"My spouse and I are fortunate to have three children of whom two are in school, while the youngest is still small. To support our family, my spouse takes on casual jobs, while I manage our livestock. Life was quite challenging before we received assistance from GiveDirectly; earning a consistent income was difficult, and the little we had was often insufficient for basic needs like school fees and food. There were times when we went to bed hungry, but now, thanks to GiveDirectly, we can plan better and no longer face those hardships. With my most recent transfer, I spent $102 to purchase three goats. I aim to invest in goat rearing, so once the transfers conclude, I’ll have a reliable source of support for my family. As the goats breed and their numbers increase, I plan to sell some of them to pay for my children's education and purchase food."

"After getting attacked by a crocodile while fishing my life has been difficult because I'm unable to provide for my family because of my injuries."

"For a long time, I relied on buying tap water from a neighbor for all my household needs. However, I always hoped to have my own water tap in my compound. Purchasing water from my neighbor had become quite expensive, and given the distance I had to walk to get it, it was difficult, especially as I am older and no longer have the stamina for long treks. Initially, the cost of installing a water tap on my property felt beyond my reach. Fortunately, when I received my first transfer, everything changed, and my goal became achievable. I used a portion of the funds to buy the necessary pipes and laid them in preparation for the water system. I also covered the labor costs, which helped move the process along quickly. Now, I’m delighted that the setup is almost complete—all that’s left is to install the meter, and soon water will flow directly into my compound. This new water source will serve all my household needs, and I also plan to sell water to others in the area and ear some money."

"For a long time, I relied on buying tap water from a neighbor for all my household needs. However, I always hoped to have my own water tap in my compound. Purchasing water from my neighbor had become quite expensive, and given the distance I had to walk to get it, it was difficult, especially as I am older and no longer have the stamina for long treks. Initially, the cost of installing a water tap on my property felt beyond my reach. Fortunately, when I received my first transfer, everything changed, and my goal became achievable. I used a portion of the funds to buy the necessary pipes and laid them in preparation for the water system. I also covered the labor costs, which helped move the process along quickly. Now, I’m delighted that the setup is almost complete—all that’s left is to install the meter, and soon water will flow directly into my compound. This new water source will serve all my household needs, and I also plan to sell water to others in the area and ear some money."

"A notification on my phone woke me up early in the morning. Unable to read it myself, I was fortunate to have my daughter with me, as she often helps me check my messages. When she looked at my inbox, she told me it was an Mpesa notification—I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly! Hearing this news filled me with happiness and brightened my entire day. I immediately felt a wave of hope, knowing this transfer would finally allow me to improve our living conditions and bring lasting change to our lives."

"My sitting room never felt as comfortable or as inviting as I wanted it to be. For a long time, I longed to buy a thick, quality carpet and a set of sofas to make my home more beautiful and welcoming. When I received my first transfer, I decided to make that dream a reality. I spent $200 on a beautiful, heavy carpet that covered the floor, adding warmth and color to the room. Then, I used $210 to purchase a new set of sofas, which I arranged carefully to make the room feel more open and cozy. Seeing everything come together was incredibly satisfying—it was truly a dream come true. Now, my sitting room feels so much better, offering comfort and style that we had never experienced before. I feel proud and happy every time I walk into this transformed space, knowing that my home is now a place where my family and friends can gather comfortably and happily."

"The recent transfer allowed me to finally build a new mud house for myself—a spacious three-room dwelling that has greatly eased my struggles with shelter. After my previous home collapsed during last year’s heavy rains and storms, I found myself in urgent need of a new place. Financial constraints had kept me from rebuilding, but thankfully, my son, who is currently in college, offered me his small house to stay in while I worked to save enough money for my own home. This arrangement meant my son had to find somewhere else to stay whenever he returned home. Now that my new house is almost finished, I feel at peace. Soon, he will have a proper place to come back to when he’s on break from school."

"I spent $320 of my recent transfer on building materials, including poles, timber, nails, and 15 iron sheets, as I'm in the process of constructing a new mud house. My previous home had fallen into disrepair and couldn’t withstand the heavy rains and storms we experienced, leading to its eventual collapse. Since then, I've been staying in a small house that belongs to my son, who’s currently in college and living in town. He kindly offered it to me, hoping I could save enough to build a new place for myself. Receiving that transfer was a tremendous relief; it enabled me to purchase the essential materials, and soon my new house will be ready. I’m excited that I won’t have to struggle with shelter anymore, and my son will finally get his house back instead of me occupying it. In addition to the building expenses, I also spent $130 on school fees for my three children—one in high school and the others in primary school. I cleared all the arrears for the entire term, which ensures they can stay in class and focus on their studies without any interruptions. With the remaining funds, I bought food essentials that will keep my family well-fed. I purchased three bales of maize flour, a bale of wheat flour, cooking oil, and other necessities that should last a month, guaranteeing daily meals for us all."

"I woke up early in the morning to the sound of a notification from my phone. Curious about who might be reaching out at such an hour, I quickly checked the message. To my delight, it was an Mpesa notification! As I read the details, my spirits lifted—I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. A wave of gratitude washed over me as I realized that this money would significantly improve my living situation, especially since I planned to renovate my house, which had seen better days."

"While in the village, I typically engage in subsistence farming and keeping livestock, which I have always viewed as valuable assets in times of financial need. Currently, I own five goats and plan to use $100 from my recent transfer to purchase more goats to add to my existing herd. By allowing them to grow, I aim to sell them later for some extra income. In addition to this, I'm also looking to renovate my house, which has been in dire need of repairs for several months. The roof has become quite dilapidated, and during the recent storms, the winds blew it away, leaving the entire structure exposed. I had to endure the cold weather and uncomfortable living conditions for some time, as I couldn’t start the renovations right away. I managed to gather what was left from the storm and temporarily patched up the roof using old materials. Though this arrangement didn’t sit well with me, I had no choice because I couldn’t afford new building materials. Receiving this support has been a huge relief, as I can now buy the necessary materials like iron sheets, building poles, timber, and nails for the renovation. I also plan to rebuild the entire structure with stones and cement to make it more durable since it was originally constructed with mud. I’ve set aside the remaining $450 for this project, ensuring that my family and I will have a safe, comfortable place to live."