"After learning about GiveDirectly, I found it really easy to understand. We're actually really happy about their culture of helping people willingly and changing the lives of poor people. Because of them, my life has gotten a lot better. Now, I have a water tank, something I've always wanted but couldn't afford. I hope wherever they go, they're welcomed warmly."

"When the third transfer came through, my spouse and I sat down to plan how to use it wisely. We agreed to allocate $200 towards paying the school fees for our son, who is currently in Form 2 for this coming term, to make his secondary education journey smoother without interruption. This brought us a sense of relief, knowing that we could have enough time to look for money to cover the fees for the other terms through maize farming on our two-acre plot and from my wife's food hawking business savings. Another $30 went towards restocking food supplies for my wife's business, which is crucial in meeting the daily needs of our family of eleven. She prepares and delivers cooked food to farm workers at the Perkerra irrigation scheme. Additionally, we decided to invest $120 in purchasing two sheep. We expect them to multiply and provide us with offspring that we can sell to support our children's education down the line. We aim to ensure that all our nine children complete their education. I allocated $50 to facilitate irrigation on our two-acre maize farm, ensuring it remains well-watered for optimal growth. Lastly, I used the remaining to purchase a sack of maize. This ensures that we have enough food, especially during this April holiday when all our children are at home because their schools are closed."

"Working as a herb doctor, the income I make is mostly enough for providing basic needs like school fees and food for my wife and two children. There is nothing much I could do with the earnings beyond the essentials. It is due to this reason that I have not been able to install a water tank, an idea that was born from the water scarcity in my region. Having the water tank will mean that I can harvest and store rainwater for a long period. My goal is to install an underground tank with a capacity of at least 5000 liters."

"Once I receive my transfers, I plan to invest in a water pump for irrigating my 2-acre piece of land. I will set aside $450 for a Honda water pump because of its horsepower and ability to pump over long distances. This investment will allow me to cultivate vegetables during the dry season to provide for my family of 10. The remaining funds will go towards school fees for my children and reviving my retail shop to earn extra income. I will be excited to involve my wife, Jackline, in managing the shop to keep her engaged and contribute to our family's financial stability."

"My husband works selling water in Mombasa, while I tend to our livestock, supporting our family of nine. It was a struggle to afford food and school fees with his modest earnings. Thankfully, this project has significantly boosted our income. For the first time, I could afford to send my daughter to boarding school, a dream come true thanks to these transfers. Additionally, we can now comfortably provide food for our family. Out of the received transfers, $48 went towards purchasing uniforms, books, and other necessities for my daughter's schooling. Another $44 was used to buy food for my children, as we were running low. Additionally, I set aside $10 in our local savings for future needs. Being a beneficiary of this program has brought me happiness and changed our lives for the better."

"Living in a small house made of grass, and with the rainy season ahead, my wish has always been to have a better house so that my husband and I can live in a better place with warmth. My husband is not strong enough to do any work to support our family of six members because of a surgery he underwent some time back. We all, therefore, depend on my small vegetable-selling business, and my daughter, who separated from her husband and came back home with her children, to support our family. With the financial limitations beholding us, I was unable to build a house for myself. On receiving the money, I, therefore, spent $350 to build a house so that I can have a better sleep. I am happy that my house is now progressing well, and very soon, I will move in with my husband. I then used $40 to lease a piece of land along a river where there is a throughout supply of water for farming maize and vegetables for food and sell. I then used $40 and helped my daughter to pay school fees for my grandchildren as they had a school fees balance which was yet to be cleared. Finally, I plan to use the balance of the transfer to take my child who has a mental illness to a good hospital where he can get good medical attention as I could not do this before because of financial constraints. My child's medication has always been challenging because we did not have enough money to take him to hospital, but right now, I have great hopes that he will be better."

"As a small-scale farmer working half an acre of land, I primarily cultivate maize, beans, and greengrams. The proximity of my farm to a river ensures I don't face water shortages, which is a huge advantage. Currently, I dream of expanding my farming operations to 2 or 3 acres if I can secure finances. This expansion isn’t just about farming more land but building a better future for my family. With increased income from farming, I plan to improve our living conditions, starting with upgrading from our one-room house to something bigger and better. Additionally, the extra income will be crucial in covering school fees for my children. This growth will significantly improve our quality of life and provide stability for my family."

"My husband works as a mason to support our family, but his income barely covers our needs. Previously, accessing food and water was a challenge, but I'm grateful that our circumstances have improved. We are now able to meet our basic expenses such as food, water, and clothing. With the transfers received, I allocated $25 to purchase a small goat, intending to rear it for future profits. Utilizing the remaining $9, I purchased essential household items that were depleted. Additionally, $34 was dedicated to facilitating my father's burial expenses, after he passed away in February. Furthermore, I used $34 to purchase iron roofing sheets for renovation purposes as my house suffered damage during the heavy rains. These transfers have empowered me to realize my goals, and for that, I am sincerely grateful."

"Receiving my last transfer, I prioritized my children's school fees, two of whom had significant arrears of $360 and $250. I managed to reduce these by paying $100 each, ensuring their education is crucial to me, especially since I had to drop out of school at the elementary level due to financial constraints. This made it tough to find formal employment, further motivating me to ensure my children have better opportunities in the future. In addition, I invested in three goats for $100 to help provide milk for my family. Since buying milk has been too costly, we often rely on just strong tea and porridge. The goats are for milk and as they reproduce, they can be sold and address needs like school fees. Besides doing casual jobs with my husband to sustain our family of seven, I'm also a small-scale farmer, but I haven’t had a successful harvest in five years due to climate challenges resulting in food insecurity. To address this, I bought two bags of maize for $50. To ensure future sustainability, I planted ten mango trees at $100 each. Mangoes thrive here and don't need much water, and with brokers regularly visiting to buy, they represent a potential stable income after three years. To protect these new plantings, I spent $6000 on 20 fence posts, adding to previously purchased wire mesh, to secure the farm. With the remaining $30, I bought new clothes for my children, whose old clothes were worn out. Thank you GiveDirectly for your support."

"Since fleeing Arabal due to recurring conflicts, I have been living on land generously provided by a well-wisher, where I constructed a simple shelter for myself and my grandson, Joel. Initially challenging, the supportive community and support from GiveDirectly renewed my optimism and restored my independence. Living with Joel, who assists me in collecting the transfers, we have been fortunate to enjoy three meals a day and secure a rented piece of land along the riverbanks for farming and livestock investment. With the final transfer, I prioritized improving our living conditions by paying $250 to the landowner for a quarter piece of land, where I plan to construct a better structure alongside the existing one, which will serve as a kitchen. I allocated $185 for construction materials, including iron sheets and cedar poles, to build a more spacious and comfortable dwelling with enough room for a bed and seating. This upgrade will enable us to accommodate visitors comfortably, unlike our previous cramped quarters. Additionally, I invested $14 in purchasing a small plastic tank for water storage, simplifying water collection and ensuring a more reliable water supply compared to frequent trips to the river with smaller containers. I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, which has enabled us to make significant improvements in our living conditions and quality of life."