"It was late afternoon, and I was busy fixing my fence destroyed by the floods that hit us hard in May. Suddenly, my phone, which was in my pocket, beeped, indicating an incoming message. I immediately reached for it to check the SMS. To my surprise, it was a Mpesa message indicating that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. Overwhelmed with joy, I quickly called my spouse to share the good news. Later that evening, my spouse and I sat down together to thoughtfully plan how to use the money. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for your support."

"My top priority is to ensure that each of my seven children receives a quality education. At the moment, only four of them are attending primary school, thanks to the financial assistance I've been receiving. Prior to this support, the income from charcoal production wasn't sufficient to cover the educational expenses for all our children. In order to address this obstacle, I've decided to invest in goat farming as a means of generating the necessary funds for their education. I've already purchased one goat to launch this initiative and intend to expand it to save up enough to enroll the remaining three children in school. Furthermore, I aspire to use the profits from this venture to eventually establish a small shop and provide a more stable financial future for my family"

"I have been relying on casual jobs and charcoal production to sustain my family of two, but it wasn't reliable. To diversify my income, I decided to try crop farming. Using my small savings, I rented half an acre of land and took a $150 loan to plant seed maize. Unfortunately, I lost it all to recent floods, leaving me with a debt to the Kenya Seed Company. This broke me. Additionally, the floods damaged our house, and I lost my household items and remaining furniture. The floods occurred at night, and all we could do was run for our lives, leaving us homeless and ending up in a camp. When the floods stopped, I returned and temporarily repaired our house, where we are now living, though it's not in good condition. Remembering the risk we encountered frightens me, and being alone with my two children made it even more risky. When I received money from GiveDirectly, I decided to look for land. I found nearly an acre for $850, and with my first transfer, I paid a $200 deposit, planning to clear the remaining amount with my next transfers. I would rather spend it all securing land than risk our lives in the future."

"What I like about GiveDirectly's mode of operation is that they send money directly to our phones, allowing us to plan on our own. This has enabled me to address my own needs independently. The follow-up from the officers is good because it encourages responsible spending, ensuring that people spend the money wisely. I would encourage the organization to continue with the follow-up process to ensure responsible spending. Additionally, I encourage more home visits during follow-ups to verify spending and minimize any chance of misuse."

"I have two school-going children who had accumulated school fee arrears. Upon receiving the transfers, I decided to use $25 of the funds to reduce this debt, ensuring that my children could continue their studies without interruption. In addition to addressing my children's education, I also wanted to improve the appearance of my home. I have a beautifully plastered house with a lovely interior, but the old sofa I had been using for many years was worn out and no longer matched the aesthetic. I therefore spent $50 to purchase a new sofa, and I am delighted that my home now looks even more amazing. Furthermore, I had some unfinished windows in my house, and to complete the look and enhance the overall appearance of my house, I spent another $34 to buy window panes, which have now transformed the appearance of my home. I am excited with how my house looks now, and I thank GiveDirectly for making this possible. Finally, providing for my family's basic needs has been a constant challenge, as I rely on casual jobs, which can be seasonal and inconsistent. With six children and one grandchild to care for and my husband's limited income as a caretaker in someone's home, food security has been a significant concern. I used the remaining $54 of the transfers to purchase food, ensuring that my family did not go hungry during these difficult times."

"I am currently living in a small one-room house with a seriously leaking roof because the makuti roofing has been damaged by termites, creating gaps. The space is also too tiny for my needs, so I want to build a more spacious house with a verandah, even if it’s just a single room since I live alone. To achieve this goal, I plan to save part of my transfer to fund the construction. Having this new house will provide a comfortable living environment, free from the worries of leaks during the rain, and help me work towards a better future for myself."

"I am planning to renovate the roof of my house by replacing the old, broken iron sheets with new ones. The current roof leaks whenever it rains, which has weakened the walls of the house. To address this issue, my priority is to purchase new iron sheets. I have been saving money and have already managed to buy six sheets so far. My target is to acquire approximately 20 to 28 sheets, though I have not yet consulted with a builder for a precise estimate. I am pleased with my progress and am confident that I will reach my goal soon. My main objective is to create a stable and secure home where I can live peacefully with my four children, free from the constant worry of leaks when it rains."

"Currently, I am involved in the charcoal burning business, which often takes me away from my family for two weeks or more at a time. This work is strenuous and requires good health to manage effectively. My goal now is to start a goat-rearing business where I can buy a few goats, take care of them, and sell them at a higher price. This new venture will allow me to spend more time with my family, strengthening our bond and providing me with much-needed rest. Additionally, this business is profitable and requires only a small amount of capital to start and maintain. The earnings from this business will help me support my family by buying food, paying school fees for my children, and covering other expenses."

"I am planning to build a better house because I am currently living in a very small space. With the help of the monthly transfers from GiveDirectly, I started constructing a two-room house. Using old iron sheeting salvaged from my previous collapsed house, I managed to partially roof one of the rooms. However, due to financial constraints, I still need 12 more iron sheets to finish the second room. I am determined to reach this goal by saving money through a savings group, which will enable me to purchase the remaining materials and complete the construction. Additionally, I aim to educate my children so that, once they finish school and secure jobs, they will be able to help support me. I am targeting to have sixteen children in total."

"My highest priority is to ensure my children receive a quality education. Before this project began, they frequently experienced interruptions in their schooling due to my inability to pay school fees. However, thanks to the transfers, these interruptions have greatly reduced, allowing my children to attend school regularly. I am truly delighted with these improvements and am dedicated to using my future transfers and savings to support their ongoing education. I strongly believe that education will provide them with the skills necessary for a brighter future. I will always be thankful to GiveDirectly for the support they have extended to me and my community."