"What impressed me the most about GiveDirectly is how organized their plans are. During the barazas, they took the time to educate us and shared positive news that really lifted my spirits, especially the idea of receiving free money. The way they communicated with us made me feel valued and informed. I didn’t notice anything bad about GiveDirectly; everything was done well. The officers explained things clearly, and we always knew what to expect. I am grateful for their support and how smoothly everything has gone."

"Lack of food quality food is the biggest challenge my family is currently facing.I am a widow with 2 children, I engage in casual jobs such as fetching water and washing clothes for the well-off neighbors.Finding work nowadays is a challenge because schools have closed, children go to fetch water for their families.This has affected my source of income leading me to having huge debt in shops .For the past one month I have been able to earn at most KES 100 twice a week, this money is inadequate to meet my household daily food requirement worth KES 200.I am currently so devastated and in fear that my children and I may find ourselves malnourished and weak due to inadequacy of food intake unlike the past few months."

"Providing food for my family of four has become a real challenge for us. We depend on my husband, Amos, who operates a motorcycle taxi business to provide for us. Unfortunately, his business is not doing well, and on most days, he only earns around KES 300, which is not enough to cover even the basics like food. We do not farm here either, since the weather conditions are not favorable for growing crops. Even though it is tough sometimes, I am grateful that we have never lacked food, thanks to Amos. He works hard, and no matter how little we earn, he always makes sure there is something on the table for us. I am thankful for that, even though things are hard."

"In the past, my main goal was to get a bed and mattress for myself, as I had none and I was sleeping on the floor which was very uncomfortable. With the transfers I received, I was able to buy a bed and mattress, and I am now so grateful to sleep comfortably each night. However, I now realize that my teenage son, who is growing up quickly, also needs his own space. It no longer feels right for us to share the same living area, especially as he becomes more older. Therefore, this year, I plan to use part of my future transfers from GiveDirectly to gradually purchase building materials so I can construct a small house for him. I want both of us to have the privacy and comfort we deserve, each in our own space. I am hopeful that, little by little, I will be able to complete this project and give him this special gift. Just thinking about it fills me with joy. I am deeply grateful for these transfers, as they are making dreams like this feel within reach. I know I will be overjoyed when I can finally hand over a place my son can truly call his own."

"I am currently enrolled in college, pursuing a diploma course in Early Childhood Development Education. I believe that enrolling in this program will open exciting new paths for my career and therefore I am committed to completing this course. I am meant to complete my studies in July next year and I am hopeful for the chance to secure a position with the County Government, which would provide the job security and growth I aspire for, especially compared to my current role within our community school where there is no job security. As I move forward, my primary focus is to continue dedicating all my transfers toward funding my education until I complete my studies. Once I complete my studies, I plan to start investing in livestock, starting with goats. My hope is that these goats will thrive and multiply, growing in both number and value. Thereafter, I plan to trade some of them to purchase cows that I will use to plow my farm. I am optimistic that these goats and cows will become valuable assets for my family and be a reliable source of support especially once this program concludes. I am deeply grateful for the assistance I receive from GiveDirectly. It has been an essential stepping stone toward my dreams, and with each step, I feel my aspirations coming closer to reality."

"My vision for my life is to become a dedicated livestock farmer, one who can truly rely on livestock as a steady source of income and security. For the coming year, I plan to use my transfers from GiveDirectly to expand my herd by purchasing more goats, adding to the ones I already have. My hope is that these goats will multiply, grow in value, and set the foundation for something lasting. Once I have six goats, I can trade them for a cow and I intend to have many goats so that I can trade some of them for several cows. I am working towards this goal with so much anticipation. The bulls will be invaluable for plowing my farm, which will allow me to save on the high costs of hiring tractors each season. Meanwhile, the cows will keep multiplying, providing milk for my family and an additional income stream from milk sales. I am deeply grateful for this support, as it is helping me bring my dreams to life. This opportunity gives me such hope for the future, hoping that I can create a stable and sustainable life for myself and my family."

"I have struggled with shelter for years and the house that served as our home was in poor condition. Over time, it weakened, with walls full of cracks, which put my family at risk—I often worried it might collapse, especially during heavy rains or storms. Working as a casual labourer in a quarry made it hard to save for a new house, as most of my small income went toward food and school fees for my five children: two in high school and three in junior school. This left me with little to invest in a safe, new home. When GiveDirectly promised to support me financially, it was a tremendous relief. For the first time, I could genuinely think about building a safe, spacious house that could comfortably accommodate my family of six. After receiving my first transfer, I spent it all on essential building materials, including 26 iron sheets, poles, and nails, and built a three-room mud house for us. We’re now proud to have a solid shelter, giving my family a peace of mind we never had before, for which I am deeply grateful. I now feel my dignity has been restored, knowing we have a home I look forward to returning to every day."

"I have struggled with shelter for years and the house that served as our home was in poor condition. Over time, it weakened, with walls full of cracks, which put my family at risk—I often worried it might collapse, especially during heavy rains or storms. Working as a casual labourer in a quarry made it hard to save for a new house, as most of my small income went toward food and school fees for my five children: two in high school and three in junior school. This left me with little to invest in a safe, new home. When GiveDirectly promised to support me financially, it was a tremendous relief. For the first time, I could genuinely think about building a safe, spacious house that could comfortably accommodate my family of six. After receiving my first transfer, I spent it all on essential building materials, including 26 iron sheets, poles, and nails, and built a three-room mud house for us. We’re now proud to have a solid shelter, giving my family a peace of mind we never had before, for which I am deeply grateful. I now feel my dignity has been restored, knowing we have a home I look forward to returning to every day."

"The floods brought so much destruction to my life, sweeping away my four acres of maize and damaging everything I owned, from my household items to my eight goats. Life was already hard, and the floods made it worse. I was struggling to make ends meet, relying on casual jobs and farming whenever the rains were kind to us. My two children depend on me, and after separating from my wife 20 years ago, I’ve been the sole provider. The money from the cash transfer came at a time when I needed it most, offering hope and relief in the midst of my challenges.I used $60 to pay my children’s school fees, which was a huge burden lifted off my shoulders. I used to rely on casual work and farming to cover the fees, but it was never enough, and sometimes I couldn’t even get casual work. I then spent $35 on a mattress because the old one we had was completely worn out, and my children had been sleeping uncomfortably. It was a small comfort, but it meant a lot to see them finally sleep well. I also bought kitchen utensils for $16, as I had very few, and it was difficult to serve guests without proper items. I purchased new clothes for $10, as I had no good clothes to wear, especially for occasions like vacations. The remaining $14 went towards buying new cups, as the ones I had were broken. Lastly, I used the rest of the money to buy food, which was a huge relief. Before, I had to rely on casual jobs that earned me just $3 a day, which was never consistent. Some days, I didn’t even have food to give my children. Now, I feel more secure knowing that I have food in the house and my children’s school fees are paid. The transfer has made a big difference in our lives, bringing hope and stability where there was once struggle."

"For the past seven months, I’ve been struggling with a problem in my right leg that kept me from working. It was painful, and I couldn’t provide for my children, which was heartbreaking. My family was suffering because of my illness, and it felt like there was no way out. Then, I received the cash transfer from GiveDirectly, and it truly felt like a lifeline. With $60, I was able to get medical treatment, and my leg is now healing. This allowed me to go back to work, and I can finally provide for my family again.I also used $200 to plant butternut, which grows quickly and has a good profit. This will help us earn money in a short time, and I’m hopeful that it will bring us some stability. In addition, I bought two sheep for $85 because they multiply fast, and I can sell them when needed. I also used $50 to buy school uniforms and books for my five children, so they can go to school and have a better future. The rest of the money went toward buying food, which gave us much-needed relief. Thanks to GiveDirectly, my life has changed completely. I’m healthy again and able to work, which lifts a huge burden from my family. My husband has been working hard, and together, we can now provide for our children and meet their basic needs. I am so grateful for this support, and I truly appreciate everything GiveDirectly has done for us. This help has brought us hope, and we now feel like we can build a better future."