"The biggest difference since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been in my children's education and providing food for my family. Before, my children would often have to stay home because I couldn't afford their school fees, and they would miss several days of school. But with GiveDirectly’s support, I was able to pay their fees, and for the first time, they will complete a whole term without missing a single day of studies. On the food front, the cash transfers have enabled my family to have regular meals. After the floods destroyed my farm and left me with no harvest, it was a struggle to feed my family. Thanks to GiveDirectly, we now have enough food, and I no longer have to worry about where our next meal will come from."

"When I received $180 from GiveDirectly, the first thing I did was buy two sheep for $120. I love livestock, and I know they will multiply over time, which will be a great source of income in the future. It feels good knowing that this investment will help me and my family as the sheep grow in number. I have three children, and with the difficult times we were facing, I thought it was important to buy food with $25 so that my family could have enough to eat. At that time, floods had swept away everything, and I had no harvest. This money provided much-needed relief, ensuring my family had food even in the midst of the flood disaster. I also used $10 to clear a debt I owed at a local shop, where I had taken food on credit to feed my family. This was important because I wanted to stay in good standing with the shopkeeper, just in case I needed to rely on them for help again in an emergency. The rest of the money went towards buying daily necessities for the household, helping us to live more comfortably during a challenging time. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for this support—it made a big difference in helping us get through the floods and set us up for a better future."

"I had just returned from attending a funeral in our neighborhood. Since my phone didn’t have any charge, I left it at home to charge while I was away. Upon arriving home, I powered on my phone and immediately received a message from GiveDirectly informing me that I had received $200. It caught me off guard because I wasn’t aware that the transfers had been sent. Excitedly, I shared the news with my children. Our first thought was to use the money to address our family’s housing situation, something we had been wanting to improve for a long time."

"Last year, my life took an unexpected turn when my already weak and dilapidated house couldn't withstand heavy rains and storms. It collapsed, leaving my family and me without shelter, marking the beginning of a challenging period. I had worked hard to build that house, so watching it crumble was heartbreaking. Suddenly, finding myself facing homelessness was something I had never anticipated. Afterwards, finding a new place to call home seemed like an impossible task. With limited resources and the urgent need to provide for my family, I couldn't save enough to build a new house immediately. Fortunately, a relative offered me a job looking after their farm and built a small structure for me to live in. However, the turning point came when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. Determined to change my life, I felt empowered to start building a new, decent, iron-roofed house. I immediately set out to purchase 24 iron sheets, nails, and building poles and cover the labour costs, which amounted to $500. I'm now building the new house, and I can't wait to move into my own home where I can live peacefully. I spent the remaining $50 on buying foodstuffs, such as maize flour, which could last for weeks, ensuring that my household would not go hungry."

"For many years, I lived in a small home that, while not very spacious, provided me with shelter and a peaceful place to live. Unfortunately, my house unexpectedly collapsed last year after a particularly heavy rainy season. Suddenly, I found myself without shelter, and building a new house seemed almost impossible, given my financial situation. I don't have a job or a steady source of income that would allow me to rebuild. I spend my days doing odd jobs here and there, and recently, I've been looking after a relative's farm. They were kind enough to build a small structure on their land for me to stay in, but it was far from what I needed to feel secure and at peace. When I received the first transfer of $550, my dream of rebuilding my home seemed possible. I immediately set out to buy iron sheets, building poles, and nails to start the construction of my new house. As I stand before my nearly completed home, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. The thought of moving into this house and having a place where I can find peace and solace again fills me with joy."

"I clearly remember the day I received my transfer from GiveDirectly. It was 3 p.m., and I was resting at home after a long, hot day on the farm when my phone suddenly rang. Curious, I checked it and was overjoyed to see that GiveDirectly had sent me money. I was filled with happiness, and the excitement of all the possibilities rushed through me. Right away, I started thinking about how to use the funds wisely, especially to help pay for my grandmother's hospital bill. Receiving that transfer was a life-changing moment for me. I'm so grateful for the support from the organization, which has made such a big difference in my life."

"Now that I am in my final year of secondary school, preparing for my transition is very important. After secondary school, I want to join college and study education, as I have dreams of becoming a teacher by profession. To do this, I have been buying goats and chickens, and I hope that they multiply in number so that in the future I may be able to sell some of them and use the proceeds to pay my school fees. Additionally, I also intend to continue using a portion of my transfers to pay school fees for myself and assist my parents, as I know this is very heavy on them since they do not have a stable and reliable source of income. I am very grateful for these transfers from GiveDirectly, as they have been very helpful in my educational journey, and I am hopeful that I can achieve my dreams."

"Since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly, the biggest difference in my life has been my ability to recover from the shock of the floods. Before the transfers, I was displaced with no house, no household items, and no food. This situation was overwhelming. With the support I received, I could address these urgent issues. I purchased some construction materials to begin rebuilding my home, which is essential for my family’s safety. I also bought household items that we needed to live comfortably. Having utensils and furniture again has made a significant difference in our daily lives. Most importantly, I used part of the money to buy food for my family. Even though we had no harvest, I can now provide meals to enjoy together. This support has truly changed my life and helped me feel more secure and hopeful for the future."

"In the coming year, my goal is to start goat farming because goats are more affordable and easier to maintain than cows, even though I already have one cow. I plan to save at least $10 monthly from my transfers to accumulate enough to buy one goat at a time. Currently, a goat costs around $50 due to high demand, but with steady savings, I know I can reach that amount. Starting with one goat, I hope to slowly build a herd, which will provide my family with a reliable source of income through offspring and meat selling. Over time, this will not only improve our financial stability but also allow me to expand the farm."

"Since receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, the biggest difference I've seen is that I was finally able to pay off the school fees arrears for my two children. Before this, they were at risk of being sent home. I mainly depend on maize farming, which I sell to Kenya Seed to raise money. The unfortunate part is that Kenya Seed often delays their payments for a long time, and this has always been a challenge for us. Without timely payments, it’s difficult to handle urgent expenses like school fees, but now, thanks to GiveDirectly, I’ve been able to cover those costs without worrying about when the payments from my maize will come through."