"Recently, I received $450 from GiveDirectly, and I immediately allocated $200 to pay school fees for my two children in secondary school. This lifted a huge burden off my shoulders, as I had been stressed about how to find the money for their fees. I used $100 to restart farming after the floods had destroyed my farm. With this amount, I bought maize seeds and began farming again on one acre of land. This will help my family have enough food, and I can sell the surplus to pay school fees in the future. At the time, we had no food at home, so I knew I had to address our immediate need for food. I used $50 to buy enough food for my family, and now we are no longer worried about going hungry. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for this. I also used $40 to buy a goat, which I can raise to help me in case of future emergencies. Lastly, I spent $60 to purchase essential household items that we lacked, like a table, which has greatly improved the look and comfort of our home."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, my husband and I had already planned how to use the money. We set aside $100 to pay school fees for one of my children in secondary school, which eased the financial burden I had been facing. Another $100 was used to buy new clothes for my family of five kids. This was to make everyone happy and ensure they all felt included in the support. Next, we used $100 to buy two goats, which will serve as a lasting reminder of the help we received from GiveDirectly even after the transfers have ended. I also spent $100 to complete the construction of a house we had already started. With a large family, it's essential to have enough space for the kids, ensuring their privacy. This is why building the house was a priority. Finally, I used $50 to buy food and pay off a debt at a local shop. At that time, food was a challenge, but now my family has enough to eat. Clearing the debt also relieved me, as I can now take food on credit again in case of future needs."

"When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I was overjoyed because this money would help protect my family from the devastating effects of floods. I used the entire amount to pay a deposit for a piece of land on higher ground, away from the flood-prone areas. During the floods, my family of four was severely impacted, with the cold affecting us and our farm being destroyed. I believe that buying this new land will permanently shield my family from future floods. I plan to continue using my current land for farming during the dry season, utilizing water from the nearby river for irrigation. This way, I can still benefit from the land while ensuring my family’s safety by living in a more secure area."

"What stood out to me about GiveDirectly is its unconditional cash transfer program. At first, I thought it was a loan or a grant, but I soon realized it was unconditional cash that I could use to meet my specific needs. My recommendation for GiveDirectly is to continue with this approach and develop more follow-up strategies, as these are very effective in detecting fraud and understanding how cash has been utilized."

"Upon receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I was excited, as it was finally time to put my plans into action. I used $250 to buy a cow, something I had always needed but never owned before. This cow will provide my family with milk and, as it multiplies, will create additional avenues for income generation. Additionally, I spent $100 to buy two sheep. Owning livestock has always been a dream of mine, and now that I have these sheep, I can confidently face emergencies, knowing they will grow and provide income that will help educate my four children. With that done, I turned my focus to the farm, which had been destroyed by recent floods. I wanted to restart farming, so I used $30 to prepare half an acre of land for planting maize and beans. This farming effort will not only solve my family’s food challenges but will also allow me to sell the surplus to pay school fees for my children. Lastly, I spent $50 on food, as the floods had left us without a harvest, making it difficult to put food on the table. This money allowed us to have enough food during a difficult time. I am incredibly thankful to GiveDirectly for the support, which has significantly improved our lives."

"It was around 4 a.m. when I was already up, as usual, to face the daily challenges. That's when I saw two notifications on my phone. Since I am illiterate, I asked my son, who was preparing for school, to check where the messages were coming from. I was shocked and, at the same time, overjoyed when he informed me that I had received $550 in my account. It felt like a miracle to me, as I had never received such a large amount of money in my entire life. I knew right away that I would build a house for my children, as we had been squeezed into one small house and felt they needed privacy."

"Water is the biggest challenge that we continually face as a family over the years. We fetch water from Lake Baringo which is about 7 km. Water usage per day is about 100 liters. One can only carry 20 liters of water per trip, it is approximately 40 minutes to and fro. This has made our lives difficult, we ration the water a lot so that it's enough. It also means we cannot plant vegetables due to lack of water."

"My current dream is to expand the number of animals I own. These animals have proven to be a reliable way to cope with extreme weather, allowing us to sell them for school fees and food. We currently have 8 chickens and 8 goats, and I plan to grow this by purchasing more animals through my monthly transfers. I also intend to breed my goats to increase their numbers, which will provide financial support in case I face any challenges. This is a dependable way for me to improve my living standards, especially as the transfers come to an end. I also run a motorbike taxi business to help support my family, along with the assistance from GiveDirectly."

"Looking ahead, my goal is to save more money through the savings group. Currently, I am saving $15 each month, but I plan to increase it to $20. This will allow me to save a larger amount, which I can use to buy more livestock, like hens. Once they multiply, I’ll sell some for profit, and the income will help me take care of my family’s needs. I also plan to use the savings to build a proper cooking place, which will make cooking more convenient and enjoyable. I am deeply appreciative of the support from GiveDirectly, which is helping me work towards these goals."

"As the year comes to an end, I plan to use my future transfers to clear the remaining school fee debts that my children still owe. This will allow them to attend school without any further interruptions. Additionally, due to the harsh weather conditions in my village, farming is no longer a reliable option for growing food. I aim to use the transfers to buy food in bulk for my family, ensuring we have enough to last through these tough times. The support from GiveDirectly has been crucial in helping me take care of my family, and I am very thankful for it."