"Investing in my family’s education has always been a priority, so I used $200 from my cash transfer to pay school fees for my five children. Normally, I would have had to sell livestock to cover the costs, but this time, receiving the money allowed me to avoid that difficult choice. Knowing my children’s education is secured for now brings me peace of mind and helps me focus on other areas of our lives.In addition to covering school fees, I allocated $230 to farming. My husband and I decided to plant two acres of watermelon and beans, as we believe these crops have the potential for a good profit. Farming is our main source of income, and by growing crops that sell well, we hope to recover from the setbacks caused by the recent floods, which damaged our land and made life tougher. We’re hopeful that this season’s harvest will not only sustain us but also improve our financial standing.The remaining $20 went towards purchasing food, as we had very little at home. With our main focus on farming and sometimes burning charcoal for extra income, having this extra support for groceries has been a relief. Thanks to this transfer, we’re able to sustain ourselves through this challenging period, and I feel optimistic about the future. It has made a big difference in our lives and has encouraged us to keep working toward a better future."

"Loneliness is the greatest challenge am currently facing.I am a teacher at Loruk primary school which is 15 kilometers from my home.I commute to school daily ,this is hectic and straineous for me because I have to do household chores and cook for myself later in the evening.Life has been challenging to me since the demise of my lovely wife in the year 2022.I am currently stranded and confused on wether to remarry or not.I have fears on restarting marriage life because my 4 children are now elderly, my last born is currently 20 years . The thought of having a baby at my age of 50 freaks me out a lot moreso since am now a grandfather.I am currently learning to let go of the good memories we had with my wife , (hough painful) so that my life can go on smoothly."

"As a single mom of three, I have faced many challenges, but I am determined to create a better future for my family. This year, I did not plant anything on my acre of land because I was blessed with a beautiful daughter, and I wanted to focus on her during this precious time. Currently, I rely on casual jobs to support my children, but I know that farming has the potential to provide us with greater stability. This coming year, I am planning to return to farming, eagerly waiting for the rains to start so I can plant again. I intend to use my final transfer to meet production costs. With successful harvests, I will use the income to support my family and secure a brighter future for my children."

"I am planning to open a kiosk using my final transfer, as I believe it will provide a crucial alternative income source for my family. This year has been a stark reminder of how unpredictable life can be; we lost our entire crop to floods, which severely impacted our finances. By starting this business, I aim to diversify our income, ensuring that we are not solely reliant on crop farming. I envision the kiosk not just as a source of income, but also as a way to serve my community by providing essential goods that they need daily. Ultimately, this venture will help create a more stable future for my family."

"Together with my husband, we have been engaged in crop farming, but we have faced significant challenges due to the rampant drought in our area. For successful harvests, irrigation is essential, yet we often lack the necessary tools. Borrowing equipment has become our norm, and sometimes we struggle to access it when it is in use, which adversely affects our yields. For a long time, we have wanted to purchase our own irrigation tools, but financial constraints have held us back. With my final transfer, I am determined to buy a generator, which will not only enable us to irrigate our crops effectively but also expand our farming operations. We plan to plant throughout the seasons, maximizing our productivity. God willing, with the additional income generated from our expanded farm, we hope to open a kiosk to diversify our income streams. This diversification will provide us with a more stable financial foundation and help us withstand any future hardships."

"I plan to expand my livestock by purchasing more sheep. I had never owned any goats or sheep until I received my second transfer from GiveDirectly. My aim is to eventually have more than ten sheep, as I believe they thrive in our area. I am planning to use part of my final transfer to buy additional sheep, as this investment will be instrumental in improving my family's financial situation. As a single mom, raising these sheep will help me cover school fees for my children and address other essential needs in the future."

"In my journey to provide for my daughter and grandchildren, I currently rely on casual jobs and charcoal production as my main sources of income. However, I recognize the need for diversification to create a more sustainable future for my family. Therefore, I am planning to venture into livestock production, particularly focusing on goats and sheep. I intend to start with two of each, as this will not only help me establish a steady supply of milk but also allow me to sell the animals as they multiply. By making this transition, I hope to reduce my dependence on casual jobs and create a more stable financial situation for my family."

"From my farming experience, I’ve learned that farming can be rewarding, despite occasional setbacks. I have been farming on a small scale, just half an acre, but I am excited about my plan to lease an additional acre of land with my final transfer. I intend to plant seed maize, as many other farmers in my area have had success with this crop. The market for seed maize is already established, and the prices are favorable, so I am optimistic about the potential profits. Furthermore, I appreciate that the Kenya Seed Company provides support throughout the planting process to ensure quality, which gives me confidence in my decision. I am determined to make the most of this opportunity and achieve my goal of meeting my family needs."

"When I received my cash transfer, the first thing I thought of was expanding my small house. The roof was made of only four iron sheets, which made it cramped for our family. With $155, I bought six more iron sheets and nails and paid for labor to expand the house. I also added two more iron sheets to the roof, making the house much more spacious. Additionally, I spent $180 to buy three sheep. I wanted an investment that would constantly remind me of the support I received from GiveDirectly. These sheep represent a future source of income for us, and I am committed to taking good care of them. Food has always been a challenge for us, especially after we lost all our crops to the floods. My husband and I try to produce charcoal, but it’s not a reliable source of income. So, I used $63 to buy two bags of maize and set aside $10 for milling, which will sustain us for a while. I also decided to spend $30 to buy new clothes for each member of my family. It’s been a long time since we were able to do that because most of our income went toward immediate needs like food. Lastly, I spent the remaining $12 on household items like utensils and water containers, which we didn’t have enough of before. I am grateful for the changes this transfer has brought to our lives."

"One of the things GiveDirectly does best is keeping their promises. They deliver transfers as scheduled, both in terms of amount and timing, which gives us hope and allows us to plan ahead. Additionally, they conduct follow-ups after delivering the cash to ensure that recipients are spending the money wisely and to check if any issues have arisen within the families. GiveDirectly’s methods of operation are efficient and effective, and I believe there is no area for improvement. My only wish is for them to continue uplifting more lives in this impactful way."