"My main goal has been to buy two cows—one for farming and one for milk. Since I don't have enough money to buy them right away, I used my transfers to buy chickens and goats. As they grow and multiply, I'll sell them to save up for the cows. With my latest transfer, I bought three goats for $92 and medicine to keep them healthy. I also got two chickens for $16 for my poultry project. I'm hopeful that these investments will help me reach my goal of buying cows."

"The transfers came at a perfect time, as I had just welcomed a new member into my family. To facilitate my stay at the hospital and transport back home, I spent $5, and I am happy to have returned home safely with my baby. My newborn needed clothes, so I spent $2 on some new clothes for the baby. I also have a child who is epileptic, and we get medical services and medicine from the KEMRI medical facility at no cost, but we have to cover the transportation costs. I spent $6 on transport to the hospital to get the necessary medicine for my child. Once we were home, we had run out of food, so I used $9 to buy groceries for my family to ensure we wouldn't go hungry. Additionally, my children needed their school fees paid, as well as school supplies, uniforms, and shoes. I spent $40 of my transfers to cover all these school essentials, and I am happy that my children are now in school with everything they need. To support cleanliness in our home, I bought detergents and body oil using $3 of the transfers. Finally, to invest in livestock, I spent $8 to buy chickens, hoping they will multiply so I can trade them for goats. I also bought a goat for $29, hoping it will multiply and increase in number. Together with the goats acquired through trading chickens, I plan to use them in the future to fund my children's education."

"With the previous transfers from GiveDirectly, I ventured into poultry farming,which has become my primary source of income and I am happy that I am creating a good market for them. Upon receiving the transfers, I spent $46 on chicken feed and medicine to ensure the health and well-being of my chickens, which in turn increased their value. To add to my livestock, I purchased a goat for $28, hoping it would multiply in numbers into a large herd and contribute to my goal of becoming a livestock farmer, specializing in raising and selling chickens and goats. With school-going children in my household, I also used $10 to settle school fee balance so that they could attend school without any outstanding debts when schools reopened after the holiday break. I further spent $4 to buy additional food to add to our household supplies, ensuring that my family would not go hungry. Finally, I have a daughter who is epileptic, who requires regular medical attention. To achieve this, we started visiting the Epilepsy-Specialized clinic at KEMRI, where she received treatment for free. To facilitate her medical care, I spent $16 on transportation to take her to the clinic, where she was treated. I am grateful that we received the necessary care that we needed, and my daughter is now on medication and attending school. Initially, her condition prevented her from attending school, but with the current treatment, she is making very good progress, and I am thankful to God for this."

"I am a teacher hired by the Parents, Teachers Association to teach at Msabaa Primary. Besides teaching, I invest in chickens. Currently, I have twenty chickens, and I ensure to purchase more each month. I bought chickens for $15 and spent an additional $15 on their food and medicine. Investing in chickens is beneficial as they can multiply easily, providing a source of income during financial challenges.To enhance my appearance, I used $20 from my transfer to purchase clothes. Additionally, I allocated $18 towards rent to avoid eviction. The remaining $34 was spent on food as I had nothing to eat at home."

"I lost my chicken following a disease outbreak in our area. My chicken were free range which meant they would roam everywhere and that is probably how they contracted the disease. I want to mechanize my farming a bit to ensure we do not have a repeat of the same. I plan on using my cash transfers to build a better chicken coup where the chicken will be able to stay all the time to ensure they do not move around. I also want to ensure I have access to the right medicine so that in case an unavoidable circumstance hits the chicken they can get the proper medication and loss will be greatly minimized. I am able to have this dreams because of GIvedirectly."

"Sixteen years ago, I was diagnosed with stomach ulcers, and the doctor advised me to abstain from heavy work and only engage in light duties. My husband is very old and cannot work, which forced my daughter, who recently completed her class eight studies, to go and work to take care of our family. When GiveDirectly enrolled me into the program, it was a huge relief for my two children, especially my son, who sells toothbrushes to earn a living. I am very happy that with the money from the transfers, I can buy medicines and food for myself without heavily relying on my son and daughter. Recently, I spent $20 to pay a medical bill for my grandson, who had fallen ill and was admitted to Mariakani Hospital. I am glad he is well and his health has improved. I also spent $14 to buy medicines for my ulcer condition.To address the high cost of kerosene, I purchased solar lighting for my house and paid $20 to cover the monthly fee for the purchase. Additionally, I paid $10 in school fees and $4 to buy stationery items for my two grandchildren, assisting my daughter who could not pay their school fees after she briefly fell ill. Finally, I purchased a goat for $34. I consider this a future investment that will help me raise money even after the financial aid ends. I am very happy and appreciative of the financial transfers from GiveDirectly."

"As time goes by, I am becoming older and can no longer work. My health has been deteriorating, hindering me from providing for myself. The money I receive from the cash transfers helps take care of my immediate needs. I spent $19 on food purchases, ensuring I had enough to eat, as the food I harvested from the farm has been depleted. I spent $34 on medicine and hospital bills after falling ill and visiting the hospital for treatment. Additionally, I saved $20 with the intention of purchasing goats, which will help in the event I need cash, as they multiply over time, making them a good investment. I purchased two birds of poultry, a hen and a guinea fowl. Once they multiply, I will sell some and reinvest the money to buy more goats. I also paid $10 as a down payment for the purchase of a goat. I am very happy to now own different livestock, which will definitely help me raise money even after the completion of the transfers in five years."

"Life hasn't been easy for me; I rely on casual labor to make ends meet. With the recent transfers totaling $102, I had to make some informed and crucial decisions so that I could benefit from the money to transform my life. First, my son's health was my priority. He had been sick and he required some medicines so I spent $10 on him. It was tough seeing him suffer, but every penny spent on his health was worth it. After that, I tackled a long-standing issue of my leaky grass-thatched house. With $72, I purchased six iron sheets, a step towards renovating my roof. The rainy season's relentless downpours had turned my home into a soggy mess. With 12 iron sheets now in hand through the transfers, I'm halfway to providing my family with a safer, drier shelter. However, there's still work to be done; I need eight more sheets to complete the transformation. Finally, $20 went towards food, ensuring my family's basic needs were met amidst these pressing concerns. These decisions were tough, but they were necessary steps towards securing a better future for us all."

"My plan revolves around using the transfers I receive, coupled with extra financial assistance from my parents, to sustain my education until I complete my A levels. Following this, I aim to enroll in college to pursue a course in medicine. To make this academic journey feasible, I intend to request aid from the Government to help cover my school fees, given my parents' financial struggles."

"For the past six years, I have been battling a persistent illness with constant fluctuations in my blood pressure. Despite frequent hospital visits, the problem has persisted and deteriorated my health. Every month, I travel to and from the hospital for check-ups to ensure my blood pressure is at the recommended level. I spent $50 on transportation, doctor fees, and purchasing prescribed medicines. I am glad my health is improving, and with the help of the transfers, I am optimistic about getting better. I also spent $15 on the monthly fee for my solar panel, which provides light for my house. Additionally, I saved $15 with the aim of purchasing livestock as an investment for the future. With the recent rains, I plowed my 1-acre farm, preparing it for planting and hoping for continued rains to guarantee a bumper harvest. Lastly, I purchased food worth $4, ensuring I had enough to eat and never had to sleep on an empty stomach. I am very happy and appreciative of the financial support. Despite my health condition preventing me from working, this support helps me take care of my immediate needs. It has also reduced the burden on my son, who has been taking care of me, which is a relief for both of us."