"As a casual laborer, my livelihood primarily depends on selling charcoal, supplemented by growing food for subsistence during the rainy season. While my income is sufficient to meet my daily needs, the monthly transfers from Give Directly have played a crucial role in enabling me to tackle and achieve goals that would have otherwise been out of reach due to my limited earnings. One significant allocation from the transfers was the substantial portion of $30 that went towards settling a debt that had accumulated to $60. This debt had arisen as a result of purchasing food on credit during a challenging period when the prices of food commodities skyrocketed. Since we had not yet harvested our own crops, we had to rely on purchasing food from local shops. I am relieved to share that, together with my mother, we have finally managed to pay off this long-standing debt that had been weighing us down. Furthermore, I utilized a portion of the transfers to fix a door in my house, providing a sense of security for my belongings whenever I am away. During the planting season, I hired individuals to assist with weeding my farm, for which I paid a total of $15. This support was instrumental in ensuring a successful harvest. Additionally, I allocated $19 towards purchasing food to sustain my family, including my mother and two children, during the period leading up to the harvest. I am sincerely grateful for the financial assistance provided in improving my life."

"Upon receiving the third transfer, I made a significant purchase that had been a long-awaited dream: a water storage tank. This 3000-litre tank, costing $170, has been on my wish list for a while, but financial constraints held me back. My primary source of income is farming, and our region has been grappling with rainfall shortages due to climate change affecting our farm production. The tank has been a true lifesaver, sparing me the arduous journey of fetching water from distant sources since the rivers frequently run dry due to the scorching weather conditions, making access to water a daily challenge. Thanks to the tank, my neighbors and I can now collectively purchase water from water trucks, costing $30 for 7,000 litres, and use it for various needs. Furthermore, I expanded my goat herd by adding four more goats, utilizing $200 from the transfer. Goats are our main source of income generation, as they thrive and reproduce rapidly in our region, fetching favourable prices in the market. This investment ensures our financial stability and prospects. Lastly, I secured my youngest son's college education with the funds by paying his tuition fee of $80. This truly warms my heart, knowing that with the school fees settled, he can fully concentrate on his studies, increasing the likelihood of academic success. His dreams and aspirations are now within reach, thanks to the support from GD."

"Mangoes do well, and have a readily available market. Due to free roaming of livestock, I must fence my farm. I'd like to plant 20 mangoes. Fencing, seedling cost and labour will take me about $400. When they are mature, I'll be assured of semi-annual harvest. This will provide me with income to support myself. Additionally, I plan to improve my house to a 2-roomed house. Building materials are quite expensive nowadays. This means I need at least $500 for it to be completed. Plan to also cement it. There's enough sand within the village, it's cheap and easier to maintain. It will give me peace of mind as I focus on other things. Goats and sheep are easy to rear. They move freely within the village. They also fetch good prices when mature and healthy. This is an opportunity I cannot let slip. Plan to buy 2 goats and 2 sheep. In a short period of time, I will have a good number of livestock."

"We have lived in a dilapidated house for a long time. It's a matter of urgency that we build a better one. As a family, we intend to build a 2-roomed iron sheet house. Additionally, we want to cement the floor for easier maintenance and cleanness. This means we can sleep well and also host our visitors worryless. The house will cost approximately $600 depending on the cost of materials and labour. To also secure our futures, we need to buy a cow. Cows produce more milk which we can also sell. They fetch good prices, one liter costs about $1. A good cow is sold for approximately $200. Their numbers will also grow leading to future sales to solve other emergencies. Due to food insecurity and the elongated drought. We must buy some food items such as maize, beans, sugar and other essentials.This will give us stability and reduce our stress of buy food daily. The cost of food has been rising. We plan to spend the rest of the transfer for food safey."

"As the primary provider in my extended family, I bear the responsibility of supporting my five grandchildren and my son financially. Their education, as well as basic necessities like food and clothing, rely on my income. However, my occupation as a seasonal farm laborer, specifically operating a tractor for tilling during the rainy season, does not generate substantial earnings compared to the expenses I must cover for my family. Given these circumstances, I primarily utilized the financial transfers I received to purchase food for my family. The past three months were particularly challenging, as our own farms had not yet yielded a harvest, leaving us with no means to sustain ourselves. Consequently, we had no choice but to purchase food from the local store at significantly inflated prices. Despite the hardships, I find solace in the fact that the financial assistance I received ensured that my family did not go to bed on empty stomachs. It provided a crucial lifeline during a difficult period, alleviating the immediate concern of hunger. I am grateful for this support that has helped ease the burden on my shoulders as the sole breadwinner, enabling me to fulfill the basic needs of my extended family."

"With determination in my heart and a vision in my mind, I shall embark on a journey to construct a house of on $1343 this plot of land. Land prices may be steep, but I see an opportunity here. This area's fertile soil is the perfect canvas for my dreams of growing onions and maize at $537. The profits from this endeavor will be the foundation of my next chapter: animal farming, with cows at its heart. I am ready to nurture this land, watch it flourish, and let it pave the way for a brighter future"

"Living alone in Bengoni village without any support, especially as a disabled person, was quite challenging for me. However, the first transfer of $12 that I received proved to be extremely helpful in meeting my basic needs. I used the entire amount to purchase food, which played a significant role in preventing hunger. During that period, the drought conditions were severe, and the prices of food in the stores were exorbitant. The financial assistance I received through the transfer from Give Directly was a lifeline for me, allowing me to afford the necessary sustenance despite the high costs. I am deeply grateful for the support I received. It made a substantial difference in my life, ensuring that I did not go hungry and providing me with a sense of security during a challenging time. The assistance from Give Directly has truly been a blessing for me, and I am thankful for their generosity."

"With my August transfers, I made the decision to invest in a goat. Being a farmer, I have encountered significant challenges in my agricultural endeavors over the past six years. Despite dedicating extensive effort to my farm for the past three months, the crops I cultivated ultimately withered just as they began to pollinate. This disheartening outcome has left me with no choice but to continue purchasing food at inflated prices from local shops. This series of setbacks has prompted a pivotal shift in my perspective and financial decisions moving forward. Recognizing the importance of diversifying my investments, I consider the acquisition of a goat to be a shrewd move. Its potential for multiplication in the coming months presents an opportunity to not only recoup my initial investment of $30 but also to generate additional wealth. This strategic investment provides a glimmer of hope amidst the challenges brought about by prolonged drought and its accompanying hardships. I am filled with gratitude for the financial assistance I have received during this trying period. It has proven invaluable in helping me navigate the severe impact of drought and the ensuing challenges. The support I have received has been a lifeline, ensuring that I can sustain myself during these difficult times."

"After I received the funds, I used the entire amount to purchase food because our household had run out of supplies. Additionally, our maize crops were not yet ready for harvesting at that time, so I anticipated that the food would sustain my family until the harvest. Given the rising food prices, I was concerned that if I spent the money on anything else and we completely ran out of food, I would not have the means to purchase more. My son is the primary provider in our family, working casual jobs in Mombasa. Back home, he has four children, all of whom are in school, and he often struggles to cover their basic needs, particularly food and school fees. Contributing to such expenses using the cash transfers provides him with some relief. Additionally, he is currently under pressure to source funds for his eldest son, who recently completed high school and is preparing to join college."

"The past few months were the toughest this year, especially in my village where we had experienced several failed harvests caused by the prolonged drought season that went on for over a year. There was food scarcity and whatever was available was sold a ridiculous price. Truth be told, I have never purchased a packet of 2-kilogram maize flour at anything above $1 dollar before, but this year, it doubled in price and was retailing at more than $2. Maize being our staple food, you can only imagine what everyone went through. During the last three months, all I could think of was how to put food on my family's table and to ensure my children remained in school by ensuring their fees was paid on time. I was unfortunately unable to save any part of my transfers or invest in any projects as I had hoped because the situation was really dire. I am however very thankful that we received a good amount of rains this farming season and we are now just harvesting our crops which has greatly reduced the food prices and eased our living conditions. Now that things are normalizing, I can get back to my stalled plans as these past few months, I have only focused on taking care of the basic household needs and fee payments."