"I was at the evening service in our church when I received a message on my phone. Since I was deeply concentrating on the sermon, I didn't check the message right away. After the sermon ended, I decided to see who had sent me the message. To my surprise, it was an M-Pesa notification, informing me that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy because this money would finally help me achieve my biggest aspiration: to buy a motorbike to supplement my income, provide for my family effectively, and also pay for my children's school fees."

"I face the challenge of being unable to walk, as I've been struck by a mysterious illness that has paralyzed both of my legs. I've endured this condition for three years now. I have been unable to afford better medical treatment due to financial constraints. This disability has prevented me from working, making it difficult to get money for food. As a result, I rely on the support of relatives and well-wishers to meet my basic needs."

"I face several challenges currently. I don't have enough money to pay school fees for my four children. Recent floods damaged many household items, and I lack funds to replace them. For my maize plantation, I need money to buy fuel for pumping water from the river to the farm to ensure a good harvest. Sometimes, my family cannot afford three meals a day due to financial constraints, resulting in breakfast and dinner being our main meals."

"I was busy grinding corn in the evening when I received a message on my phone. I was thrilled to discover that it was an Mpesa message and was curious to find out who had sent me money, as I wasn't expecting any. Upon reading the message, I couldn't contain my joy. GiveDirectly had sent me the first promised transfer. This was a huge relief because I couldn't afford the school fees for my daughter, who had been sent home for almost a week. Now, she could finally return to continue her studies."

"My greatest challenge is not having sufficient finances to support my daughter through secondary school due to a health condition that limits my ability to engage in strenuous work. It saddens me to see my other two children aspiring for college education, yet I am unable to provide for them. However, I am optimistic that with my current transfers, I will be able to secure the necessary funds to ensure they receive the education they deserve for a brighter future."

"We were displaced by floods two months ago, and we lost an acre under maize plantation. We went on a loss that we are yet to recover from. Farming is our main source of income and we have to seek alternative sources to make ends meet at the moment."

"My greatest challenge right now is living in a house destroyed by floods. I am worried about falling ill from pneumonia because the nights are bitterly cold. The floods also swept away my utensils and chickens, causing me significant loss. Reflecting on these setbacks fills me with sadness as they have erased all the progress my family and I had made."

"My wife and I rely on farming to earn a living for our family of four. Recently , there was flash floods and it destroyed the vegetables we had planted in half acre farm and we lost it all. We had borrowed loan to farm and now we are forced to do casual jobs in order to repay it."

"My husband passed on four months ago when I was expecting our second born son. I have never come to terms with it because I was used to him being around. I still cry on most nights as to why he left me a widow at a very young age. Taking care of our two children alone is very difficult."

"This year, my dream is to expand my goat farming by purchasing more goats to supplement my current herd. Goatkeeping is a profitable business, particularly in our region, offering promising returns. I intend to finance this project using the transfers I receive, as I do not have a reliable job due to my sickness. Once I have many goats, I will sell some and build a new house, as the current one is very small and in critical condition. Living in fear of my house collapsing has been a constant worry, so having a stable and spacious home will bring much-needed peace of mind. This plan not only promises financial stability but also a better living environment for my family and me"