"Now that I am back home and unable to work due to my health, I plan to start livestock farming again. Unfortunately, the animals I previously acquired died because they didn’t receive the care they needed while I was away. Before diving into livestock farming, I want to focus on serious crop farming when the rains come. I intend to use a portion of my transfers for this purpose, aiming for good harvests that will sustain us until the next planting season, so we won’t have to rely on buying food. Once we have a stable food supply, I will redirect the money I was spending on food toward purchasing goats and turkeys. My hope is that these animals will multiply, providing me with a reliable source of income and resources in the future when this program comes to an end."

"Moment  I was at home washing dishes after we had finished our lunch when I suddenly heard a message come through on my phone. I picked it up to check, and to my surprise, I saw that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I immediately prayed and thanked God for the blessings. I felt so happy because I knew that my worries about school fees for my children in high school and university were finally over. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly was truly timely. It felt like a blessing from God. My daughter had been in the hospital for a week, and the doctors wanted us to transfer her to the county referral hospital, but I didn’t have the money for it. Thankfully, the cash transfer came just in time, and I spent $100 to cover her referral and hospital bill. I’m relieved to say that her surgery went well, and she has already been discharged and is recovering nicely. While I was in the hospital, my husband and four grandchildren had to take food items from the shop on credit since I was away, which resulted in a debt of $60 that I was able to clear. With the remaining $20, I covered transport for my granddaughter, who is now in primary school in another county. Her parents passed away, and she received a scholarship for her education, so I only have to manage her transport and minor expenses. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for your timely support!"

"The biggest difference in my life after receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly is the ability to purchase plastic chairs. Before, I only had one old and broken chair, and whenever visitors came, I had to borrow chairs from my neighbors. I still remember the day I heard that GiveDirectly officers were in our village for enrollment; I rushed to borrow chairs from my neighbor, feeling embarrassed each time. My prayer has always been to have enough chairs for my family and guests, and I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for making this a reality. Now, I can host visitors comfortably without worrying about borrowing, and it brings me so much joy."

"I solely rely on crop farming, but it can be quite unreliable, and I was feeling anxious about how to pay my son's college fees this semester. With the maize I recently harvested, I was expecting payment from Kenya Seed in two months, but that felt too far away. I even thought about taking an advance from Kenya Seed or borrowing money, but then I received cash from GiveDirectly. With that support, I was able to clear my son’s fees for this semester without taking on any loans. Now, I am at peace, knowing that my son can continue his studies without any financial worries hanging over us."

"I was at my small stall selling second-hand clothes when my phone buzzed. Most of my customers pay me through M-Pesa, so I always check my messages quickly. When I looked at my phone, I was surprised to see a message saying I had received $181 from GiveDirectly. At first, I could not believe it; it felt like a dream. My first thought was how this money could help me pay the school fees for my three children."

"For three years, my shop had been struggling due to low stock. I started with very little inventory, and while we relied on the shop for daily needs, we sometimes had to deal with unpaid debts from customers. Our customers often missed out on items they needed. Even though we weren't doing too badly with daily sales of up to $50, I knew things could be better. After receiving support from GiveDirectly, I was able to add more items to my shop, and now my business is thriving. My daily sales have increased from $50 to $80, and for that, I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly."

"Receiving the cash transfer felt like a lifeline for my family and me. I quickly used $70 to pay my daughter’s school fees, which had been a huge source of stress for me. It was difficult to keep up with her expenses, and I was worried about her education. I used to do casual jobs while also managing my own farming to cover these school fee expenses. Furthermore, I paid off $72 in debt to the local shop where I had been borrowing food supplies. My wife occasionally helps by providing groceries from her business in town, but managing all our needs was still challenging.I also gave my wife $58 to help her buy more stock for her grocery business. This investment will help her serve our community better and provide for our family’s needs. I have three children, and supporting them requires careful budgeting and planning.Thanks to GiveDirectly, I could address these essential needs without feeling overwhelmed. This financial support not only relieved my burden but also gave my wife the opportunity to grow her business. Now, I feel more hopeful about our future, knowing that we can meet our children’s educational needs and manage our daily expenses with greater ease. I am truly grateful for the help that has made such a significant difference in our lives."

"The moment the money came, I was in town doing some shopping for my family. When I received the message confirming that I had $200, I felt an overwhelming joy and immediately thanked God. My son, who was at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, had been calling me constantly for help with his rent. I knew I had to sort him out, so I quickly sent him the money to cover his bill. It brought me such relief to know that I could help him settle his expenses and ensure he was comfortable. This support made me incredibly happy, knowing I could ease his worries during his studies."

"Before receiving the transfer, I struggled to pay the school fees for my two daughters. I had hoped that some people would help me with their expenses, but when it was time for them to join school, no one answered my calls. I felt stressed and worried about how I would manage to pay for their education. However, after receiving the cash transfer from GiveDirectly, everything changed for the better. I was able to pay their school fees on time, which relieved a huge burden from my shoulders. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for coming to my aid at the right moment."