"My husband and I do casual jobs making approximately $30 per month which caters for food and school fees. Sometimes it takes a whole month without any job and this has affected my children's education since they miss classes due to accumulated fees balance of $30 now. Lack of reliable sources of income is the challenge I am currently facing in life."

"My goals for the coming year and beyond include purchasing a new bed and mattress, fixing a door on my house, and acquiring more livestock. The bed and mattress will provide me with much-needed comfort during my sleep, while the door will ensure the safety of my property inside the house. By investing in more livestock, I will have a valuable resource to fall back on in the event of an emergency, even after the financial aid ends. I plan to achieve these goals by saving a portion of my transfers each month. I am very appreciative of the financial transfers, which are helping me work towards these goals and improve my life."

"For many years, I struggled to secure capital to plant my farm, leaving it unplanted at times. Whenever I managed to get the chance to plant, I had to do it alone without casual laborers because I couldn't afford to hire them for a week. However, this time, I was able to hire seven people to plant for me, which was a rare occurrence. With their help, my maize is now doing well. God bless you GiveDirectly."

"I currently have three goats, all purchased with the help of the transfers. My goal for the coming year and beyond is to purchase more livestock with my subsequent transfers. I plan to save a portion of my transfers each month, and once I have enough money, I will purchase another goat. Over time, they will multiply and grow the herd. In the future, when I need money, the livestock will come in handy because I can sell some and use the money to attend to my needs. I am very appreciative of the financial transfers and how they have helped me improve my life."

"I rely on farming my one-acre land, primarily growing maize for sale to the Kenya Seed Company. However, last year, a severe drought devastated our crops, resulting in significant losses. This unexpected disaster left me unable to pay my son's school fees in full at the beginning of the year, as I usually do. When I received the third transfer, I prioritized using $150 to cater for his second-term fees. He is currently in his final year of secondary education, and ensuring his fees are cleared keeps me relieved of the worries of him being sent home. This is crucial, so he can focus on his studies without interruption. Additionally, I allocated $210 to purchase building materials to construct a bigger, better house for my family. I have already acquired the necessary iron sheets and frames, and I only have to purchase nails, doors, and windows, and pay for labour. Our current dwelling, which serves as both the living room and bedroom, is too cramped and uncomfortable for my family of five. Expanding our living space will greatly improve our living conditions and overall well-being. I also used $40 to buy new clothes for my children, supplementing their few clothes. This ensures they have adequate clothing for various occasions and seasons. I used the remaining $50 to purchase food supplies for my family, ensuring we had enough to eat."

"I was relaxing in the afternoon when I decided to check my phone, as it doesn't show message notifications. I had heard my neighbors rejoicing about receiving their transfers from GiveDirectly, so I was curious. When I saw the message, I was so excited that I immediately thought of my father, who doesn't know how to check his messages yet he was also expecting the money. I rushed to him, since the helper that had been assigned to him had travelled. I checked his phone and to our surprise, the money had also been sent to him. I told him about the message and it got him very excited as well."

"In the coming year and beyond, I don't have any specific goals but to save the little income I get from casual jobs that I do at home. Additionally, I save a part of my monthly income, around $20, to put towards paying my college fees. I am really dedicated to pursuing a plumbing course. Currently, my parents are peasant farmers and they can't afford the $600 needed to send me to college. This means I have to work very hard to find ways to join college. I am passionate about this course, and it's not as costly compared to other courses. I also like the idea of being self-employed after completing my studies. I believe I can sell my skills through good work. I am optimistic that with support from Give Directly, I will achieve my dream of supporting my parents and myself in the future."

"In the coming year and beyond, I would like to pursue an income-generating activity. I have been thinking about this for a while and have shared the idea with my spouse. I have decided to start a charcoal business to generate daily income to support my family. As a result, I want to start saving a portion of my monthly transfer to open this business. I chose this business because it requires little initial investment, and I can increase the stock as I gain more customers. Additionally, charcoal is a non-perishable commodity, so I don't have to worry about it spoiling if it's not sold quickly. This business will provide me with the opportunity to meet my family's basic needs without having to take on a lot of strain. Currently, I struggle to find casual jobs to support my family. I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for providing me with the financial support that has enabled me to have this idea."

"My current plan is to start rearing chickens, a goal I have always had in mind. The only obstacle has been the starting capital. By rearing chickens, I will be able to sell eggs to generate income for our basic needs and sell chickens in case of an emergency.After establishing the chicken business, I plan to use the income to start planting papayas. Papayas require little water to grow and can survive during drought seasons, allowing for continuous harvesting throughout the year."

"Completing the renovation of my house is my immediate goal, and I'm diligently saving in my local savings group to make it happen. Once the house renovation is complete, my focus will shift to building a shed for the chickens. I hope that they will multiply and bring me additional income. Eventually, I wish to expand my livestock farming where I will sell the chicken and buy goats in hopes that they too will multiply, sell them in future and venture into cows.These steps will not only secure our financial stability but also fulfill my dreams of providing a comfortable life for my family."