"Next year, my goal is to use future transfers to help pay school fees, buy more school supplies, and purchase food. I am determined to complete my studies and go on to study teaching in college. Teaching is something I am passionate about, and I am excited to pursue it as a career. This financial support has brought me closer to my dream of becoming a teacher. I am so thankful for the opportunity to continue my education with fewer financial worries."

"The harsh weather has made farming particularly challenging, leaving me vulnerable since I have no maize left, my staple food. As a result, I now have to purchase my food from the store. I plan to allocate part of my future transfers to buy food and ensure I have a steady supply at home. Additionally, I want to save a little from each transfer to invest in more goats. Although they are currently expensive, I am determined to set aside money so I can expand my herd. I am very grateful for the financial assistance from Give Directly, which has been a tremendous help to me."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I felt incredibly thankful and delighted, as the support came just when I needed it the most. I was bedridden and weak due to illness, and I desperately needed medication. With $50, I was able to get the necessary treatment and some special food to aid my recovery. Thanks to this support, I am now much better and feel healthy and whole again. Once I regained my health, I focused on my original plan to improve my living situation. I used $350 to buy construction materials to upgrade to a modern house. I currently live in an old manyatta, which is too small and unsafe for my family, including my two grandchildren who live with me. This new house will provide us with a safer and more comfortable space. Additionally, I spent $50 to fence our compound, which has greatly improved our home’s security. Now, we have a clear, single entry and exit point, making our home safer and giving it a more organized and pleasant look. I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for this timely support, which has made a significant difference in my life and my family's safety and well-being."

"In February 2024, insecurity cases were on the rise in my homeland, Yatia. My family of five and I moved to Kapkamon Centre, hoping to find some peace. Just when we thought we had found safety, the threats followed us here. We eventually relocated to our current home in Chebarisiat village. A well-wisher offered us a place to stay, but it is cramped. We are sharing a small space with another family, and there is no privacy at all. I have been dreaming of constructing my own house, but my finances are limited. The KES 4000 I earn from my shopkeeping job goes entirely to food for the household, leaving nothing to save. It is frustrating, and I feel stuck."

"I'm a long term goat farmer. I've depended on them all my life. The biggest challenge is livestock diseases. There are no doctors nearby to assist during outbreaks. I'm always worried I can lose all my goats at once. In the last one year I've lost over sixty goats. This has affected my income stream, leading to difficulty in buying food or supporting my children's education. It's also a challenge keeping goats due to insecurity associated with livestock theft predominant in our locality. I can lose goats overnight, it keeps me worried all the time."

"My biggest challenge currently is that I was displaced by floods. I currently live in a borrowed land in a dilapidated structure. This worries me because I feel I am exposed as I don't have the means of building a better structure for myself. I fear that I might contract pneumonia as the nights are really cold."

"When I received money from GiveDirectly, I felt relieved because they let us decide how to use it however we wanted. There were no rules forcing us to spend it in a certain way, which made things easier. They also took time to explain everything clearly, so we knew how the process worked and what to expect. I felt informed and comfortable from the beginning. I do not thing there is anything that needs to be changed in the program. Everything was done well and I cannot complain because they have changed our lives for the best."

"When I received the money from GiveDirectly, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. The best part was that they trusted me to know what was best for my family. Instead, they left that decision to me, which allowed me to focus on what we needed most. That freedom was powerful because it showed they respected my judgment and knew that we each have unique needs. Everything about the program was clearly explained from the start. I understood what to expect, and the information was shared in a way that left me with no questions or confusion. It gave me confidence to use the money wisely. GiveDirectly don’t need to change a thing about their approach. By giving us the money directly and letting us decide, they showed they really understand what people like us need."

"I want to buy a dairy cow, mainly so that I can keep it for milk and have enough to sell any extra. This way, I can make a bit of extra money. Right now, I have seven cows, but only four of them can actually be milked, and honestly, the amount of milk I get isn’t enough to meet my needs. To buy this new cow, I plan to use the money I’ll make from selling watermelons. I have a watermelon crop that should be ready for harvesting by December. Once I sell them, I hope to have enough to get the cow. That’s my plan for now, and I’m really hoping it all works out."

"I want to make sure we have enough food by planting maize on the two acres of land we own. My husband will go out fishing, and with the money he earns, we'll be able to plough the land and buy seeds for planting. After we harvest, I hope we'll have some extra maize. The plan is to sell the surplus, and with that money, I want to buy ten goats as an investment. I have three children in school, and I know that emergencies can come up. If that happens, I can sell a goat or two to cover any urgent school fees. This way, I feel we'll be more secure, with both food and a backup plan for my children’s education."