"I am a casual worker, a palm wine tapper. The risks involved in this job are many. I have to climb the palm tree to get the palms and the risk of falling is quite high. I cannot even imagine how my family would feed if something ever happened to me while on top of the tree. I know every job comes with its risks but I would like to get a more secure and less risky job."

"It has now been five years since it rained. Getting water has been very difficult and I have had to make major adjustments at school. I have to wake up thirty minutes earlier than I used to just to go and fetch water for home consumption. In the evening I also have to leave school early to do the same. It has interrupted my study time and also my free time."

"In life, it is my prestigious to own a house, and not just any kind of house. A well-built one with proper roofing and firm structure. My previous house fell due to heavy rains and I was forced to build a temporary structure to avoid living in the cold. We sat down as a family with my wife and son and agreed that we will be contributing 1500 KES a month to the construction of a new house. I would like to see my family living in a comfortable, spacious house, where they will not have to worry about it falling."

"I sell vegetables at a nearby village, but its flow is unpredictable. There are days I do not sell all the products and I have to go back with them. Most vegetables are perishable and this means that I have to incur the loss. With little or no income at times I am forced to survive on one meal a day and the rest I keep aside for business."

"Lack of school fees is my greatest challenge, most times when I am sent home for arrears. I am forced to engage in some casual jobs like fetching water, what I am paid I take to school, and talk to my teachers to let me continue with classes. As much as it motivates me to work harder it also drains my energy and concentration at school."

"Separation from my wife left me empty. I came from work one evening to an empty house. I've been living with my mother and I do not have a decent place to sleep. Spending endless nights on a sisal mat is not comfortable at all. With these transfers, I will save the first two and buy a bed worth 4,000KES."

"Livestock farming has been my passion ever since I was young. I sold all of mine when I was taking my children to school. After they were done, I never had enough resources to restock my farm with livestock. To keep me occupied, I will buy a few goats so that I can fulfill my heart's desire. One goat costs 3,000KES, therefore, I will use my first three transfers to buy. My heart is already very happy at the thought."

"The ongoing drought has hit us hard. We had so many cows but some died due to lack of pasture. Out of seven cows, we are only left with three. The saddest part of this situation is that it doesn't seem to be getting any better. May God help us."

"This will mean that paying school fees for my boys will be easier. With what I get from selling groceries, I will add what I get from Give Directly and send my children to school. That's the only thing that dominates my thoughts right now."

"My daughter just joined high school. Raising her fees has not been easy. Sometimes I'm forced to sell my livestock to educate her. She is a bright child and I would not like her to drop out of school. With her fees per term being 13,000KES, I will use transfers from Give Directly to add to what I'll have made from farming and offset fees. This will give me peace of mind."