"The challenge I'm facing currently is associated with my livestock. I'm a goat keeper and recently they have been adversely affected by diseases such as East coast fever. This has led to the death of some of my animals which has come because I don't have money for treatment. This has affected me both financially and psychologically because I depend on Livestock."

"Being an arid area, there is always competition for water and the limited pasture for our livestock. Consequently, this region is prone to cattle rustling and banditry. Early this year while fleeing from an attack, I lost over 20 sheep to diseases due to movement from place to place. Having no other livelihood, my only source of food and income was greatly affected so much such that I have had to sleep hungry several times. My worry is that I will not be able to build enough wealth with the unprecedented threat to security."

"Our village is located in a hot and dry climate, just below the mountains of the highlands. Due to insufficient rain over the years, we cannot do farming but depend mainly on our livestock. Food insecurity is a big challenge, we sell our livestock to buy food. It's also expensive to buy food daily. This has depleted our livestock, henceforth we're always worried about what the future holds."

"When I first received the money from GiveDirectly, I was overwhelmed by the respect and care shown by their staff. They treated us with dignity, asking about our needs and ensuring we understood the process fully. Their wholehearted dedication was clear, and I felt valued in every interaction. What truly stood out was the freedom we had to decide how to spend the money—it wasn’t tied to rules or restrictions, allowing us to address our specific needs. For me, that meant repairing my home, while my neighbor started a small business. This flexibility brought growth in ways tailored to our lives. Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything about the process because everything was explained so clearly, and the respect they showed made it a truly empowering experience."

"I was in the forest, tending to my cows, when my phone buzzed with a message notification around 3 p.m. I couldn’t resist reading it immediately, and as soon as I saw it, my heart leapt with joy—it was the unconditional cash transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt a wave of relief and excitement wash over me, but being alone with the cows, I decided to wait until I got home to share the incredible news. When I finally told my husband and children, the entire family was overjoyed. We had been waiting anxiously for this money to clear the school fees for our two children in secondary school, and now, that worry was lifted."

"My main goal is to start buying construction materials to build a bigger, permanent stone house. The house we currently live in is grass-thatched and too small for all of us—it barely fits me and my seven children. During the rainy season, water seeps through, making life even harder, and the space is so cramped that we have no privacy or comfort. A new, solid house will not only give us more space but also protect us from the weather and make us feel more secure. I have already started making plans, and every small step feels like a step closer to a better life for my children. I’m eagerly waiting for the final transfer from GiveDirectly because it will be a game-changer for me. With that money, I plan to buy the essential building materials—stones, cement, iron sheets, and sand. I want this house to last for generations, a home where my children can grow up safely and even call their own one day."

"When I received the money, the first thing I did was stock up my small shop with fast-moving consumer goods. I used $300 to replenish my shelves because my stock had dwindled over time. Many customers had bought on credit and were unable to pay back because their livelihoods were destroyed by the recent floods. Now, my shop is bustling again, and I’m slowly recovering what was lost. With $100, I turned my attention to my tomato farm, which is a key part of how I provide for my family. The crops were at a stage where they needed spraying to protect them from blight. I purchased herbicides and pesticides to ensure my tomatoes remained healthy. This small investment is already paying off, as the plants are thriving, and I’m optimistic about a good harvest. Farming is unpredictable, but this timely support allowed me to take preventive measures instead of facing potential losses.The remainder of the money, I used to buy clothes for my children. It’s a joy to see them looking presentable, and it means a lot to them and to me. The floods left many of us with little to spare, and their old clothes were worn out. Now, when they walk to school or play outside, they do so with confidence."

"When I first heard about GiveDirectly, I didn’t know if it was real, but when they came to our village, everything was done so well. From the first time they met us to explain the program, they were clear and respectful, and even during follow-ups, they kept their word. The best thing is that they send us money directly, and we get to decide how to spend it based on our needs. Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything because they handled everything perfectly, and the freedom to choose how to use the money makes a big difference in our lives."

"In the coming year and beyond, I am committed to building a new house, as my current house has a leaking roof and weak walls. It is only a one-room structure, and with six children, it is essential to create a better living environment for my family. So far, I have secured twenty iron sheets. I still need two more iron sheets to complete this project. My goal is to finish the house so I can focus my finances on educating my children. I want to ensure they can attend school regularly without having to worry about school fees. Through our savings group, I have been able to save a good amount from the transfers. We have collectively agreed to continue this initiative, especially since there are no job opportunities in the area right now, hence we can invest our savings in income generating activities to enable us support our families with ease. I am very happy with the progress we are making, and I believe that with continued support, we will achieve my goals."

"In the coming years, I have a dream: to purchase a pair of oxen. I have longed to own them for quite some time because I am tired of hiring my neighbours' oxen whenever it’s time to prepare the farm. Hiring them is expensive, with the cost of ploughing an acre set at $20. Often, I cannot afford this, which forces me to rely on manual labour. Preparing the farm by hand has been exhausting and has resulted in low yields, as I cannot till the entire land effectively. To make this dream a reality, I plan to use the savings from my merry-go-round initiative, which I will soon receive, and supplement it with part of the transfers I have obtained. Once I purchase the oxen, it will not only bring me relief but also create an opportunity for additional income. I can hire them out to my friends and neighbours, allowing me to earn a living. By the beginning of next year, I am hopeful that the oxen will be at my homestead, as all my plans are in place. This step will not only improve my farming efficiency but also mark a significant milestone in achieving my goals."