"In the coming months, I plan to use the remaining transfers to pay the required labor fees to finalize the construction of the house. Once the house is fully completed, my next goal is to start a kiosk business. Establishing this business will diversify my income sources and provide me with additional financial stability to support my family. I am already a member of a savings group and intend to save more once the house is complete, so I can accumulate enough capital to launch the business next year. I am deeply appreciative of the support from GiveDirectly, which has empowered me to make significant strides towards my goals, especially rebuilding my home and planning for a more secure financial future."

"One evening, I was surprised to see people full of excitement, buying food at the nearest shopping center. Curious, I asked them what was happening, and they told me that the GiveDirectly transfer had come. Earlier, I heard a message on my phone, but I didn’t check it because I couldn't read. So, I took a motorbike to Marigat to ask my son about the message, and when he confirmed that the money had arrived, I felt so happy. I knew right then that I wanted to buy a mattress."

"I was at a burial in a nearby village when I heard a notification sound on my phone. I checked it and felt so happy to see that it was the GiveDirectly transfer! I was really glad and I could not wait to get home to share the news with my wife. I then knew that I could pay off some debts I had and also cover the school fees for my three children. "

"When the floods came, they completely wiped out 1.5 acres of maize and an entire acre of tomatoes that I had been counting on to sell for school fees and food security at home. It was a devastating blow, and I honestly didn't know how I was going to recover. I had also accumulated so much debt, not knowing where the money would come from to pay it off. But thanks to the unconditional cash I received from GiveDirectly, I was able to cover food costs and pay the school fees for my children. Most importantly, I’ve managed to clear all my debts, and now, for the first time in a long while, I don’t owe anyone anything. It’s a huge relief, and it truly makes my soul rejoice, and feels great to have this weight lifted off me."

"Before I received the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, I was in a tough spot. I didn't know how I was going to pay my daughter's school fees. She had been sent home several times to collect the money, but each time she returned with nothing, which meant she would just be sent back again. It was heartbreaking because I knew how much she wanted to be in school, but I couldn't afford it. When the transfer came through, I was finally able to pay her fees. Now, she can stay in school without worrying about being sent home, and she can focus on her schoolwork like any child should. It's been the biggest relief for both of us."

"My two sons are in Form 2, and their school fees have been a growing concern. Normally, I rely on farming to raise the money, but the floods had devastated my crops this season, leaving us with nothing to sell. So, I took $160 from the transfer and used it to pay their fees. Without that, they wouldn't have been able to stay in school. I felt a deep sense of relief knowing that part was handled. After that, I still had to think about their school requirements and transport since they are both boarders. I spent another $20 to buy their school requirements, things like pens and books, and ensured they had bus fare to get back to school. I knew it wasn’t much, but it covered what they needed. Getting them back to their studies was my priority because education is the one thing I believe will open doors for them in the future. With the little left, I focused on our immediate needs at home. I bought water containers for $7, which we had been lacking. Then, I used the remaining money to stock up on basic food items like sugar and beans. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to keep us food secure for a while."

"I had just gotten home from the day’s work, and we were sitting under a tree with my in-laws, relaxing after a long day. Suddenly, my phone chimed with a message notification, and out of curiosity, I went to check. To my surprise, my in-laws also received messages at the same time. We all quickly realized it was money from GiveDirectly. Without thinking, we jumped up from our seats, hugging and cheering. It was such a joyful moment! We celebrated right there, knowing that our long-awaited plan to build a pit latrine would finally be a reality."

"I was at a burial in a neighboring village when I received the text message confirming that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. I felt an overwhelming sense of joy, but I couldn’t express it, knowing I was surrounded by mourners in such a sad moment. I kept the news to myself, but all I could think about was fulfilling my plans, especially buying a mattress and a bed for myself."

"Last term, my two children in high school were about to miss their exams due to fee arrears totaling $120 for both. I had to borrow a loan of $100 to ensure they could sit for their exams, so when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I immediately used it to clear the loan. I also spent $40 on shopping for their school supplies and $20 for their transport back to school. Unfortunately, right before returning to school, my daughter became unwell and was diagnosed with epilepsy, which required a hospital visit costing $10. With the remaining $11, I bought essential food items like sugar and maize flour, as we were running low on food. My work as a kiosk attendant provides a limited income of $50 per month, and my husband is a farmer; sadly, our crops, which we relied on, were swept away by floods. This made things tough for us, but with the support from GiveDirectly, we are hopeful."

"My husband and I rely on crop farming to support our family of six, but we have faced many setbacks over the years. We have often lost our crops to drought, and this year, when we finally found land near the river, floods destroyed our maize in an acre of land. With such unpredictable income, we struggled to meet all our family needs. Therefore, when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to buy a mattress for my husband and me, which cost $35, since we had given our old mattress to the children, who were using a worn-out one. Additionally, I bought a water drum for $17 to store rainwater, as fetching it from the river was quite a distance. Furthermore, our sitting arrangements were inadequate, with only two plastic chairs for our family; thus, I bought two more chairs for $17 and a table for $11 to make things more comfortable for us and our visitors. Since we lost our maize crop, food has been a challenge, so I purchased a bag of maize for $30, along with other essential food items for $41. Finally, with the remaining funds, I paid $40 to clear my son's private primary school fees from last term and reduce the arrears for this term because I wanted to ensure he wouldn’t be sent home due to unpaid fees."