"I woke up to the wonderful news from my son that I had received my first cash transfer, which he confirmed through the new messages I had received earlier that night. I was filled with excitement; words couldn't express how I felt, as this money meant so much to me. I was convinced that my long-held dream of owning goats in my homestead would finally come true."

"The biggest change in my daily life is that I am now raising goats at home. Initially, I didn't have any because my financial hardships made it impossible to afford them. The income from my small business barely covered our basic needs, and sometimes it wasn't sufficient. However, I hope that having these goats will be beneficial, as they typically reproduce twice a year. This means I could quickly have many goats. My plan is to eventually trade them for dairy cows, which would be a significant advantage, as I would then have plenty of milk to sell for additional income. This extra income would greatly help with my children's school fees. Having these goats has given me hope, and I am confident that in the future, I will not face the same struggles."

"In my old age, I am not able to fend for myself and have to rely on other people to provide for me. As a result, I sometimes sleep hungry when I don't find any help. This really makes me sad. I am however grateful because my children provide for me despite the hard economic times they are also facing."

"I work as a mechanic in Mombasa, but my limited earnings make it challenging to support my family. I rely on my GiveDirectly transfers alongside my job income to help cover rent, purchase food, and care for my loved ones. Due to my financial circumstances, I need to explore additional ways to generate income. I've been considering animal husbandry to increase my earnings. At present, I have 5 goats and around 20 chickens, which I can sell for extra cash during financial emergencies. In the upcoming year and beyond, I plan to invest more in goat farming. My goal is to acquire additional animals so they can breed and produce even more. This venture will provide me with financial security for the future, as I can sell the animals if I face any financial challenges to support my family."

"I received money from GiveDirectly, and I was impressed by how transparent they are about their processes. They didn’t hide anything from us; everything was clear and well explained. It felt good knowing exactly how they work and where the money comes from. What I appreciated the most was that I could spend the money in any way I wanted. This freedom allowed me to support my family and invest in things that truly mattered to us. Honestly, I don't see anything that needs to be changed. GiveDirectly has done a great job of making sure we understand everything. Their approach really empowers people like me to make choices that improve our lives. The trust they build with us is important, and I hope they continue to keep things as they are."

"Next year, I’m hoping to make some changes and focus more on maize farming. It’s the only real way for us to get by around here, and if we want to survive, it’s where I need to put my energy. I was lucky enough to hear from Kenya Seed, and they’ve promised to provide some seeds for us. With that kind of support, I’m thinking of plowing 4.5 acres of land—half for maize and the other half for tomatoes. To raise the money I need for plowing, planting, and all the rest, I’ve decided to sell two of my cows. With 15 cows, parting with two of them shouldn’t be too much of a strain. By this time next year, if all goes as planned, I’ll have a good crop in the ground, and we’ll hopefully be better off."

"My primary goal is to attend college and study building and construction. With my parents out of work and relying on peasant farming, I’ve taken it upon myself to work hard in my second-hand clothing business to save for my college fees. I remain optimistic that I can reach this goal with the support from GiveDirectly. Once I've saved enough, I plan to pass my business on to my sister, who has finished high school but hasn’t found a way to enroll in college despite her passing grades. After I complete my course, I intend to help her with her college education."

"My goal is to build my own house within the next year and beyond. I've already purchased iron sheets, building poles, and some essential materials, which is a positive step forward. I just need a few more items to kick off the construction. My plan is to use my transfers to buy all the necessary materials and start the building as soon as possible. Right now, I'm in college pursuing a mechanics course, and I hope to finish in about a year. I also need to acquire some equipment to set up my workshop. Therefore, my plans include completing the construction of my house before using my transfers to invest in these tools. Ultimately, I aim to be employed for a while to save up for my own garage."

"After the flooding, I had given up on farming. I’d watched my fields drown, seen the work of my hands wash away, and for a long time, I just couldn’t imagine going back. But lately, something in me has shifted, and I've realized that I'm ready to start again. So, here I am, thinking of returning to farming, with a focus on maize, beans, and vegetable crops. These are the things we need most—things my family relies on for both food and income. The hope is that, this time around, I can make it work. I want to use the upcoming 3rd transfer as my starting point, to buy seeds, and start planting again. This time, I see it not just as work but as an investment. I keep telling myself, Once I harvest, I’ll finally have the resources to support my family. And it’s not just about food; I want to be able to cover school fees, to give my children a chance to learn and grow, without worrying about where the next meal will come from."

"I want to buy an acre of land to add to the acre I already have. I've been really focused on growing my farming setup here, right where we stay, because this area’s soil is so good, and the climate works well for what I want to do. This extra acre would give me enough space to start larger-scale farming. My plan is to put it all to good use, especially with tomatoes. They're reliable, and since they fetch a good price, especially when supply dips, they’re the best way I’ve found to raise enough money for the purchase. If I keep at it with tomatoes and time things right, I think I’ll be able to afford that additional acre by next year. With the land in my name, I could expand from there. It's all about getting enough land to make farming work for me in the long run. So, that’s my hope. With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, I’ll be farming double this time next year."