"The responsibility of covering school fees has consistently posed a challenging situation for both my husband and I. This is due to the fact that we are caring for nine children who are still at home and reliant on our support. While my husband engages in farming, I manage a posho mill and a small kiosk within our village. Upon receiving my initial transfer, my immediate thought was to address the pressing issue of school fees for my children. To address this, I spent $100 to settle school arrears, prioritizing this need. The remaining funds were directed towards acquiring essential food supplies. I am genuinely delighted that this allocation has eased the process of managing school fees for our children."

"We are grappling with a myriad challenges that has taken a toll on us.The escalating cost of living and tougher economic times has seen us struggle to raise school fees for our children who are in various levels of education. One is due to join Kenya Medical Training College but we are yet to raise the required school fees due to our poor financial condition. Many at times we have been forced to liquidate little valuable assets and farm animals, it has never been easy. To add salt to an injury the school are opening in a week's time and it gives us stress and sleepless nights as we ponder where to get the school fees."

"The challenges i am facing as a person is majorly landslides and water coming from the upper rock,this affe ts the crops we grow yet its our source of livelihood. The rolling stones are also a danger to our crops and lives as sometimes the rolls kill and destroy households.The wild animals also encroach on the crops too and are a danger to life."

"My compound and farm are open. It's not well fenced and my neighbor's livestock can easily enter and destroy my crops or fruits. I have tried severally growing mangoes but due to poor fencing, they're eaten up by livestock. This has left me out of the lucrative mango farming. I can only watch as my neighbors sell their mangoes. It's so sad. Middlemen come to the village immediately after they overhear mangoes' maturity. It needs little water. The lack of proper fencing has hindered me from growing mangoes or pawpaws to earn some income."

"Due to the effects of climate change, we've had uncontrolled long drought seasons. That has affected our land productivity because of no rain. This means we're not able to feed our family well. It has also compelled us to depend on casual jobs. We either get paid per day or given food. One day of work is worth $2. The amount is little and cannot sustain a family of 9. It has made our lives hard. The cost of living has also been skyrocketing, even further complicating things."

"The initial transfer brought about considerable excitement, not just for me, but for my entire household. We had specific plans in mind for the money and felt a tremendous sense of relief, as we had been grappling with various financial challenges in the past. Our priorities included securing the education of my two children, two in secondary school and one in college. Allocating their school fees or ensuring future payments was paramount. Therefore, I utilized $100 to cover the school fees for the two secondary school students, given the higher urgency to sustain their stay in school, while we're planning to address the college student's fees with the upcoming transfer. Another essential task was preparing our riverside land for the upcoming planting season. However, ongoing issues with crop destruction by both wild and domestic animals, facilitated by open fences, have been a persistent concern. To counter this, we invested $90 in purchasing three chainlinks to construct a perimeter fence. This strategic decision will enhance crop security and, subsequently, our harvest. Additionally, the remaining part of the transfer were dedicated to household necessities, including foodstuffs and toiletries, many of which are still serving our family of seven to this day."

"Since the inception of GiveDirectly's presence in our village, its impact has been evident across the visited communities, and I am grateful for the significant progress I have achieved with the support I have received. For over three years now, I have been running a local baking enterprise, producing and distributing tea cakes within the local shopping centers and now even beyond the county borders. Utilizing the entire last transfer, I upgraded the venture by acquiring a $1200 electric cube kitchen oven. This enhancement has markedly improved efficiency; although it's a single-deck oven, I can now bake up to 90 tea cakes simultaneously. Previously, I relied on firewood and a large pan to fry cakes, resulting in inconsistent quality due to unregulated heat. However, the new oven is both user-friendly and energy-efficient, allowing for precise temperature control and immediate shut-off after baking. I am pleased that I have employed seven individuals on a wage basis, occasionally increasing the workforce depending on the workload and customer orders. This has enabled me to provide for my family of four, and my aspirations include further expansion through the acquisition of more advanced machinery capable of producing bread, which is highly competitive in the market."

"I used the second transfer to acquire a dairy cow valued at $400, supplementing the existing cow that I had already bought with the previous transfer. I am delighted with the substantial milk supply we now enjoy, which has replaced the need to purchase expensive milk for my family of five. This not only brings us adequate milk but also surplus for selling, generating income to sustain our needs. Additionally, I allocated the remaining money, amounting to $130, to purchase new clothing for three children and essential utensils that were lacking. Alongside my role as a businesswoman, I manage a grocery business and operate a mobile salon, providing hairdressing services to clients. The generous support has led to significant improvements within my household, all achieved since the receipt of the initial transfer."

"Before acquiring a cow from my neighbor, whom I had been obtaining milk from to support my family, I was spending a significant amount on purchasing a daily liter of milk. I am appreciative that, despite my financial limitations, he kindly allowed me to take one from his herd, under the agreement that I would return it once I acquired my own. The enrollment into GiveDirectly's transfer program proved beneficial for my family, and I was determined to invest heavily in livestock. Following the purchase of a heifer with the initial transfer, along with other achieved objectives, I dedicated $120 of the second transfer to acquiring another heifer and $110 for the purchase of three sheep. The latter endeavor is intended to complement the cow's milk production in the future, as I anticipate selling the sheep's offspring. Additionally, I spent $100 on food provisions for my family of five. Given that my daughter is presently enrolled in secondary school, timely payment of her fees has been challenging, prompting me to save the remaining $200 for the upcoming term. Relying solely on my husband's modest business ventures has its drawbacks, particularly during seasons when livestock sales are sluggish, leading to income uncertainties."

"What I truly love about GiveDirectly is their field staff's principled approach of not accepting any offerings or gifts from recipient households, even if offered. This practice not only prevents any potential disparities but also upholds the dignity of all families, regardless of their circumstances. It's a commendable practice that promotes transparency and maintains a level playing field for everyone involved."