"For the past decade, I have worked as a mason to provide for my family of seven. Life hasn't always been easy; we've faced challenges, particularly when I did not have a steady job and my wife was not employed. However, I'm grateful that things have taken a positive turn. I have ventured into livestock rearing and poultry keeping, which has proven successful. Additionally, these transfers have enabled me to educate my children. With the transfers received, I prioritized settling my children's school fees debt, allocating $30 for this purpose. Additionally, $14 went towards purchasing food, addressing our immediate needs. Recognizing the importance of adequate clothing, I spent $19 to buy clothes for my wife. Moreover, I invested $21 in acquiring a goat and a chicken, which I plan to sell later at a profit. I also set aside $10 for savings and used the remaining amount to buy essential items for my family. I find immense joy in being able to support my family through these transfers."

"My wife and I support our family of ten by selling charcoal and extracting tree stumps. It has not been easy providing for our large family, as we have often lacked food and money for school fees, and we also did not have a safe place to live in. However, I am pleased to share that I am currently constructing a new, larger house for my family. From the transfers received, I used $34 to purchase iron roofing sheets for the construction of our new home. Additionally, I saved $10 through our local savings club and used $20 to settle a pending school fees debt ensuring that my children continue with their education. The remaining $38 was spent on acquiring three chickens and a goat, which I plan to raise and sell later. This assistance from this program has truly been a blessing, bringing me immense happiness and hope for our family's future."

"My husband works as a mason to support our family of six, as I currently don't have any source of income. Previously, we faced difficulties, struggling to afford food and school fees when my husband was unemployed. However, since we started receiving these transfers, I have noticed significant changes. I can now comfortably cover school fees, purchase essential household items like food, and even save for the future. Out of the transfers received, I allocated $59 to purchase two goats and a chicken, which I plan to rear and sell later on at a profit. The remaining $28 was used to buy food, as we were in need. Additionally, I allocated $15 to clear a school fee debt for my children, allowing them to continue with their studies. Being a beneficiary of this program has allowed me to plan more effectively, and I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity to improve our lives."

"I earn a living by selling fish to support my family of seven. Although my husband works as a driver, his job is seasonal and doesn't always provide enough income. Previously, we struggled to pay school fees, often resulting in our children being sent home. Fortunately, our situation has improved. We can now comfortably afford school fees, ensuring our children continue their education. Additionally, I use part of our transfers to cultivate land, ensuring food security for my family. From the transfers received, I allocated $25 to purchase clothes for my children for the Christmas festivities. Another $9 was used to buy food for our family. Additionally, I settled a debt of $58 for my children's outstanding school fees before the new term began. The remaining amount was saved in our local savings club for future emergencies. Receiving these transfers brings me happiness as they have greatly assisted us in our daily lives."

"I work as a tailor, but recently, my business has not been doing well. Despite my husband's job as a driver in Mombasa, his income is not enough to support our family of six. Previously, we faced hardships, unable to afford school fees or provide enough food. However, with these transfers, our situation has improved significantly. Now, I can plan our finances, cover school fees, purchase food, and even invest in livestock and poultry. Out of the transfers received, I allocated $12 to buy uniforms for my children, who had none. Then, I invested $10 in purchasing two chickens which I will keep and sell later on in case of a need. I saved $37, which I plan to use to build and improve my tailoring shop. Additionally, $30 was spent on buying food for our family when our supplies were running low. The remaining $13 went towards settling pending school fees for my children. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this program, as I have witnessed positive changes in our lives."

"I am currently working on completing the fence around my mango trees to protect them from roaming livestock in the neighborhood. This is necessary to keep the trees safe as they grow. I also plan to plant an additional 50 mango trees, which will bring my total up to 60. In about 3 to 4 years, these mangoes will mature and start producing fruit, which could help our family's finances. I'm saving up for this project and, if God allows, I plan to invest in it with the support of my husband. We will use the money from the investment to pay for our children's school fees and cater to our other needs. Additionally, use the income from our mango investment to support ourselves in our old age."

"With the quarterly transfers from GiveDirectly, I used $30 to save in a merry-go-round, hoping that when it's my turn I'll receive a lump sum to finish building my house. I've already started this saving plan, aiming to buy the necessary building materials and inch closer to my goal. Currently, I've managed to purchase 8 iron sheets out of the required 24. Additionally, I allocated $15 to pay school fees for my 3 children, ensuring they remain in school without the threat of being sent back home, which relieves my worries. The rest of the money went towards buying small household items and contributing $15 to my mother-in-law's burial ceremony. As a casual worker burning charcoal and a subsistence farmer, my earnings are meager, especially with the scarcity of trees for charcoal production limiting my income. Despite these challenges, the support from GiveDirectly has been invaluable in helping me work towards a better future for my family."

"GiveDirectly has truly been a blessing to our community, bringing about a remarkable transformation and restoring people's independence. Without the cash transfers, many of us would still be struggling to find casual labor every day. However, GiveDirectly changed the narrative by providing us with the means to address our most pressing needs and invest in our own ideas, which are now flourishing. The concept of receiving cash support was a revelation to us, as we were accustomed to traditional forms of aid like food and material assistance. If other organizations could learn anything from GiveDirectly, it would be the effectiveness of providing cash directly to people. The feeling of empowerment and abundance we experienced when receiving the funds, whether in our accounts or in hand at the mobile money shops, was truly uplifting. I am deeply grateful for GiveDirectly's support and hope that this approach will be adopted by other organizations looking to make a positive impact. The diverse range of ideas and initiatives people have pursued with the cash support is inspiring, from constructing new houses to paying school fees, buying livestock, and reviving farming activities."

"In the coming years, my focus is on further expanding my goat herd, ensuring optimal conditions for healthy breeding and growth. From just five goats before the support from GiveDirectly to now having 19, I see immense progress. With reduced financial obligations now that I no longer need to pay school fees or support a larger family, I have renewed confidence in my ability to grow the herd, especially given the ample shrubs in the surrounding thicket, ideal for goat farming. Rather than selling them off quickly, I plan to selectively sell when necessary, such as during tough times or emergencies. Additionally, I aim to invest the proceeds from my current maize farming efforts into acquiring more goats, thus securing a sustainable source of income for the future."

"I was enrolled in the cash transfer program while in high school, and it transformed my academic journey. Before then, my parents struggled to raise my school fees, and I often found myself being sent home due to lack of funds. My father, who is the family's breadwinner, does manual labor to support our family, while my mother is a housewife and does subsistence farming in the village. Navigating through high school would have been a challenge, especially since all my four siblings are also in school and depend on my father's income. Since I became a beneficiary of the program, it brought significant relief to our household. I am grateful that I was able to complete high school with the help of the monthly transfers. I was able to pay my fees on time, and I finally completed high school last year. My focus now is to join college in September and pursue a course in Early Childhood Education. To achieve this goal, I have decided to save my transfers and be able to enroll this year. I am currently working as a nanny, and I believe my income and savings will help me settle the fees come September. Apart from saving a portion of my recent transfers, I also spent $10 toward paying fees for my siblings, and they are now comfortable in school. I also spent $20 on buying new clothes for myself and some household necessities."