"Since my husband passed away two years ago, I’ve had to take on the full responsibility of covering our children’s school fees, clothing, food, and other essentials. The house was already in poor condition when he passed, and it’s been a struggle to meet all their needs with the limited profits from my charcoal business. With the recent increase in the cost of basic commodities, the situation has become even more difficult. My children were often sent home for unpaid fees, so I decided to dedicate all my transfers toward paying their school fees. Renovating the house is my second priority. Although I replaced the roof, the house is still unsafe as the cracked walls let in insects and rain. My immediate goal is to rebuild the walls, and I plan to save $4 each month to buy construction materials. I can’t save more than that right now due to other basic needs. Once my children finish their education, I intend to invest in goat and chicken rearing projects. These projects will generate more income, as they multiply when well taken care of, increasing their financial value. I'm confident that once these projects are established, they will provide security. In case of a financial crisis, I’ll be able to sell some animals to support my family."

"Moving forward, my primary focus is to use my transfers to help my child, who has a deformed leg. I am determined to ensure that he receives the necessary medical attention so that he can have a good leg and enjoy a normal life like other children. In addition to my child's medical care, I plan to use part of the transfers to buy goats. My hope is that these goats will multiply and increase in number over time. I then intend to trade some of the goats for cows, which I can train to help plow my farm. In the future, I may be able to sell some of the cows as they multiply and use the proceeds to fund my children's education. I am excited to see these plans come to fruition with the help of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, and I am hopeful that I will be able to provide my children with the best possible opportunities."

"I was surprised that participation was entirely voluntary. We had the freedom to choose if we wanted to be part of the program or not. This gave me a sense of control and dignity because I knew that whatever decision I made, it was mine alone. What I liked even more was how transparent the whole process was. They explained to us where the money was coming from and shared every detail about how the program would work from beginning to end. There were no hidden surprises or unanswered questions. I knew exactly what to expect, and that made me trust them. Knowing the source of the money and understanding the steps they would follow helped me feel secure in the decision I made to participate. There is nothing however that I think could be changed in the program as I see it all good."

"It was around 4 AM when I was awakened by the loud vibration from my phone. I was a bit shocked, as it was unusual. However, I gained the courage to check the content of the messages that had popped up. My reaction was mixed when I saw that I had received my first cash transfer from this organization. I couldn’t contain my joy upon discovering that there was $550 in my Mpesa account. I knew this would mean a lot to me, including finishing the construction of my house, which I had initially planned but had to put on hold due to financial challenges."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to revive the poultry farming business I used to operate a few years back. This business was helpful to me because I supplied eggs and broilers all over the town centre, generating a good income. During those days, I didn't struggle to meet my family's needs at all, including paying fees for my children and other necessities like food. However, there came a point when I was forced to shut down because the chicks died from various diseases that attacked them. Despite my efforts to treat them, they didn't survive. Since that tragedy, life has never been the same; I used to get good returns from selling the chickens, as one chicken sold for $5. Therefore, reviving this project has brought me immense joy and hope because I am certain that soon I will start supplying the products and earning a living, which shall enable me to fend for my family without struggling."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to revive the poultry farming business I used to operate a few years back. This business was helpful to me because I supplied eggs and broilers all over the town centre, generating a good income. During those days, I didn't struggle to meet my family's needs at all, including paying fees for my children and other necessities like food. However, there came a point when I was forced to shut down because the chicks died from various diseases that attacked them. Despite my efforts to treat them, they didn't survive. Since that tragedy, life has never been the same; I used to get good returns from selling the chickens, as one chicken sold for $5. Therefore, reviving this project has brought me immense joy and hope because I am certain that soon I will start supplying the products and earning a living, which shall enable me to fend for my family without struggling."

"Financial constraints are the greatest challenge. Both my husband and I rely on casual jobs to earn a living, it is not sustainable because what we earn only meets our basic needs halfway through. We borrow loans to be able to pay school fees for our children and repay slowly. If we had a better source of income our lives would have been better."

"Having the goats I currently keep at home has made a significant difference in my daily life. Previously, I couldn't afford to buy any due to my financial situation. I decided to purchase them because they are valuable assets that can be relied on in times of financial need. Additionally, their pastures are readily available, and they reproduce twice a year, unlike other domestic animals. Therefore, I am hopeful that over time, they will multiply, allowing me to better cater to my family's basic needs. The other main reason I decided to rear goats is to be able to pay for my children's school fees with greater ease, as this has been a major challenge for me. As a widower with a meagre income, it has been difficult to procure food while also getting the fees paid on time. However, as the goats increase in number, I believe that in the future, my children will no longer be sent home regularly due to outstanding school fees, as I will be in a position to sell some of the goats to cover those costs."

"It was around 6 AM when I woke up, ready to face the day's challenges. However, I noticed some notifications on my phone indicating new messages. I couldn't waste any time and quickly checked the content of the messages, as it was too early to be receiving texts from friends. To my surprise, I found an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I couldn't contain my joy; it felt like I was in a dream! I knew I could finally buy a new house for my children, who had been sleeping at their grandparents' house because ours was too small."

"I graduated from Egerton University in June 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, but I have never been employed. Since then, I have been managing my father’s business in Kampi Samaki town, earning KES 6000 a month. I use this money to support my daughter’s education and cover my basic needs, but it is tough to make ends meet. I have been applying for jobs consistently, but I have not secured any employment yet. I am worried about the difficulty of finding work, especially as the economy in Kenya changes daily. I just hope to find something that allows me to provide better for my daughter and myself."