"My husband and I face significant challenges in raising enough money to meet our children's basic needs. Securing jobs is difficult, and the pay is often insufficient. Recognizing this, I am committed to using my transfers wisely to increase our income and provide for our children's needs effectively. My goal for the coming year and beyond is to prioritize my children's education and make the most of these transfers before they come to an end. To achieve this, I plan to save a portion of my transfer to purchase a cow. This investment will enable me to raise additional calves over time, providing a steady source of income through milk production. I can sell the milk to cover my children's school fees and buy essential items for my family. Ultimately, I aim to use the profits from this cow business to fund my children's college education, ensuring they have a bright future and the opportunity to achieve their dreams through quality education. I am determined to invest in their education as it is crucial for their success and future prosperity."

"I have a family of seven children, with five currently attending school and the youngest two not yet of school age. My wife and I rely on casual jobs and farming to support our family. When I received my recent transfer, I allocated $34 towards buying seeds, fertilizer, and partly hiring a tractor to assist with tilling the land. This was a priority to ensure we could catch up with the rains and expedite the work. Additionally, I set aside another $34 to save for purchasing building materials, as our current house is on the verge of collapsing, and I aim to construct a new one as soon as possible. Lastly, I used the remaining $34 to pay school fees for my school-going children. This was important to me as I wanted to prevent them from being sent home due to fee balances and ensure they have a conducive environment to study in peace."

"In the coming years, my primary focus will remain on providing education for my nine children. With my eldest currently in Form Two and the rest yet to begin secondary school, I understand that there's still a long journey ahead of us. I firmly believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and the only hope that I hold for a bright future for my family. To ensure the success of this, I plan to prioritize maize farming and maximize its productivity to generate more income from its sales. This involves ensuring that all necessary inputs are available on time and that farming activities are carried out punctually. Additionally, I will continue to rear the two cows, sheep, and six goats that I currently own. By carefully managing their reproduction, I aim to sell the offspring to generate income to cover school fees."

"In the near future, I'm aiming to buy a goat. It might seem small, but if they multiply, I could sell some and handle financial emergencies better. Right now, I rely on a future transfer, but it's tied up with paying school fees for my three kids. It's a tough choice to divert that money to buying goats, but I'm hopeful it'll pay off in the long run."

"I engage in charcoal burning and farming to support my family, although the income is not sufficient to meet all our needs, especially with my four school-going children. To ensure my children are not frequently sent home from school due to fee balances, I allocate my monthly transfers wisely. Upon receiving my recent transfer, I allocated $40 towards farming with the aim of obtaining good yields to support my family, as I sell excess produce to raise funds for my children's school fees. Additionally, I used $13 for food purchases and $21 to buy poles for constructing a new house, as the current one is in poor condition and almost collapsing. I am sincerely grateful to Give Directly for the tremendous support provided to my family."

"I have two children in the upper classes, and my eldest is soon joining secondary school, requiring careful financial planning for a smooth transition. Currently, I am managing previous term fees arrears with the help of GiveDirectly transfers, significantly easing my financial burden. The difference is profound compared to before I received these transfers; my children are no longer sent home for fee balances because the teachers know I receive support from GD, and I am able to contribute consistently. My family relies on casual jobs for income, but the last season was challenging, leaving us in a situation where we are struggling to afford basic necessities and school fees. I am compelled to allocate the limited income from casual jobs to both essential needs and educational expenses, highlighting the importance of additional financial support to maintain stability and ensure my children's education continues uninterrupted."

"As a mason supporting my family of ten members, I faced challenges due to the irregularity of job opportunities. However, my life has significantly improved since enrolling in the program. I established a poultry rearing project, which now serves as an additional source of income. The proceeds from selling chickens have enabled me to finance my children's education, particularly my two elder sons who are pursuing different courses in college, one in welding and the other in mechanical engineering. I allocated $68 to cover their school fees. Additionally, I settled a debt of $25 owed to a friend, which was crucial as my sons needed funds to pay for their exams. Despite facing setbacks such as losing 70 hens to Newcastle disease, I remain determined to nurture the remaining 11 and ensure their multiplication. I also allocated $9 to purchase animal feeds for the poultry birds. Overall, I'm immensely grateful for the financial transfers as they have significantly uplifted my life and that of my family."

"I am currently struggling financially to meet my basic needs. I do not have a stable source of income which is a big setback for me. This pushed me to start a kiosk and a food canteen in the village six months ago. The enterprise is picking up well and this motivates me a lot. It earns me a profit of about KES 1000 daily. It is unfortunate that I end up using the same profit to buy daily basic needs rather than developing my business. I was forced to lease out my piece of land four months ago to raise KES 5000 school fees arrears for brother who is in Yatya secondary school. This was so painful to me since I ended up with no land to cultivate."

"Before receiving financial aid, life for my family of nine was incredibly challenging. I used to traverse the village, peddling charcoal, and often journeyed over 10km to Mariakani to sell and earn some income. Despite my efforts and my husband's income as a security guard, we struggled to meet our family's needs. However, since receiving financial assistance, our situation has improved. All seven of my children are now attending school regularly. To ensure their education continues uninterrupted, I allocated $44 towards school fees. Additionally, I invested $20 in a new school uniform for my son, who began junior secondary school in February. Witnessing my children pursue education fills me with joy, knowing it paves the way for a brighter future. In preparation for the planting season, I allocated $25 to plow our 1¼-acre farm, as the rains have begun. With the remaining $12, I purchased food to ensure my family never went hungry. I am profoundly grateful for the transformative impact of financial support in improving our lives."

"My spouse and I rely on casual jobs for income—my spouse hawk toothbrushes, and I sells omena. With four school-going children, prioritizing their education is crucial, as education is widely acknowledged as the foundation for success. Therefore, I allocated $45 of my transfer to cover their school fees, ensuring they remain in school rather than being sent home for fee arrears. Additionally, our household was running low on food, prompting me to spend $3 to ensure we had enough to eat. With the remaining $27, I split the funds between savings for future emergencies and investing in a goat. I chose to invest in a goat because it offers the potential for multiplication, allowing me to sell its offspring in the future to support my children's education fees. This strategic investment helps secure a more stable financial future for my family."