"The biggest challenge I grapple with is the lack of a steady income to support my family’s daily needs. Our survival hinges on casual labor, but when work is hard to come by, which is often, it becomes incredibly difficult to make ends meet. The scarcity of opportunities frequently leaves us with no choice but to go to bed hungry, as this is our primary means of sustenance."

"Before receiving the cash transfer, life was really tough. We were living hand to mouth, and as a cook at a nearby school, my earnings were barely enough to get by. Providing for my family felt like a constant struggle—some days, we couldn’t even afford a proper meal and had to skip it altogether. It was heartbreaking, especially knowing that my son’s education was also at risk because we couldn’t keep up with the school fees. After getting the money from GiveDirectly, everything changed. I was able to buy food items in bulk that lasted us over a month, which lifted such a huge weight off my shoulders. The money that we would have spent on food has now gone toward paying for my son's school fees, ensuring his education continues uninterrupted. We feel more at peace and happier as a family now—there’s less stress, more time to connect, and a renewed sense of hope for the future"

"When we received the cash from GiveDirectly, the biggest change we noticed was the peace that came into our home. Before, it was a constant struggle—some days we had to skip meals, and it hurt to see the kids go without basic things like decent clothes. My wife especially took it hard; she felt like she wasn’t fulfilling her role as a mother, and that frustration would sometimes boil over into arguments between us. But now, with enough food and the children well-dressed, we’re all more at ease. You can see it in the kids—they’re happier, and it brings us joy just seeing them like that. Our relationship as a couple has also improved a lot. Back then, every small problem felt bigger because of the stress we were under. My wife and I would argue about things we couldn’t control, like what to eat or how to pay for school supplies. Now that those worries are behind us, we argue less. We laugh more, spend more time together, and support each other in ways we couldn’t before."

"GiveDirectly has done an excellent job in impacting both my life and the lives of my neighbors. What stood out to me the most is their inclusivity during enrollment. They show no discrimination or favoritism, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to benefit from their program. However, one recommendation I have is that they enhance their follow-ups, especially when addressing individual cases. It would be better if they solved issues on a personal level, rather than relying solely on information from neighbors, who might sometimes be biased."

"Recently, I received $450 from GiveDirectly, and as a single mother of two children, I was thrilled and grateful. I knew I had to make smart decisions to secure my children's future. With this money, I spent $370 to buy a plot of land in a safe area, far from the risk of floods. In the past, we lived at my family's home, but I didn’t want to burden anyone with my children. This is why I decided to buy the plot, so my children can have a place of their own. With the remaining $80, I bought two goats, which will help generate income. I plan to raise these goats and sell them for my children's school fees. This will make things more sustainable, providing us with a steady source of income. I'm thankful for the support, as it has allowed me to take steps toward building a secure and independent future for my family."

"I am really struggling right now because I do not have an income-generating activity. I have to rely on my husband, who is an electrician, but he is currently not employed and only gets calls for work occasionally. On a good week, he might do one job, and that income barely covers school fees and food for our family of five. On the days when there is no work, it is incredibly stressful not knowing where our next meal will come from. Casual jobs on the other hand are unpredictable as they are occasional so I cannot always rely on them."

"Our village is heavily affected by the long drought period, and it's majorly rocky. Planting crops for food is a challenge. They dry due to the scorching sun and hot climate. We only depend on casual jobs for a living, which are also hard to get. If successful, the pay is low. I'm paid $2 per day. It can hardly meet our daily food needs. This has affected my ability to provide consistent food. We sometimes only have one meal a day."

"The quick deterioration in my health is the greatest challenge am currently facing. It was in the year 2020 when I started feeling pain in my waist and leg joints, on visiting the Marigat District hospital the doctors discovered that I had diabetes coupled with the weakening of joints due to high levels of florides in the body .The high florides level has been caused by the Lake Baringo water we have been using since our childhood.Since the onset of these joint pains I have been unable to vend for myself and my grandchildren because movement from one place to another is now a challenge to me .I stopped selling tea, porridge and Sweet potatoes around the construction sites in the village because I cannot not walk well .To make matters worst I still have to endure the pain for a lifetime because the doctors have said there is no remedy to this condition."

"Diabetes, as powerful and invincible as it may seem, is a mere fraction of a person's life. In the year 2016, our third born son was diagnosed with diabetes. We have been in and out of hospital for medication which has drained us financially. Being a university student, a forth year to be specific, has catapulted our financial constrains as we depend on livestock for upkeep which has proven to be an almost futile source of income during this time of drought. Getting this transfer will play a major role in meeting his medical expenses and part of it, we will pay for his education. I believe this will give him emotional and mental strength to escape interruption and continue living a normal life."

"Financial constraints are the biggest challenge at the moment. I lost my job in 2017 and since then, I depend on the honey business to earn a living. Recently ,the supply has gone down hence affecting my income greatly forcing me to compliment the charcoal business which is also costly to operate. The income is not enough to meet the basic needs of my family as opposed to if I had a stable source of income."