"Receiving $450 from GiveDirectly has truly transformed my life, and I am deeply grateful for this support. The first thing I did was use $190 to buy three sheep, as I didn’t own any livestock before and saw this as a great opportunity to start. My goal is sustainability; with time, I know the sheep will multiply and provide support for my family, especially in emergencies. They will also be a source of food through milk and, eventually, income. Next, I used $100 to pay school fees for two of my children in private primary school—a boy and a girl. Ensuring a good education for my children is my responsibility, and it brings me peace of mind knowing that there are no unpaid fees now that the term has ended. With $85, I was able to return to farming after the devastating flood. I planted maize and vegetables on a one-acre plot, and I’ve already started selling the vegetables. The income from this helps me maintain the maize farm, covering the costs of irrigation and ensuring a future food supply for our family. Any surplus from the maize will also generate additional income. Finally, I used the remaining money to buy essential food items and to fulfill a promise I made to my children: to buy them new clothes. They were thrilled, and it was a joyful moment for our family. This support has not only addressed our needs but has filled our home with happiness and renewed hope."

"First of all, I am deeply grateful for the support. I felt truly supported during a challenging time, as I was affected by severe floods that took away many of my belongings and disrupted my farming. Receiving $450 has been a blessing in helping me rebuild. As a farmer, my work was on hold due to the flooding, but now I’m back to farming on one acre of land. I invested $150 into this venture; since I had already bought kale seeds with the first transfer, this amount covered the cost of land preparation, planting, and repairing my generator. This generator is essential for irrigation, allowing me to manage the crops even if there’s no rain and reducing the risk of crop loss. I am already selling some of this produce and saving the earnings for future farming. My next plan is to grow beans on two acres. After setting up the farm, I focused on school fees for my three children. I used $150 to clear their unpaid fees. One of my children is preparing for the national exams, and now they can do so without the worry of debt. I am very grateful for this, as I value education deeply. With $70, I bought a goat, my first one, which will be helpful in the future, especially for school expenses. Finally, I used the remaining amount to buy food, ensuring my family has this essential supply, especially once the support ends. I didn’t know where to start after the floods, but this support has truly made a difference. I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to rebuild and provide for my family’s needs."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, one of my children was close to finishing secondary school, but I struggled to clear the outstanding fees. I used $150 of the transfer to pay the remaining school fees. With that burden lifted, I felt a huge relief, and I am thrilled to see my child continue their education without any more obstacles. After handling the school fees, I wanted to invest in something sustainable that could provide ongoing income even after this support ends. So, I used $210 to purchase four goats. I didn’t own any livestock before this, and I am hopeful that raising goats will give me a source of income and a safety net in times of need. With the remaining $90, I leased a piece of land plan to use for crop farming. This venture will not only help generate income but will also contribute to our food security in the future. I am deeply grateful for this support. It has allowed me to secure my child’s education, start building a small livestock herd, and prepare for future farming opportunities."

"I had always wanted to own a sheep—something I could call mine and that would be a lasting memory of this support. With $90, I bought two sheep, both as an investment for my family and as a reminder of the kindness shown to us by GiveDirectly. Education has always been a priority for me, but keeping my three children in primary school was becoming a challenge due to rising costs. I used $50 from the cash transfer to pay their school fees, making sure they wouldn’t be sent home and could focus on their studies. Seeing them stay in school, knowing they’re getting the education they deserve, brings me peace of mind. With $26, I bought half a bag of maize to help us through the shortage, and I used the remaining amount to buy basic household food items that would last us for the next two weeks. This ensured that my family had enough to eat, allowing us to focus on other pressing needs without the constant worry about our next meal."

"I am thankful to GiveDirectly for the financial assistance that has significantly improved my financial situation. After completing my secondary education, I found myself at home, unsure of how to pursue college. Fortunately, GiveDirectly enrolled me in their program. With their support, I was able to start a small vegetable business, which has been quite successful. I couldn’t attend college right away because my parents, who are peasant farmers, couldn’t afford it. Through this business, I am able to save money, and I use part of my income from GiveDirectly to invest in goats. I am pleased to say that I now have ten goats. My ambition is to become a Mechanical Engineer, and I believe that the income from my business and goat investments will help me achieve my college dreams, as goats reproduce quickly. I plan to sell some of them to fund my education. After graduating, I aim to establish my own business to enhance my family's quality of life."

"I have a daughter whom we have been struggling to raise her secondary school fees with huge arrears. We intend to clear the arrears and pay her school fees to avoid interrupting her education as she will be completing her secondary school next year. The first transfer from GiveDirectly will be spent on clearing her arrears of KES 10000, and the second transfer will be spent on next year's education expenses. I feel elated that my daughter will finish her secondary education without being sent home for school fees."

"My hope for this year and the years to come is to complete the construction of a new house so that my family can move out of our damaged mud house. Once we have a safe and secure home, I plan to shift my focus to farming and livestock keeping. This will help us secure a steady food supply and create a sustainable source of income, which will ensure that my children can continue their education without worry and that I can provide for my family. I plan to use the third transfer from GiveDirectly to make this vision a reality. The thought of having a permanent home and a stable livelihood fills me with hope, as it will place me in a much better situation than where I am now."

"I am currently in school and have many aspirations, but in the upcoming year and beyond, I want to focus on my studies first so I can complete my secondary education with good grades. The poverty I have experienced motivates me to work harder so that one day I can change the future of my family. I hope to attend university. My immediate aim is to study diligently and achieve high grades that will enable me to get into a good college. I want to look back one day and remember that I succeeded in life because of these opportunities. There were times when I y like giving up due to financial struggles, but I am grateful that Give Directly stepped in to help. I often feel emotional when I reflect on where I started. I believe that with a strong education, I can secure a well-paying job that will better our family’s circumstances, lift us out of poverty, and help us achieve a better quality of life. My mother sells charcoal, and my father is a small-scale farmer, making it challenging to support my education along with my younger siblings. With these transfers, I am confident that I will achieve my dream."

"My primary objective is to make sure my children can pursue their education to higher levels, enabling them to have a brighter future. To reach this goal, I plan to allocate part of my transfers to acquire more goats while using other portions to cover their school fees. I am optimistic that by adding more goats to my resources, they will multiply over time. Eventually, I aim to exchange these goats for cows, which will also appreciate in value. When the opportune moment arises, I will sell the cows and utilize the profits to support my children's education, as they can yield a substantial return. I am very thankful to GiveDirectly for providing me with this chance to enhance my family's assets. This assistance will enable me to establish a sustainable approach to ensure my children can continue their education and achieve a better future."

"GiveDirectly's cash transfers have truly uplifted us, providing immediate relief and a sense of security. The follow-up process on the money is a great motivator because it encourages us to take the assistance seriously and use it wisely. The financial education they provide has shifted my mindset from just focusing on daily needs, like food, to considering long-term sustainability. This empowerment has helped me plan better for my family's future. I believe GiveDirectly is doing an excellent job, and I would not suggest any changes; continuing the same approach is something I fully support."