"I would really love to set up a mini mart business in Ganze Centre. This would improve my finances greatly and thus allow me in future to be able to build a bigger house for me and the kids. I would sell flour, soda, cereals and dry food, and actively use that money towards ensuring my kids complete their education ."

"The first thing I did was install a roof on my house. It had been 20 years without a roof and GiveDirectly finally put me in a position to make that dream a reality. I had a herd of 14 goats, bought 4 new female and 3 male goats, that brought my total to 21. Sadly, 14 then died in the drought and I was forced to sell the remaining 7 since things had become hard. I have 5 kids, who my wife left me with when she passed away 5 years ago. I could cover our expenses comfortably if I still had my job as a fuel track driver, but I left that job in October. I would ply the Lamu, Taveta, Kilifi route and expenses such as $10 a week for food and exams at Michararaka School for my eldest and youngest, kids. My second and fourth born pay $15 at Ndarako Primary School. I faced challenges trying to handle all these but I continue to thank GiveDirectly for the amazing work they have done in my life."

"Before GiveDirectly came into my life, my eldest had lived for 25 years without having slept in a bed, nor on a mattress. My house was in shambles and having three kids that had dropped out was both emotionally painful as well as financially strenuous since I had to do it all alone. GiveDirectly gave me a new life. I now have clothes, a bed, a mattress and a better place all round to raise my children. What GiveDirectly does well is renew the lives of those who thought their lives were at an end."

"I am grateful to GiveDirectly for providing us with an equal amount of transfers and the freedom to spend it as we saw fit in our households. Unlike material goods, monetary assistance allowed us to make informed spending decisions that had a direct impact on our daily lives. I have nothing to complain about after the entire process because GiveDirectly kept all of its promises."

"With the second transfer, I spent $330 to purchase two cows that have been producing milk and thus saved me from buying milk daily. The excess milk I sell to my neighbors and use the money to buy food and other household stuff for daily use. Five out of my nine children who are in school had fees arrears of $60 and I had to clear it for them to remain in school. Due to the harsh drought experienced in the country, food was a major problem. Sometimes we had to sleep on empty stomachs. I used $40 of the remaining cash to buy new clothes for my children and $100 in buying food for my family which included 1 sack of maize, rice, corn flour, and salad oil."

"From the small money that I make doing the menial job, I have been saving $10 monthly which has now accumulated to $150. I intend to keep saving and later on open a small business for my wife. This will ensure that we can help each other in catering to the family’s basic needs."

"My husband who is a trained driver had always wanted to have his tuk-tuk and so we had been saving up in a Sacco to acquire one. By the time the second transfer was sent, we had saved $20 which we topped up with $500 from the transfer received to purchase it. This has been the main source of income in our family since, on a good day, he can make $5 which we use to buy daily food and other necessities. The remaining $30 we used to replenish food in the house."

"I have been staying with my wife for the last three years, but I hadn’t yet finished paying for her dowry. When I received the second transfer, I gave $200 to my in-laws. I added four goats worth $120 to my flock since I am a livestock farmer. The bed and mattress which we have been sleeping on with my wife and one kid were worn out, hence I replaced them with new ones worth $150. The remaining cash I used to purchase food and other household stuff which were missing."

"Just before receiving the second transfer, all my five children had been sent home due to school fees arrears which had accumulated to huge amounts. Seeing them at home while their mates were at school was stressful to me as a parent. I had tried all means possible to get money to take them back to school, but it was all in vain. Immediately after I received the second transfer, I went to their respective schools and cleared the debts. I spent $400 for two who are in secondary school and $70 for three in primary school. With the remaining $80, I purchased foodstuff for the household since we had nothing left in the house to feed on."

"I appreciate every piece of advice I got during enrollment, and even the freedom of spending to meet my needs was a good gesture. I have nothing bad about the whole process and everyone in the village is still praising GiveDirectly for the generous support they gave us. Long live GiveDirectly."