"I'm really struggling to provide for my family without a definite reliable source of income. Burning charcoal is a good business but you have to put in a lot of effort and get out very little because we sell one sac of charcoal for as low as 300 KES. This make it hard for me to pay school fees regularly to keep my children learning. Each of them pays 3000 KES per academic term. I'm honestly not able to produce enough sacs to generate that much."

"My biggest challenge is lack of a reliable source of income. I'm a little too old to effectively burn charcoal or split enough firewood to keep a constant flow of income. Therefore I have an arrangement with my son who provides a lot for me. He agreed to be taking care of me by taking me in with his family and I can only cheap in on buying supplies occasionally"

"Being the firstborn in a family of nine children and with my parent's low income, depending on them for School fees did not bear fruits. I was forced to drop out of school to support my parents with the other siblings who are in lower primary. During that time a friend of mine taught me carpentry tips. It was then that I was able to support my parents with the 300 KES I was getting. I plan to join a carpentry college so that I can get a certificate for securing jobs in the future."

"With my siblings in school as stated earlier, paying school fees is a burden for my father. This has led to the accumilation of fee arrears amounting to 8500 KES. Many times I have been sent home for fees which have resulted in lagging in my studies."

"It has been difficult to pay school fees for my six children in school. Just recently they were all sent home for school fees. This term alone I have accumulated fee areas of about 10000 KES because since they opened I have not paid a penny. Three of my children should also enroll in school but they are currently at home because there is no school fees. I feel like a failure as a parent for not giving my children quality education."

"I am grateful that in four months I will have completed my primary school Education. I wish to proceed to secondary school and even college so that I can have a bright future. With the monthly transfers from givedirectly, I will be able to see through my secondary school education. In addition to this, I will also start rearing 3 goats and by the time I complete my secondary school, they will have multiplied as they reproduce. This will support me through college."

"Financial instability is my biggest challenge. As stated earlier what I get from charcoal selling is not enough to meet our needs. It has been difficult to pay school fees for my child since my husband has no job. I am then the only breadwinner and currently, I have fee arrears of 1500 KES. Clearing this balance has not been possible as the means are not favorable for saving to cater for it."

"I have always wanted to go to school but there is no money since I cannot work.I depend on my siblings and my parents for any support. I wish to have joined a special school for the disabled but it has not been possible due to financial constraints."

"Lack of money to meet my family's needs such as education is the biggest challenge I am currently facing. My job as a cook in the nearby primary school is no longer sustainable and cannot guarantee my children education."

"I have been involving myself in energy-draining occupations such as working in the sand mine or burning charcoal. This has drained my energy and I am no longer productive. This is the biggest challenge I am experiencing right now."