"Upon receiving the $180 from GiveDirectly, I decided to invest in my family’s future. I used $140 to buy two goats, which will provide us with milk and serve as a source of income. Having goats will also be helpful in times of emergencies, as they can be sold if needed. Additionally, I bought food because we were struggling with hunger, and it was important for my family to have enough to eat. Now, we feel more secure knowing that we have both food and a way to generate income for our needs."

"Upon receiving $200 from GiveDirectly, I decided to address my most pressing issues. I used $80 to buy food for my family, as it has become increasingly difficult to have enough to eat. Ensuring that we have sufficient food is a priority for me. I then spent $110 to build a toilet, which we desperately needed. Before this, we had no proper place to relieve ourselves, and I knew this was a significant health risk for my family. Now that we have a toilet, I feel relieved knowing that my family can maintain better hygiene and health."

"Upon receiving my latest transfer of $450 from GiveDirectly, I immediately took action to support my family. I used $210 to pay the school fees for two of my children, who were on the verge of being sent home due to unpaid fees. Thankfully, since I made this payment, they have been able to continue their education without interruption, and I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for that. Next, I invested $100 in buying watermelon seeds and paying for the labor needed for planting. I planted melons on two acres of land because this crop thrives in our area and fetches good prices in the market. I plan to use the proceeds from the harvest to boost my existing business and purchase more assets that I currently do not have. Additionally, I spent $50 on food for my family to ensure we have enough to eat at home. The remaining money went towards our daily household needs, helping us maintain a stable and comfortable living environment. I feel hopeful about the future, thanks to the support from GiveDirectly."

"Now that I have a generator, my goal is to buy more pipes so I can pump water from a longer distance. This will allow me to irrigate my farm more effectively and help ensure that my farming venture is sustainable. I am excited about the possibilities this brings, as it will improve my crop yields and provide more food for my family. The thought of expanding my farming capabilities fills me with joy, and I feel hopeful about the future. I am incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has made this life upgrade possible."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I knew this was my chance to get things I hadn’t been able to afford before. At that time, I had a maize farm that had been partly affected by floods, but fortunately, I managed to save a portion of the crop. With harvest time approaching, I used $150 to cover harvesting and transportation costs, ensuring that my family now had enough food to eat. Next, I spent $140 to buy two sheep, as I had none before. I am committed to helping them grow and multiply so that they can generate income for us in the future, even after the GiveDirectly program ends. With that done, I turned my attention to a loan that had been causing me stress for the past three years. I used $65 to pay off the interest, which has relieved me of a significant mental burden, leaving me feeling stress-free. Additionally, I spent $30 on remedial classes for my child because I believe education is essential, and I want to invest in my children’s future. Lastly, I used $40 to buy essential household items like utensils, curtains, plastic chairs, and a table. These items have improved the look of my home and given me a sense of pride in owning things I didn’t have before."

"With the constant risk of flooding in my area, my main goal moving forward is to relocate to a safer place. I plan to use the last GiveDirectly transfer to make this happen. I’ll move my family to higher ground, where we will be much safer from floods. The thought of this fills me with gratitude, knowing that my family will finally be safe, and the danger of flooding will be permanently reduced. This opportunity gives me great peace of mind, and I am thankful for the chance to create a more secure future for my family."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I instantly felt a wave of change and relief. At that time, I was living in a mud house that had leaked during the recent floods that had affected my village. This brought a lot of discomfort to my family, so I used $350 to buy building materials and renovate our home. With this amount, I purchased iron sheets, building poles, and nails, and paid for labor. I have now completed the renovation, and it has brought a sense of comfort and security to my family. Additionally, I used $70 to buy two goats, which will provide us with milk and gradually multiply. This new source of food is valuable for us. I spent the remaining amount on food, which has made a big difference in our lives; we no longer have to skip meals, and we enjoy consistent, nourishing food. I am deeply grateful for these valuable blessings. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this possible!"

"In this area around lake Baringo, fishing is an economic activity that earns more families income. My family is not exceptional. As a family of three , we depend on fish trading to earn a living. However, this business comes with its share of challenges. Two weeks ago, my customer in Kitale ordered fish worth KES 17000 which I delivered. Unfortunately, when it arrived there, she said that all the fish had gone bad and she had disposed of them. Although I had invested that much in the fish, I was not paid anything and therefore I ran into a loss. It is a loss that I have not recovered yet and it is stressing me because I do not know of the future business."

"Job security is the biggest challenge I am currently facing.I am a hands man in the construction sector since the year 2020. Securing a stable job in this era with my form four certificate of grade D+ has been unsuccessful ,I decided to join the construction sector doing handy works even though I am not satisfied with it .This work is energy draining, inconsistent in availability and has so much exploitation from the contractors due to high availability of labour force.In a week for instance,I can work for three days earning at most KES 500 a day.This money is limited when compared to my weekly expenditure of KES 1600.I end up having no savings hence foreseeing a challenging future for myself ,moreso having to delay in starting a family."

"We heavily depended on our family business to earn a living and put food on the table for my family of eight. Recently the business has been performing poorly making our life unbearable. A year ago many people invested in water transport services and this never worked well for us. Our boat registered a low number of customers and this made life difficult for us. I am elderly and this limits my ability to work and provide an alternative source of family income. I am also struggling to pay school fees for my grandson Luis Kemboi who is schooling in Moi Kabartonjo secondary school."