Life has been tough since then.With the rest of the money, I built a small room made of Ironsheets for my grandchildren. Before, they lived in a house made of mud and grass, which wasn't good when it rained. Since I got the money, my life has changed. I don't have to work odd jobs anymore; I can stay at home and take care of my grandchildren."

"GiveDirectly has done something great for me by giving me money without any rules. My life has changed a lot. I bought a water tank with the money, and I'm very happy and excited because now I have water at home. Before, getting water was hard because we had to go far to find it.When you go to other villages, please tell people to invest their money wisely so that they'll have something to be happy about in the future. They should remember GiveDirectly for helping them like it helped me."

"Food security has been a constant struggle for my family of five. We rely heavily on farming for our livelihood, but the harsh climatic conditions in our area make it challenging to cultivate our land year-round. With water scarcity being a significant issue, we can only depend on rainfall for farming, which often proves to be insufficient. As a result, I find it difficult to produce enough food to sustain my family. We are forced to turn to casual jobs like land clearing, charcoal burning, and weeding to earn $3 daily. Unfortunately, these jobs are unpredictable, and there are times when we go for up to two days a week without any earnings. On those days, hunger becomes a real challenge, especially for my young children. Living in such circumstances is incredibly tough, and it weighs heavily on me as a parent. I am constantly worried about providing enough food for my family, especially during the lean periods when jobs are scarce. I am actively seeking ways to improve our situation and ensure that my children have enough to eat, but it is not easy."

"In the coming years and beyond, my focus is on enhancing the productivity of my farm. Last year, I faced setbacks with my two-acre plantation due to a poor harvest caused by prolonged dry weather, which reduced the water supply from the river we rely on for irrigation. To mitigate this, I plan to invest in a generator for pumping water and hire workers to help me properly align the water system. With this improvement, I am confident that my maize crops will receive adequate water, leading to increased yields and income from their sale. This will alleviate the financial burden on my children, who also have their families to support."

"We fetch water from the canals of river perkera which is not safe and healthy for domestic use. This nudges me to prioritize a plastic water tank worth KES 35000. Our area is conducive and suitable for livestock keeping, I will invest KES 50000 to purchase a cow and five goats."

"Financial instability is a constant challenge for me and my family of two, especially since we depend solely on farming for our livelihood. Unfortunately, our current financial situation does not allow us to invest in farm input like a water pump and irrigation pipes. As a result, I have had to make the tough decision to lease out our 6-acre piece of land for $360. With this money, I lease a 1-acre plot by the riverbanks for $100 and purchase essential farm inputs such as fertilizers and seeds. While leasing out land helps cover immediate expenses, I am actively seeking ways to secure capital or assistance to invest in irrigation equipment, knowing it will significantly improve our crop yields and financial stability in the long run."

"For many years, our village endured a severe drought, making it hard for me to afford basic necessities like water and food. To make ends meet, I resorted to selling charcoal, but the business did not do well. However, the intervention of GiveDirectly brought about a remarkable transformation in my life. Through their support, I joined a savings group, enabling me to purchase a cow and chickens. Furthermore, I allocated $24 to buy books and uniforms for my grandchild, who was joining Junior Secondary school. Another $20 was wisely saved in our local savings group, to be used later on to buy iron roofing sheets. Additionally, $34 went towards buying storage bags to safeguard the maize I had harvested, which was at risk of spoilage due to lack of proper storage. The remaining funds went towards replenishing our food supplies, which had run out. GiveDirectly has brought a renewed sense of hope to my family, for which I am deeply thankful."