"The harsh weather has made farming particularly challenging, leaving me vulnerable since I have no maize left, my staple food. As a result, I now have to purchase my food from the store. I plan to allocate part of my future transfers to buy food and ensure I have a steady supply at home. Additionally, I want to save a little from each transfer to invest in more goats. Although they are currently expensive, I am determined to set aside money so I can expand my herd. I am very grateful for the financial assistance from Give Directly, which has been a tremendous help to me."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I felt incredibly thankful and delighted, as the support came just when I needed it the most. I was bedridden and weak due to illness, and I desperately needed medication. With $50, I was able to get the necessary treatment and some special food to aid my recovery. Thanks to this support, I am now much better and feel healthy and whole again. Once I regained my health, I focused on my original plan to improve my living situation. I used $350 to buy construction materials to upgrade to a modern house. I currently live in an old manyatta, which is too small and unsafe for my family, including my two grandchildren who live with me. This new house will provide us with a safer and more comfortable space. Additionally, I spent $50 to fence our compound, which has greatly improved our home’s security. Now, we have a clear, single entry and exit point, making our home safer and giving it a more organized and pleasant look. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for this timely support, which has made a significant difference in my life and my family's safety and well-being."

"In February 2024, insecurity cases were on the rise in my homeland, Yatia. My family of five and I moved to Kapkamon Centre, hoping to find some peace. Just when we thought we had found safety, the threats followed us here. We eventually relocated to our current home in Chebarisiat village. A well-wisher offered us a place to stay, but it is cramped. We are sharing a small space with another family, and there is no privacy at all. I have been dreaming of constructing my own house, but my finances are limited. The KES 4000 I earn from my shopkeeping job goes entirely to food for the household, leaving nothing to save. It is frustrating, and I feel stuck."

"I'm a long term goat farmer. I've depended on them all my life. The biggest challenge is livestock diseases. There are no doctors nearby to assist during outbreaks. I'm always worried I can lose all my goats at once. In the last one year I've lost over sixty goats. This has affected my income stream, leading to difficulty in buying food or supporting my children's education. It's also a challenge keeping goats due to insecurity associated with livestock theft predominant in our locality. I can lose goats overnight, it keeps me worried all the time."

"My biggest challenge currently is that I was displaced by floods. I currently live in a borrowed land in a dilapidated structure. This worries me because I feel I am exposed as I don't have the means of building a better structure for myself. I fear that I might contract pneumonia as the nights are really cold."

"I’m really hoping that by the end of next year, I’ll have finished paying for the piece of land I placed a deposit on. I’ve already managed to pay $150 out of the $600 total, so there’s still some way to go, but I’m optimistic. Part of my plan is to use a portion of the third transfer I expect to receive—it should cover a good chunk of what’s remaining. At the same time, I’ll continue farming because it has been a reliable source of income. The harvests have been good so far, and I believe with some hard work, they will help me raise the extra funds I need to clear the balance. Having the land fully paid off will mean a lot—it’s one step closer to my long-term goals."

"When I received the cash transfer, the first thing I did was pay $200 in school fees for my two children who are in secondary school. Education is very important to me, and I wanted to make sure they could stay in school without any disruptions. It was a relief to know that, at least for this term, their fees were covered, and they could focus on their studies without worry. With the remaining $250, I invested in ploughing four acres of land and bought maize and bean seeds. It’s planting season, so I knew that putting the money into our land would eventually bring us more returns. Both maize and beans are staple crops here, and I’m hopeful that the harvest will be bountiful and profitable. Now, I’m happy to see that the seeds have germinated and the plants are growing well. Watching those first green shoots come up feels like seeing hope come to life. This cash transfer has truly given me a path forward."

"I want to buy a dairy cow, mainly so that I can keep it for milk and have enough to sell any extra. This way, I can make a bit of extra money. Right now, I have seven cows, but only four of them can actually be milked, and honestly, the amount of milk I get isn’t enough to meet my needs. To buy this new cow, I plan to use the money I’ll make from selling watermelons. I have a watermelon crop that should be ready for harvesting by December. Once I sell them, I hope to have enough to get the cow. That’s my plan for now, and I’m really hoping it all works out."

"When I received the transfer, I decided to invest $420 in purchasing two heifers. My goal is to build a sustainable source of milk for my family, as I usually have to buy milk to feed my six children and my husband. By raising these cows, I hope that, once they start calving, we will not only have enough milk for our daily needs but even a surplus that could be sold to generate additional income. While my husband makes a living through fishing, I take care of the home and our family. This cash transfer has given me the chance to contribute in a meaningful way. With the remaining portion of the money, I purchased food items to ensure that our household would be food secure. This has given us peace of mind, knowing we have enough to get through the weeks without worry. The support from the cash transfer has really allowed me to make smart choices for both immediate needs and long-term plans, which feels empowering."

"Receiving the money from GiveDirectly has truly given me peace of mind. Before, I was constantly searching for casual labor jobs, working hard just to make around $9 a week, and it was never enough for my family. But now, with the money, I’ve been able to grow and sell kales, earning up to $60 a week. This change has been life-changing. We have enough to meet our needs, and there is so much more love and harmony at home. I can even save $30 every week now, something I couldn’t even dream of before. It feels incredible to finally have stability and a sense of security for my family."