"I want to plant maize that will help me pay school fees for my children next year. I have three children in school, and they all need school fees which makes that my priority. Earlier this year, I harvested maize and sold it to Kenya Seed. I’m still waiting for their payment, but they promised to release it in November. Once I get that money, I’ll use it to prepare for the next farming season. It will cover the seeds, fertilizer, and other farm inputs I need. After I complete the farming expenses, I will use the third transfer of the payment to pay dowry for my wife. It’s something I’ve been planning for a while now, and it will be good to finally get it done. I just pray everything goes well. If the rains come on time and the harvest is good, I’ll manage to achieve both—keep the children in school and honor my commitment to my wife’s family." (Country: Kenya)

"I spent $200 on the farm, ploughing half an acre of land and ordering tomato seeds. I made sure the land was well-watered so that the crops would have a good start. Farming is our lifeline, and this investment will help us get a better harvest and hopefully more income down the road. I also used $50 to clear my daughter’s school fees. She’s in Grade 6, and we had some arrears from last term. If I hadn’t paid, she would’ve been sent home, and I didn’t want her to miss any more lessons. It’s important she stays in school so she can have a brighter future than what I had growing up. With $50, I bought new clothes for my wife, my youngest child, and myself. We all needed to look good—it felt right to celebrate this blessing by dressing well. Another $50 went toward stocking the house with food, ensuring we wouldn’t have to worry about meals for a while. The remaining amount helped me buy essential household supplies to keep things running smoothly. Every cent went to something meaningful, and I feel relieved knowing we’re in a better place than we were before." (Country: Kenya)

"In the upcoming year and beyond, my plan is to open my own sewing shop. I’ve already ordered a machine from Mombasa and paid for it using the savings I accumulated through our merry-go-round group. With my coursework complete, I’m ready to launch the shop, which will provide an income to support my family. I also plan to rent a nearby space and stock additional items to sell alongside my tailoring services. I’ve purchased the sewing machine and am currently awaiting its arrival. Once it arrives, I will open the shop and start this new chapter. I'm truly grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has renewed my optimism in achieving this goal. Additionally, I plan to invest in farming tools, including a bull for ploughing, and I’m saving for this through the same merry-go-round group. I am optimistic about achieving my goals before the transfers come to an end." (Country: Kenya)

"Since my husband passed away two years ago, I’ve had to take on the full responsibility of covering our children’s school fees, clothing, food, and other essentials. The house was already in poor condition when he passed, and it’s been a struggle to meet all their needs with the limited profits from my charcoal business. With the recent increase in the cost of basic commodities, the situation has become even more difficult. My children were often sent home for unpaid fees, so I decided to dedicate all my transfers toward paying their school fees. Renovating the house is my second priority. Although I replaced the roof, the house is still unsafe as the cracked walls let in insects and rain. My immediate goal is to rebuild the walls, and I plan to save $4 each month to buy construction materials. I can’t save more than that right now due to other basic needs. Once my children finish their education, I intend to invest in goat and chicken rearing projects. These projects will generate more income, as they multiply when well taken care of, increasing their financial value. I'm confident that once these projects are established, they will provide security. In case of a financial crisis, I’ll be able to sell some animals to support my family." (Country: Kenya)

"Moving forward, my primary focus is to use my transfers to help my child, who has a deformed leg. I am determined to ensure that he receives the necessary medical attention so that he can have a good leg and enjoy a normal life like other children. In addition to my child's medical care, I plan to use part of the transfers to buy goats. My hope is that these goats will multiply and increase in number over time. I then intend to trade some of the goats for cows, which I can train to help plow my farm. In the future, I may be able to sell some of the cows as they multiply and use the proceeds to fund my children's education. I am excited to see these plans come to fruition with the help of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, and I am hopeful that I will be able to provide my children with the best possible opportunities." (Country: Kenya)

"Financial constraints are the greatest challenge. Both my husband and I rely on casual jobs to earn a living, it is not sustainable because what we earn only meets our basic needs halfway through. We borrow loans to be able to pay school fees for our children and repay slowly. If we had a better source of income our lives would have been better." (Country: Kenya)

"I graduated from Egerton University in June 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, but I have never been employed. Since then, I have been managing my father’s business in Kampi Samaki town, earning KES 6000 a month. I use this money to support my daughter’s education and cover my basic needs, but it is tough to make ends meet. I have been applying for jobs consistently, but I have not secured any employment yet. I am worried about the difficulty of finding work, especially as the economy in Kenya changes daily. I just hope to find something that allows me to provide better for my daughter and myself." (Country: Kenya)

"The biggest challenge in my life right now is my health. I have been struggling with a backache for the past 10 years without finding a permanent solution. Due to financial constraints, I have not been able to seek further treatment from specialists, which has made things even more difficult for me." (Country: Kenya)

"I am a mother of 3 engaging in fish trade from the year 2019.The fluctuations in the population of fish recently in Lake Baringo has caused inadequacy in my household income.Fishing is the main economic activity in this area. My husband and I have engaged in this activity for 5 years , it has been difficult to diversify to other forms of economic activities such as farming due to the natural calamities that regularly affect agriculture.In the past 2 months the number of fish in Lake Baringo has been declining rapidly leading to a decrease in my monthly income from KES 21000 to KES 9000.This has negatively affected my life in that I have had to cut on the quality and quantity of meals in my household from 3 to 2 meals a day.Moreover, I have had to get into debt to meet the household utilities and food.Financial shortage is therefore the greatest challenge am currently facing." (Country: Kenya)

"I live in a dry place, the climate is hot and the land is rocky. We cannot do farming to produce food. Luckily, nearby is Lake Baringo. I depend on frying fish for sale. Fishermen sell fish to me on a daily basis. Sometimes, the fish caught is small and I may lack stock. This means the profits are small not even enough to buy food for my family. It means sometimes I can only buy food. It leaves my family short on income to support other needs such as school fees and other basics like clothes or medication." (Country: Kenya)