"For the past ten years, I have been deeply involved in crop farming, gaining valuable experience and skills across a variety of crops. I have seen firsthand that with sufficient capital, crop farming can be incredibly successful and yield good returns. My plan moving forward is to focus even more on crop farming, as I believe it holds great potential for growth. One of my key strategies is to secure land near the lake, where I can access reliable irrigation water, ensuring that my crops are well watered, even during dry spells. Additionally, I will prioritize timely planting to avoid losses from flooding, which has been a significant challenge in the past. To expand my farming activities, I plan to use my final transfer to invest in additional resources, allowing me to scale up my operations and increase my income."

"GiveDirectly excels in delivering aid with kindness and respect. The enrollment process was conducted at the household level, ensuring privacy and dignity for each recipient. The unconditional cash transfers have been instrumental in improving our lives, allowing us to plan and allocate the funds according to our diverse needs. These transfers are sent directly to our phones, with proper education on Mpesa security, including the importance of keeping our Mpesa PIN secret to prevent theft. I have no suggestions for improvement, only gratitude for the positive impact GiveDirectly has made in our community."

"I am a farmer, and I initially planned to use my second transfer to plant green grams on my half a acre of land. Unfortunately, after clearing the land, my plans had to change when my daughter fell seriously ill and was diagnosed with heart and kidney problems. This shifted my priorities, and I had to focus on her medication and treatment instead of the farm. However, I am not giving up on my farming ambitions. I am now planning to use part of my final transfer to plant something on the land, though I am still unsure which crop, since the season for green grams has passed. If I manage to plant successfully, I will dedicate the profits to further farming activities while continuing to prioritize my daughter’s medical needs."

"Our house was swept away by floods, and we lost household items like our bed. As a result, my children and I had to move into my co-wife's house. While we stayed with her family, living under one roof with her three children, my two children, and our husband made the situation uncomfortable due to the limited space. After receiving my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I bought iron sheets and timber. I now plan to use my final transfer to purchase the remaining materials and begin construction so we can have our own space again. Additionally, I intend to buy essential items we lost to restore comfort and stability for my family."

"My house is currently a small, one-room structure with a sloped roof and old iron sheets. My plan is to renovate it by installing a modern roof with better-quality iron sheets. I also want to expand the house to make it more spacious and comfortable for my family. Right now, I am in a better financial position than before, and I believe it is important to reflect this improvement in my home. I plan to use part of the proceeds from my upcoming tomato harvest to fund the renovations. Additionally, I will allocate some of the money to plant maize on another piece of land that I have already prepared, ensuring a steady source of income for the future."

"My plan is to continue with my crop farming because it has proven to be a reliable source of income for me. I aim to use the proceeds from my maize, which I have currently planted, to complete paying off the balance on a plot I secured, which I am currently paying for in installments. Once I fully own the land, I will build on it to create a stable home for my family, away from future floods. Additionally, after securing my family’s future and continuing with crop farming, I will use the proceeds to officiate my marriage by having a wedding and paying the dowry for my wife. This will allow me to formalize our union and focus on growing and supporting my family further."

"Upon receiving my second cash transfer, I decided to fulfill my long-term dream of diversifying my income by opening a kiosk. I saw potential in our village, as there were only two distant shops serving the area. With this opportunity in mind, I spent $330 on materials like iron sheets, nails, and poles to construct the shop. To stock the shop, I used $100 to buy essential items for our target customers, and the remaining $20 went toward transporting the goods from town to our shop. My wife is managing the business while I continue focusing on our crops. This investment is a step toward creating a stable source of income for our family, making it easier to meet our needs in the long run. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this happen."

"The deteriorating health of my last born daughter has given me sleepless nights since the month of August 2024.My daughter a mother of three who separated with her husband 5 years ago was diagnosed with kidney failure early this year.Currently she is hospitalized at Marigat District Hospital. Eliza has been sole provider to me for the past 9 years,since I broke my pelvic bone.Its currently difficult for me to take care of myself as well as her 3 children because I do not have any source of income.My only hope lies on the support from my relatives and the community who also have their own struggles.I am currently living in fear and dispair of what will become of my three grandchildren , I have no strength to work so as to earn money to provide for them or to pay their mother's outstanding bill of KES 25000."

"Inadequate cash to raise a family of 3 is the biggest challenge I am currently facing. I am a single mother vending food in the village earning approximately KES 150 a day as profit. I have three school-going children who are in primary and at different levels of their studies. Raising them single-handedly with the cash I earn from vending food is extremely tough keeping in mind the overwhelming economic time. I am now optimistic knowing that I will soon benefit from GiveDirectly's transfer and our lives will change. I cannot thank God enough for His mercies."

"Climate change has significantly contributed to our household struggle and misery. We have been fighting perennial food shortage and water for the last five years. Our area is gradually changing to be arid land making it difficult for us to cultivate and access water for domestic use. It is sad that we walk for about four kilometers to fetch water. This is worsening our stay here. Skipping meals is not new to us, it is part of our survival strategy. I am lactating and this makes my life extremely difficult. I have to eat well to make my little daughter grow fast and healthy. The irony is that I am struggling to put food on the table for my family of four."