"The biggest difference in my life is the significant improvement in my daily life and overall well-being thanks to the support from GiveDirectly. Before receiving the cash transfer, I often faced food insecurity and skipped meals. Now, I can buy enough food, which has improved my nutrition and given me peace of mind. Also, I can purchase building materials, bringing me closer to a more comfortable and secure home. Transitioning from my traditional manyatta house to a modern one fulfills my long-held desire for better security. Finally, having the means to pay for medical attention has positively impacted my health. Being able to access medication ensures I can manage my health effectively. Overall, the support from GiveDirectly has provided me with transformative change, stability, and improved well-being."

"The biggest difference since I received cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been in my daughter’s education. For the first time, she was able to start school on time with the other students because her school fees were paid. Ever since I settled her fees, she has been in school consistently, unlike before when she spent many days at home due to a lack of fees. This used to put her at a disadvantage, but now she can focus fully on her studies. Another major change was during my delivery. I was able to go through the process without the stress of worrying about huge hospital bills, which ensured my safety. After I was discharged, I returned home knowing that I had enough food to eat, which was a great relief. These changes have made a big impact on my life and my family’s well-being, and I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for their support."

"My current house is small, cramped, and has leaking issues, which makes it difficult for my family to sleep comfortably. To enhance our living conditions, I intend to set aside a portion of my transfers in our savings group. Once the savings reach maturity in December, I will withdraw them and allocate the funds towards constructing a new two-room house for my family, ensuring that we can rest comfortably and stay warm. Furthermore, I aim to expand my livestock by using the transfers to purchase goats, in addition to the chickens I already own. The chickens are expected to multiply, allowing me to sell them in case of any unforeseen emergencies. The goats will increase in number and value, eventually enabling me to exchange them for cows in the future. These cows will then be utilized for plowing my farm. I am truly appreciative and optimistic about my plans as they hold significant importance for me."

"My main objective for the upcoming year is to ensure that my children receive a good education so that they can become self-sufficient. I personally missed out on the opportunity to go to school due to lack of educational support, and I am determined to provide my children with better opportunities. The financial assistance from GiveDirectly has been tremendously beneficial, as it has been covering the costs of my children's education. In addition to this support, I plan to contribute to their education using the income I earn from casual jobs. I am confident that with the help of this program, my children will be able to achieve their goals. I have one child in secondary school and four in primary school, and I am fully committed to ensuring that each of them receives the education they rightfully deserve."

"My plan after completing high school is to pursue a college education. Unfortunately, my mother can't cover my tuition fees alone, so I'm considering poultry farming as an investment. I started with a few chickens, but there was an outbreak that killed all five of them. Initially, I planned to invest in chickens and then exchange them for goats, but after this setback, I've decided to save part of my earnings and buy goats instead. At first, I chose chickens because of their fast multiplication rate, but now I've changed my mindset. I believe that by raising goats and selling them, I'll be able to fund my college education once I complete my secondary school education. This is my goal for the coming year and beyond."

"I was filled with anxiety while I worked on a neighbor's tomato farm, worried because some of the women I was with had received their first transfer from GiveDirectly, and I had left my phone at home charging. I couldn't stop thinking about whether I had received mine, and I couldn’t wait to finish work and rush home. As soon as I got home that evening, the first thing I did was check my phone, and I was so happy to see that I had received my transfer too. In that moment, I knew I could finally fulfill my intended plans."

"For four years, my three children slept on the floor without a bed or a proper mattress, and as a mother, this made me very worried. We live in an area where snakes are common, so I was scared every night for their safety. Then, I received cash from GiveDirectly, which helped me buy them a mattress and a bed. Now, I can relax knowing they are safe and comfortable while they sleep. I feel at peace, and I am very thankful to GiveDirectly."

"I had attended a burial in the neighboring village when I heard my phone beep while the ceremony was going on. I quickly checked it and saw that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy inside, but I couldn’t show it because I was surrounded by people mourning. I had already planned how I would use the money, and knowing I could now fulfill all my plans made me feel relieved and excited. I am grateful, GiveDirectly."

"Our electricity bill went up, and I couldn’t afford to pay it, so the Kenya Power Company disconnected our power. We lived without electricity for three long months due to the accumulated debt, which was really tough. My sister struggled during the last holiday; she couldn’t read in the evenings or mornings like she used to, which affected her studies. To charge our phones, we had to take them to the center and pay for them, which was a hassle. But when I received my transfer from GiveDirectly, I cleared the bill, and now we can charge our phones at home. No longer being in the dark at night is a huge relief, and when my sister breaks for holiday, she can comfortably study at home again. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Earlier this year, I lost my twelve chickens to a disease outbreak, and since then, I’ve had to buy eggs from shops, which were expensive and limited how often we could eat them. Eating chicken also became rare in my home. Rearing chickens is not difficult for me because I have done it before, so when I received my cash transfer, I thought, Why not start again? I spent $60 to build a chicken coop and $30 to buy six indigenous chickens at $5 each. My son, who is in university, needed help with his fees, so I gave him $50 to reduce his arrears. Without this support, I would have sold my goats, which have decreased in number. With the remaining $41, I bought food, including maize, beans, and condiments, as we didn’t have enough to eat at the time and my work as a casual laborer was not reliable. Thank you, GiveDirectly."