"Before receiving assistance from GiveDirectly, I struggled to pursue my passion for agriculture due to a lack of tools and resources. As a family man with three children, providing for them was challenging, especially when our crops failed and I had to resort to selling goats for food. I relied on borrowing land from neighbors and tools for farming, causing inconvenience and uncertainty in my work.However, thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to invest in my agricultural venture. With $290, I purchased horse pipes to irrigate my farm from the nearby river, enabling me to plant vegetables at home. Additionally, I rented a hectare of land for $100 and bought bean seeds for $30. My wife and I transitioned to self-employment through farming, providing stability and a sense of pride for our family.Additionally, I used $28 to purchase foodstuff. With improved access to food and income, my children are now happier and healthier. We no longer worry about going hungry, as we can afford three meals a day. Moreover, I no longer need to sell our goats for survival, and I can rent land for farming without relying on others' generosity. GiveDirectly's support has transformed our lives and allowed me to realize my agricultural dreams."

"I rely mainly on subsistence farming, which only ensures that food is adequately available in my household. I do not have a reliable source of income that I can depend on to cover expenses such as my children's school fees. To create a sustainable source of income, I plan to continue saving and invest in breeding goats. Owning a herd of goats is a good investment for me because I can sell them to generate cash when needed as they multiply. I currently own four goats, and I plan to purchase more in the coming year as a long-term investment for my children's education."

"I am currently a farmer growing crops on a two acre leased land in close proximity to Lake Baringo. Our area being classified under arid and semi-arid lands means drought is a regular phenomenon. Because of this, I do not do carryout rain-fed agriculture but rather irrigation farming. With inadequate capital to buy a water pump, I mostly borrow from fellow farmers own one. But because of competition, I sometimes fail to get one and during those times, I am forced to manually water the crops. This is a tiresome exercise and I am hoping that one day, I can own one."

"Living in a hut with a single room has been the biggest challenge for me and my family. I have a family of 3 and the space is so small that cannot hold household items let alone the sleeping area. I am forced to leave some items outside and set cooking arrangement in an open place outside the house. When visitors come, they have nowhere to sleep and as a result, I am compelled to hustle for them a place to rest in the neighborhood. This does not bond well with us as we feel we are unable to protect our privacy."

"Since the year 2004, I have been doing farming for both subsistence and commercial purposes. In the year 2013, we experienced flooding as a result of swelling of Lake Baringo. As a result, my entire 10 acres of land has since been submerged inside the lake. In order for me to continue with farming, I had to start borrowing idle land from my fellow villagers because I do not have the capital to lease. The land I currently farm is about an acre and the produce I get is insufficient to cater for all the basic needs of my family. If my capital situation persists, I am foreseeing a situation whereby I have to quit my passion of being a commercial farmer."

"I really admire GiveDirectly's programs. What caught my attention right away is their straightforwardness, which is clear from their name itself. There's no beating around the bush with them. One thing I truly appreciate about GiveDirectly is their commitment to honesty and transparency. They operate with integrity, ensuring that every step of their process is open and clear. There's no room for corruption in their programs, which is refreshing to see. Their approach is simple but effective. They directly provide assistance to those in need without any middlemen or complicated bureaucracy. This ensures that the help reaches the people who need it most without any delay or diversion. What I find remarkable is that I haven't seen any loopholes in their system. It's all laid out plainly, and you can see exactly where the money is going and how it's making a difference in people's lives."

"As a wife and mother of two toddlers, I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders to ensure my family has enough food. Cooking requires both firewood and water, which means I have to travel up to 5 kilometres to fetch them. It is a time-consuming and exhausting task, especially since I cannot afford the daily $1.5 for a motorbike. My husband Elvis, a carpenter, supports our family, but his income barely covers our food expenses, leaving nothing as surplus. Despite the challenges, I do my best to manage and provide for my family's needs."

"I am really grateful for GD because it gave us a lot of money, more than I have ever gotten before. This money has helped us do some really good things in our community. Now, people have better houses made of iron sheets,a shift from traditional thatched grass dwellings. Also, school going children who could not go to school due to lack of school fee have now reported back to school. One aspect I'm particularly proud of is the way the transfer has allowed me to enhance my farming activities. I never could afford to grow vegetables before due to the high amount of capital that is required for buying the farm input and maintaining it. I used to admire my neighbor's successful vegetable cultivation, recognizing its profitability with its quick maturation period and ready market. Thanks to GD, I have been able to invest in this venture and expand my agricultural endeavors."

"I want to continue with the momentum of raising livestock until I can acquire cows. I know that I cannot raise funds to buy a cow, which costs at least $300. It will be challenging to save this amount because of financial constraints like school fees. So I plan to start rearing goats and sheep because, after they reproduce, I can sell some of them and raise funds to get cattle. Having cows will fulfill many needs. One of them is helping me with farming activities like plowing. Also, they will produce milk for domestic consumption and for selling to gain profits. This will help my child particularly, who has been underweight for a long time and require milk. I am excited that I will not have to buy as I do now."

"I aim to start rearing goats in the coming year and beyond. However, I have not been able to buy any as of now due to financial constraints for my two grandchildren and food. As the main provider for the family, I have not had the chance to save for buying livestock. Despite this, I still believe that I can save, even if it means forgoing other needs. This is because once the transfers end, this livestock will allow me to raise funds for the needs of my family, serving as a source of future income."