"I was at home in the evening, relaxing after a long day. Suddenly, my neighbor's son, who often comes to stay with me during the day, burst in and shouted, "Grandma, bring me your phone! I need to check if the money has arrived because people at the center said the GiveDirectly money is here!" At first, I refused and told him, “No, you’re lying; there’s no money.” But then my neighbor, who is a teacher, returned from school, and I asked her to confirm it for me. To my surprise, she said, “Yes, the money has arrived; I received mine too!” In that moment, joy flooded through me. I felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over me. The first thing I thought about was purchasing food, as my house empty with no food, and I was feeling very sick. I knew I couldn’t go out to look for casual jobs, so having the money meant I could finally take care of my basic needs. It was a moment of hope, and I couldn’t wait to make the most of it!"

"Farming has always been my main source of income, especially since I don’t have any formal job, and it’s something I truly love. With $80, I decided to lease a piece of land to plant green grams because it’s affordable to grow, requires less water, and matures quickly in two months. Given that our area is dry, green grams are a perfect crop for me. I felt confident that this investment would bring in income soon and help me support my family.I also used $50 to pay for my daughter’s school fees at a private school. Normally, I rely on farming to cover her fees, but this year was tough as I didn’t harvest any maize due to floods that destroyed my crops. Education is important to me, so making sure she stays in school was a priority. I felt a sense of relief knowing that her fees were taken care of and she wouldn’t miss out on learning. With another $50, I bought jailing wire and wire mesh to fence my farm. The goats in our area have been a constant problem, destroying my crops and making farming difficult. Fencing my land gives me peace of mind, knowing my farm is secure. The remaining $20 went towards buying food, as I sometimes depend on casual jobs to provide for my family. My wife helps with these jobs while I focus on farming. Together, we are making sure our two children are well taken care of."

"Before receiving the cash transfer, I constantly struggled with the problem of animals destroying my crops. I had always wanted to plant pawpaw and bananas but couldn't do so without proper fencing to protect the farm. The floods had already ruined my farm in a distant location, making things even more difficult. However, after receiving the transfer, I was able to buy wire mesh and finally fence my one-acre farm at home. Now, I have peace of mind knowing my crops will be safe, and I can focus on other important tasks without worrying about goats and other animals. I’m grateful that I can now move forward and plant the pawpaw and bananas I've always dreamed of."

"The biggest difference I have seen after receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is that I was able to plant my beans on time, just before the best planting window closed. I was running out of time, and any delays would have meant that the beans could be affected by red mites, ruining the entire crop. I was on the verge of giving up because I didn’t have the finances to cover the farm costs, and I knew that if I missed the season, I would later struggle to find money for my son's school fees. But thanks to GiveDirectly, all this has changed for the better, and I now feel more hopeful for the future."

"I spent $300 of my recent transfers to purchase two new beds and comfortable mattresses, a luxury that we had not dared to dream of for years with my husband, with whom we are both advanced in age. The traditional bed we have slept on for decades was broken and uncomfortable, with mattresses so thin and worn that every night was a battle against restlessness and discomfort. As the nights grew longer and the discomfort became unbearable, even our health began to suffer. The lack of proper rest was taking its toll, leaving us tired and unable to partake in our daily activities with our usual energy. As we lay on our new beds and mattresses, I was overwhelmed by a sense of peace and gratitude. The beds are more than just furniture; they are a symbol of hope, a testament to the kindness of GiveDirectly. In addition to changing my sleeping arrangement, I acquired two goats for $100, which I am currently keeping. I expect to let them multiply and grow into a herd, from which I can readily sell to cater for my financial needs. Lastly, I spent the remaining amount on buying foodstuffs, which included a bag of maize that could last us even a month, and ensured that we had enough food in my household."

"When I received the cash transfer, I used $50 to pay my granddaughter’s school fees. She’s in Grade 8, and her mother wouldn’t have been able to cover the fees, so I saw it as my responsibility to help. I also used another $50 to clear the school fees arrears for my daughter, who is in Form Four. Since she’s a candidate preparing for her exams, I didn’t want her to be distracted or sent home due to unpaid fees. Her education is important to me, and I want her to focus fully on her studies. In addition to this, I invested $50 in buying 20 young roosters. They were just a month old at the time, and now, at three months, they’re growing very quickly. They are low-maintenance and mature fast, so I know this will be a profitable venture. I’ve raised roosters before, and the business was successful, but I had to stop due to financial constraints. This time, I’m confident that in six months, I’ll be selling them for $12 each, which will generate a good profit in a short period. Lastly, I used the remaining amount to buy food items for the household. I take care of my grandson, and I don’t always have time to find casual jobs to earn money to cover for food costs. Ensuring we have enough food is crucial, and while I depend on farming to provide for us, the cash transfer allowed me to secure our food needs without worry. It has brought some much-needed stability to our household."

"I was at the farm tending to my crops when my phone beeped with a message. Curious, I wiped my hands and checked it immediately. To my surprise, there was money in my mobile money account from an unfamiliar sender. I stared at it for a moment, confused, until it clicked – GiveDirectly had promised to send us money! The amount matched, and a wave of relief and joy washed over me. I left the farm and headed towards the shopping center, where I spotted GiveDirectly staff confirming if we had received the money. We all confirmed with a lot of joy that the money had arrived. My wife was away at training, so I couldn’t share the news with her right away. I had to wait until Sunday when she could access a phone. But at that moment, I felt a weight lift – I could now pay my children’s school fees."

"With two children in secondary school, my current goal is to ensure they complete their education. God willing, by the end of this year, they will have finished their final exams. Once they do, I will have some relief and can redirect the transfers I've been using to pay their school fees toward building a house for my family. We currently live in a small one-roomed house, which is not comfortable for all of us as we lack privacy. As a single parent, my ambition is to provide my children with good living arrangements that they deserve. My plan is to build a three-room house where we can all live comfortably and have the privacy we need. To achieve this, I plan to use a portion of the transfers I've been using to pay school fees for my secondary school children, along with some money I will be making from my other casual hustles. I will gradually buy building materials and start building the house I've always desired. I am hopeful that I will be able to achieve this, and once complete, I will be very happy. I am grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has been giving us. This assistance has been instrumental in helping me pursue my goals of educating my children and giving me hopes of improving our living conditions."

"Now that I have completed my house, my focus now is on securing our future and improving our lives, which I aim for it to be free from the financial struggles we faced before. I envision achieving financial security by establishing a livestock base, particularly goats. To achieve this, I plan to use a portion of my future transfers to purchase goats, hoping they will multiply and increase in number and value so that in the future they can become a valuable asset I can rely on, especially when this program comes to an end. I am truly grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has provided us, and I look forward to a future where I can educate my children and care for my family with the help of the livestock asset base I am planning to create."

"My goal in the coming year and beyond is to complete my two-year tailoring course successfully. The course will equip me with the necessary skills to run my own tailoring business in the future. With my subsequent transfers, I plan to continue using the money to pay for my tuition fees and accommodation to ensure I complete the course without interruptions. Once I am done with the course, I aim to seek employment in the tailoring field, gain experience, and save a portion of my income to purchase a sewing machine. This will allow me to establish my own tailoring business and work towards financial independence. I am very happy and optimistic about the future, thanks to the financial support from GiveDirectly, which has helped me get closer to achieving my goal."