"The day I got the cash transfer, I knew exactly how I would spend it. I immediately bought a cow for $140, which I consider an important asset. A cow is more than just livestock; it’s an investment. In case of an emergency, I can sell it to cover urgent expenses. Having this cow makes me feel secure, knowing that I have something valuable to rely on in the future. This is my way of planning ahead, especially since life can be unpredictable.With $20, I bought some food to stock up, just a little bit since I only have one child, and the food will last us for a while. I used $10 to buy a plastic table, which may sound small, but it has been really useful. I already had one table, but I wanted a portable one that I could carry outside to enjoy my morning tea in the fresh air. It’s these small comforts that make life feel a bit more enjoyable, and now, I have that.The remaining $30 went to paying for my wife's college fees. She’s studying, and it’s been a challenge to manage her school fees. In the past, we’ve had to rely on fundraising or my income from farming, but this transfer made it much easier. I feel proud that I could support her education without much struggle this time. My boda boda business brings in about $10 a day, which helps with the rest of our daily needs, but this transfer has really helped us manage things better."

"I was at my neighbor's farm doing some casual work when the message arrived, just as I finished for the day. The moment I saw the notification, my heart jumped with joy—I knew it was the money from GiveDirectly. I couldn’t wait to share the news, so I immediately called my wife, who was at her mother’s home, and told her the money had finally come. I asked her to come home quickly so we could sit down and plan how to use it. We needed to budget carefully, especially for the school fees that had been keeping me up at night. My children were close to being sent home, but now there was hope we could pay in time."

"It was around 3pm, and I had just returned home from doing some casual work when my phone rang. I checked it, and to my surprise, it was an M-Pesa notification from GiveDirectly. At that moment, I felt a rush of relief and joy because my wife was in the hospital, admitted with a large medical bill that had been weighing heavily on my mind. I had no idea how I was going to manage such an amount, and it felt like a burden I couldn’t escape. But I thank God, because the money came right when I needed it most. Without wasting any time, I rushed to the hospital to settle the bill, feeling grateful and at peace."

"Currently, my family and I reside in a small one-room house. I have always wished to build a better and more spacious house for us, but due to limited income as a peasant farmer, this has not been possible. However, since I joined the GiveDirectly program, I have gained hope and determination to work towards constructing a new house in the coming year and beyond. My plan is to build a new house to provide my children with their own space and to give the adults in the family their own space as well. To achieve this, I intend to allocate my transfers towards paying school fees for my children and purchasing building materials for the house. This way, I can gradually work towards constructing a new home for us. Additionally, I have aspirations to own cows for plowing my farm. To accomplish this, I have been investing in chickens, hoping that they will multiply. In the future, I plan to trade the chickens for goats, allow the goats to multiply and increase in value, and eventually trade them for cows. Achieving these goals means a lot to me and will bring me great happiness."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly has been the ability to rest. With food in the house, I no longer need to take low-paying odd jobs, which has greatly improved my health. This stability has allowed me to look for other opportunities, such as opening a business shortly. My home now looks appealing thanks to the new household items I was able to buy with the GiveDirectly transfers, items that I did not own before. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for their timely support, which has made a significant impact on my life."

"I was at home that evening doing my household chores when my daughter, who helps me because I am not very familiar with using a mobile phone, rushed over to me. She had my phone and excitedly informed me that we had received $180 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy because I knew that my problems had come to an end. The first thought that came to my mind was to use the money to buy bedding so I could finally sleep on a bed. This support meant so much to me, as it would improve my quality of life and bring comfort to my home."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly is in my mental health. I no longer have the stress of searching for school fees for my kids, and having enough food has significantly reduced the pressure and desperation I felt from doing odd jobs that often paid very little. Now, I can spend more quality time with my family, and our overall well-being has greatly improved. This support has brought peace to my life, allowing me to focus on what truly matters: my family and our happiness."

"Recently, after receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I wanted to invest in something sustainable that would help me remember the support even after the transfers are done. I spent $70 to buy a goat, which has since given birth, and now I have two goats. This feels like a double blessing, especially since I didn’t own any livestock before. I recently married seven months ago and have a young family, so I also spent $25 on essential household items that we didn’t have, including a utensil stand and a charcoal _jiko_. The _jiko_ has been especially helpful for cooking during the rainy season when we cannot find firewood. After that, I used $48 to irrigate my piece of land where I have planted vegetables. These vegetables will serve as food for my family, and I plan to sell any surplus to meet other household needs. The rest of the money went toward buying new clothes for me and my wife. This support from GiveDirectly has greatly improved our lives, and I am truly grateful."

"One afternoon, as I was relaxing at home, I received a phone notification. When I checked, I saw that it was GiveDirectly who had sent me $180. I was so excited and immediately felt a sense of relief. I knew that with this money, I could finally accomplish one of my goals. The first thought that came to mind was to lease a piece of land so I could start maize farming. It felt like the perfect opportunity to work towards improving my family’s future."

"GiveDirectly has made a big difference in my life, especially in the areas of education, housing, and income generation. The biggest impact has been on my daughter’s education. Before receiving the transfers, she had an outstanding school fees balance that would have interrupted her studies. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to clear the balance, and since then, she hasn’t missed a day of school. I’m hopeful that she will do well in the upcoming national exams. The second difference is in housing. With the money from GiveDirectly, I have been able to buy construction materials to build a new house. Our current house is small and old, and it puts us at risk, especially during floods. The new house will provide us with more space and safety. The third major difference is in income generation. Before GiveDirectly, I struggled to meet our daily needs, but now I have a steady income from my home garden. I planted kales, which I sell weekly, and this extra income allows me to comfortably meet my household’s daily needs."