"With the cash transfer I received, I decided to use $400 to build an external kitchen out of iron sheets. Out of this, $300 went into buying materials, and I spent the remaining $100 on labor. My old kitchen was small, the roof leaked, and it barely had enough space to move around. Given that my main house only has two rooms and I have six children, we always struggled with space. Previously, some of my children had to sleep at their grandmother’s place due to our cramped house and when they were home, they’d sleep in the sitting room. Now, they can sleep in the new kitchen, which is much warmer and more comfortable than before. In addition to the kitchen, I spent $10 to buy some clothes for my five-year-old son. He didn’t have nice clothes, and it felt important to give him something new and comfortable. The remaining amount went to buying food items for the household, which eased the burden on our daily expenses. This cash transfer has truly transformed our living situation, making our home a bit more comfortable and allowing us to manage day-to-day life with a bit more ease."

"My initial goal was to invest in building my house. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I have successfully constructed a comfortable home for my family through these transfers. Looking ahead, my primary objective is to invest in stocking my new shop. I am in the process of building a small kiosk to avoid the challenges of renting a business space. Before these transfers come to an end, I plan to establish a shop. Having this business will provide me with a daily income, allowing me to support my family with greater ease. Our home is conveniently located next to the market, which I believe makes this a smart decision. Moving forward, having a consistent income is essential. To make this happen, I intend to use my monthly transfers to stock the shop, ensuring financial security even after the transfers conclude. I am thankful to GiveDirectly for empowering us financially. Currently, I rely on less stable casual jobs, so making the most of these transfers will significantly transform our lives."

"I had always wanted to own a sheep—something I could call mine and that would be a lasting memory of this support. With $90, I bought two sheep, both as an investment for my family and as a reminder of the kindness shown to us by GiveDirectly. Education has always been a priority for me, but keeping my three children in primary school was becoming a challenge due to rising costs. I used $50 from the cash transfer to pay their school fees, making sure they wouldn’t be sent home and could focus on their studies. Seeing them stay in school, knowing they’re getting the education they deserve, brings me peace of mind. With $26, I bought half a bag of maize to help us through the shortage, and I used the remaining amount to buy basic household food items that would last us for the next two weeks. This ensured that my family had enough to eat, allowing us to focus on other pressing needs without the constant worry about our next meal."

"I am thankful to GiveDirectly for the financial assistance that has significantly improved my financial situation. After completing my secondary education, I found myself at home, unsure of how to pursue college. Fortunately, GiveDirectly enrolled me in their program. With their support, I was able to start a small vegetable business, which has been quite successful. I couldn’t attend college right away because my parents, who are peasant farmers, couldn’t afford it. Through this business, I am able to save money, and I use part of my income from GiveDirectly to invest in goats. I am pleased to say that I now have ten goats. My ambition is to become a Mechanical Engineer, and I believe that the income from my business and goat investments will help me achieve my college dreams, as goats reproduce quickly. I plan to sell some of them to fund my education. After graduating, I aim to establish my own business to enhance my family's quality of life."

"My primary objective is to strategically plan and invest in goat farming, a venture I've already begun with the assistance of these transfers. Growing up in a family where steady financial support is hard to come by, careful planning is essential to prevent falling into debt. My husband works as a tout, but his earnings vary based on the number of passengers, making his income unpredictable. This instability is particularly frustrating with school-going children, as we need to ensure their fees are paid on time and meet their basic needs. To reach my goal, I intend to save $20 from my monthly transfers each month. This savings will enable me to invest in goat rearing and establish a more secure financial future for my family. As the goats breed, I plan to sell some to fund my children's fees and manage any financial crises without having to rely on my neighbors for help. Thanks to these transfers, life has become more manageable, and I am committed to avoiding a return to poverty. I am dedicated to using this income to support my children's schooling and provide them with a brighter future."

"I am extremely thankful to Givedirectly for their financial support in helping me raise my children, especially after the passing of my husband, which placed all the responsibilities on my shoulders. Currently, my primary concern is for my two oldest children, both of whom finished secondary school with excellent results. One is preparing to enroll at Kenya Medical Training College to study nursing, while the other will be attending a teachers training college. Unfortunately, we have had to postpone this due to financial constraints. I am contributing to a local savings group with the hope of being able to enroll them soon. Additionally, I recently started working as a househelp, which provides me with some income and helps me save for building a new house. The current house we live in is quite unsafe, as the walls have become fragile and may collapse during heavy winds. However, the roof remains intact, allowing me to reuse the iron sheets from this house in the new one, although I will need to purchase a few additional pieces. Therefore, once I can enroll my children in school, I will begin this construction project. These are my main goals for the near future and beyond."

"I have about five acres of land, but due to financial challenges, I usually rent out about two acres to get some capital for planting the remaining acres. My plan is to stop leasing out this land so that I can fully use it for farming. I am currently waiting for the water to completely recede after the floods before I begin planting. Once the land is ready, I plan to plant maize and vegetables. I will use my final transfer to fund the planting, and from the income I make, I plan to start a business buying and selling vegetables. This way, I can continue crop farming and manage my business, no longer relying on charcoal production, which I want to stop because it is unsustainable and tedious."

"GiveDirectly excels in supporting the needy through unconditional cash transfers, and what makes it even better is the follow-up they provide. They don’t just stop at giving the money; they check in to see how the transfer has impacted us, ensuring that even though the cash is unconditional, it is being spent wisely. This approach has led to significant positive developments in our community. I do not see any need for change. GiveDirectly is doing well and should continue with the same strategy."

"Lack of sustainable sources of income has been the greatest challenge that we are currently facing. Being a housewife depending on a meager income from my husband working as a casual laborer has led us to a miserable life. My husband usually sends us an average of KES 2000 a month from his salary which is inadequate for a family of 6. Keeping in mind the household recurrent expenditures and education expenses makes me feel myopic about the future of our children. My dream of educating our children to improve their futures has faded away due to our current financial crisis and this has broken my heart."

"I am a mother of 2 operating a kiosk within the village for the past 4 years.For the past 1 year most of my neighbors have opened up kiosks within the village,this has posed a great challenge to my household in terms of finances.Previously I would earn an average of KES 800 per day but currently I get less than KES 200 from the daily sells.I was unable to sell anything in the last 3 days for instance ,this has caused some of the items such as bread , tomatoes and milk to go to waste due to their short lifespan.Stiff competition from the neighborhood kiosks has really affected my family financially to an extend that I have to depend on my husband for household needs which was not the case in the past 2 years.I hope things will change for the better in the near future."