"I work as a mechanic in Mombasa, but my limited earnings make it challenging to support my family. I rely on my GiveDirectly transfers alongside my job income to help cover rent, purchase food, and care for my loved ones. Due to my financial circumstances, I need to explore additional ways to generate income. I've been considering animal husbandry to increase my earnings. At present, I have 5 goats and around 20 chickens, which I can sell for extra cash during financial emergencies. In the upcoming year and beyond, I plan to invest more in goat farming. My goal is to acquire additional animals so they can breed and produce even more. This venture will provide me with financial security for the future, as I can sell the animals if I face any financial challenges to support my family."

"In the coming year, I have some important plans. I want to fence my compound and build a granary for my farm produce. I believe it is good to stay in a secure place, and a fence will help with that. I plan to use the money I get from my teaching job. This money will help me raise enough for the fencing and to construct a store. With the store, I will have a safe place to store my farm inputs. This way, I can keep everything organized and protected. Overall, I hope to create a better and more secure environment for my farm and my family."

"Next year, I’m hoping to make some changes and focus more on maize farming. It’s the only real way for us to get by around here, and if we want to survive, it’s where I need to put my energy. I was lucky enough to hear from Kenya Seed, and they’ve promised to provide some seeds for us. With that kind of support, I’m thinking of plowing 4.5 acres of land—half for maize and the other half for tomatoes. To raise the money I need for plowing, planting, and all the rest, I’ve decided to sell two of my cows. With 15 cows, parting with two of them shouldn’t be too much of a strain. By this time next year, if all goes as planned, I’ll have a good crop in the ground, and we’ll hopefully be better off."

"My primary goal is to attend college and study building and construction. With my parents out of work and relying on peasant farming, I’ve taken it upon myself to work hard in my second-hand clothing business to save for my college fees. I remain optimistic that I can reach this goal with the support from GiveDirectly. Once I've saved enough, I plan to pass my business on to my sister, who has finished high school but hasn’t found a way to enroll in college despite her passing grades. After I complete my course, I intend to help her with her college education."

"My goal is to build my own house within the next year and beyond. I've already purchased iron sheets, building poles, and some essential materials, which is a positive step forward. I just need a few more items to kick off the construction. My plan is to use my transfers to buy all the necessary materials and start the building as soon as possible. Right now, I'm in college pursuing a mechanics course, and I hope to finish in about a year. I also need to acquire some equipment to set up my workshop. Therefore, my plans include completing the construction of my house before using my transfers to invest in these tools. Ultimately, I aim to be employed for a while to save up for my own garage."

"When I received the money from GiveDirectly, they didn’t tell me how to spend it or try to map out my priorities for me. They just trusted that I knew best what my family needed. It reminded me that, even with limited resources, we are the ones who understand our needs most clearly. And having that freedom to decide was empowering; I could allocate the funds where they’d truly make a difference. Another thing I appreciated deeply was how they handled the payments for families. Every household was treated equally, including polygamous families like mine. Each wife received her own portion, which made it easier for us to make decisions tailored to our households. The process was transparent, and everything was clearly explained. Looking back, I can't think of anything they could improve. It was evident they respected us and cared for our well-being, which made all the difference."

"When I first heard about the GiveDirectly program, I was skeptical, but as soon as the money was sent directly to me, that skepticism turned into relief. For once, I felt like I had control over my own life and choices, knowing that they trusted me with this support. They didn’t try to tell me what to do or restrict me; instead, they left the decision entirely up to me. What stood out to me was how clear and transparent GiveDirectly was from the beginning. They explained everything well, making sure I understood how the program worked and what to expect. There was no confusion or worry because they communicated everything in a way that made sense to us. It’s hard to think of anything that should be changed, as they’ve approached this perfectly—letting us be in charge of our choices, believing in us, and providing us with resources we need. I am grateful that, for once, an organization trusted us enough to empower us, without conditions or interference."

"The biggest change in my daily life is that I've become more hopeful and happier since I started keeping two goats on my homestead. Having them around gives me confidence that I will soon achieve my dream of owning dairy cows. Since goats reproduce quickly, I believe I’ll have many more in no time. Once they multiply, I can easily trade them for a dairy cow. I think having a dairy cow will greatly improve my life because it will produce milk. This means I’ll have an income from selling the milk, especially since I currently don’t have a job. It has been challenging to rely solely on my son for all my needs since I can no longer work. In addition to the financial benefits, my health will improve as we’ll have our milk to supplement our meals. As my goats continue to reproduce, they will increase my livestock, which is a positive step forward for me, particularly after all I’ve endured, including the loss of my spouse. Now, I worry less about the future because I'm confident these goats will soon make my life easier, providing relief for my son, who has been taking care of me for so long."

"The biggest change in my daily life is that I've become more hopeful and happier since I started keeping two goats on my homestead. Having them around gives me confidence that I will soon achieve my dream of owning dairy cows. Since goats reproduce quickly, I believe I’ll have many more in no time. Once they multiply, I can easily trade them for a dairy cow. I think having a dairy cow will greatly improve my life because it will produce milk. This means I’ll have an income from selling the milk, especially since I currently don’t have a job. It has been challenging to rely solely on my son for all my needs since I can no longer work. In addition to the financial benefits, my health will improve as we’ll have our milk to supplement our meals. As my goats continue to reproduce, they will increase my livestock, which is a positive step forward for me, particularly after all I’ve endured, including the loss of my spouse. Now, I worry less about the future because I'm confident these goats will soon make my life easier, providing relief for my son, who has been taking care of me for so long."

"I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to accomplish next year. The first thing is to work really hard on the farm. My plan is that when I get a good harvest, I’ll buy half an acre of land where I can finally settle. You see, where we live now, it floods every time the rains come, and it’s become too stressful. I need a place where my family can feel safe no matter the weather. I'll use that land for both living and farming—something that gives me stability. I hope to have one acre in total, so I can keep farming to sustain us. This way, we’ll not only have a secure home but also land to grow crops, ensuring that no season goes to waste. Another goal I have is to buy five more goats. Goats are really important—they’re like insurance. If something comes up, like an emergency, I can always sell one or two and get what I need. I already have a few goats, but these extra ones would make all the difference. Farming will be the key to getting those goats. If all goes well, by this time next year, I’ll have everything in place."