"I am a single mother of five. All my children are school going. My only means of earning money is by burning charcoal. This kind of work can only make you $5 weekly which is not sufficient to take care of all the families financial needs or even investing. Being a recipient of Givedirectly transfers makes life more bearable. I spent $20 in July and September to take care of school fees for three of my five children. I was also able to buy a few animals in this period, in July I bought a single chicken at $5, and a kid goat at $23, while in August and September I bought four chicken each at $5. I bought shoes for three of my children for school in July at $4.5."

"I would count myself as one of the luckiest people since I was enrolled in the program. I have been able to join savings groups and also make investment plans with my group from the savings. In the month of July we had made plans to contribute money and buy a goat each, with n addition of previous savings and that months transfer, I was able to buy a goat worth $45. In August two of my children were going back to school for the third term of the year. They both study quite a distance from home, one is in a place within coast known as Kaloleni and another in Eldoret, with the transfers we were able to pay fare worth $40 to which we had added $10 from the transfers to facilitate the transport to Eldoret and also bought shopping worth $10 for the one in Kaloleni. We also paid school fees for my five younger children in primary school worth $10. the remaining $4 went into purchasing sugar used for breakfast. In September I still added $20 to my savings group and used the remaining $14 to buy washing powder."

"I have been earning a living by selling charcoal and removing tree stumps from nearby farms. The work is exhausting, and the income barely covers the needs of my six children and me. My house had fallen into disrepair, and I am profoundly thankful that, thanks to the previous transfers I received, I was able to allocate $19 towards its restoration. Additionally, I had accrued $45 in school fees arrears for my children, which I promptly settled, ensuring that my children could resume their education. I spent $19 on new clothes for my kids, as their previous ones were in disrepair. The remaining $19 was used to purchase food for my family because we had not yet harvested our crops. These transfers have made a significant difference in our lives, helping us address some of our most pressing needs and providing a sense of hope for the future."

"Being a single parent, I have encountered numerous challenges when it comes to meeting the basic needs of my family, consisting of five members. Among them, two of my children attend boarding school, while the others are enrolled in primary school. Unfortunately, the secondary school fees for my two older children remain outstanding, leading to frequent instances of them being sent home until the fees are settled. Given my occupation as a caregiver at Mnazimumwenga Primary School, my income is not substantial. In order to address these pressing concerns, I allocated $38 to cover the school fees of my two daughters, thereby ensuring their uninterrupted education. Additionally, I made a strategic investment by purchasing a goat, which holds the potential for future wealth accumulation. As the goat breeds and multiplies, my initial investment will grow. In the event of an unforeseen emergency, I have the option to sell the goat and utilize the funds to address any urgent issues that may arise."

"As the sole provider for my family of seven, which includes my wife and five children, I engage in the buying and selling of poultry birds, particularly hens, in order to generate profit. However, the earnings I make from this venture are insufficient to cover the increasing expenses associated with my growing family. Nonetheless, I am extremely grateful that the funds from the transfers have provided some relief, allowing me to address several important expenditures, such as paying school fees for my children. For instance, I allocated $34 to cover the school fees of my eldest son, who is currently in fourth grade. Unfortunately, he was temporarily expelled from school and spent four days at home, unable to attend his studies. I am relieved that he has been readmitted and is now able to continue his education. In addition, I directed $30 towards boosting my chicken-selling business, enabling me to purchase more birds and increase my potential profits. Lastly, I allocated the remaining $38 to purchase food for my family. With the limited income I earn, it has always been a challenge to provide daily meals for my family. However, thanks to the transfer money, my family had the assurance of regular meals and never went hungry. The financial support from the transfers has been instrumental in alleviating some of the burdens I face as the sole breadwinner, enabling me to fulfill my responsibilities as a provider and ensuring the well-being and education of my children."

"Paying my son's school fees was my top priority, so I utilized all of my transfer money for that purpose. Currently, he is studying in Form 1 at Tsangatsini Secondary School as a day scholar. However, apart from the tuition fees, there are additional expenses such as accommodation, food, and water that I need to cover. Juggling these financial responsibilities can be quite challenging when it comes to meeting all of his educational needs. To sustain myself, I have ventured into agribusiness, specifically selling watermelon fruits that I cultivate on my own farm. Although my business is currently on a small scale and the income generated is limited, I remain hopeful that I can expand it in the future. This would not only provide me with a better livelihood but also enable me to provide more for my son's education. I am immensely grateful for the financial support I have received from Give Directly. It has allowed me to fulfill my duties as a parent and meet the essential expenses for my son's education. Without the support from this organization, I would not have been able to provide the necessary resources and opportunities for my son's academic journey."

"At the moment, my major goal is to ensure I pay the required fees for the course I am currently undertaking on hairdressing and beauty therapy. I therefore have no choice but to ensure that I channel most, if not all of my transfers towards fee payment. I will be graduating towards the end of next year so as I edge towards graduation, I will start building up on savings that can later on enable me to open my own beauty parlour. This however will only be possible once I manage to clear next year's school fees. Should I fail to raise enough money to start the business soon enough after graduation, I will seek employment in any beauty parlor that may be open to hiring me so that I can gain more experience as I continue saving. For now however, I have to focus on completing the course."

"I used to rely on casual jobs like making and selling charcoal and sisal leaves to make a living. However, I developed a tumor-like condition that forced me to stop working. Since then, I have been dependent on my son, who earns a living by riding a motorcycle. Occasionally, when I have some extra funds, I buy items like sugar and sell them door-to-door in my village to make a little extra money for food. I am grateful that the cash transfers have allowed me to do something more substantial and build more wealth, which is owning livestock. With the recent funds, I bought a goat for $40, which increased my herd to three. I also spent $10 to purchase two hens. Owning livestock provides me with a sense of financial security for the future in case of emergencies. Additionally, every month, I set aside a small amount to pay school fees for my two children in the sixth grade to ensure they do not miss classes. This accounted for $10 of the funds. The remaining amount was used to buy food, which not only prevented my family from going hungry but also eased some of the financial burden on my son."

"Before we harvested our maize crops recently, my household had been grappling with hunger for the past three months. My husband, as the main breadwinner, often struggled to secure construction jobs to provide for us. Although I occasionally made and sold charcoal to buy food, it would run out quickly. Fortunately, the cash transfers played a crucial role in ensuring we had daily meals on the table. I spent $72 on food items to alleviate our hunger. There was also a period when one of my grandchildren stayed home for a week due to unpaid school fees. I used $20 from the transfer funds to clear the balance, ensuring he was not pulled out of school ever again. Also, I put a $10 deposit on a goat, which I plan to purchase with the next transfer. I believe that raising goats is a reliable way to build wealth and support my grandchildren's education."

"I have always held a desire to start a vegetable-selling business, but financial constraints, especially regarding food, have hindered me from pursuing this dream. I am glad that the recent rainy season enabled successful farming, and we were able to harvest enough food to sustain my family for the next few months. This provides me with an opportunity to invest the cash transfers into the business, and I am excited to take the first steps. My long-term vision is to expand this business into a kiosk, but for now, I want to establish a strong foundation. The income generated from this business will help cover school fees for my seven children and ensure they have enough food, even after the cash transfers cease."