"I wake up early in the morning, feeling the weight of the day ahead of me already on my shoulders. I am a husband, a father, and a businessman. My wife and I deal in very different commodities - she sells vegetables like cabbages and tomatoes, while I sell cows, goats, and hens. We work hard every day to provide for our family, but the profits we make are never enough to cover all our expenses. One of my biggest concerns is paying for my children's education. Education is the key to a better future, but it comes with a hefty price tag. I often find myself dipping into the capital of my business just to make ends meet, but this only adds to the stress and worry that I feel every day. As if financial constraints aren't enough, I also have to deal with the unpredictable weather. Heavy rains are a common occurrence in my village, and they can be very dangerous. I worry, especially at night, when I'm trying to sleep, that a landslide could sweep me and my family away in our sleep. It has happened before in our village, and the thought of it happening again is terrifying."

"The biggest difference in my life for now is the mattress I am sleeping on. The country mat was an embarrassment for my life because it caused me pains and sadness; but GiveDirectly made me happy the moment I slept on mattress for the first time. I can now sleep in peace and comfortably too. My child that is living with me is also happy about this change in her life. She used to have sleepless nights too, but she doesn't wake up in the middle of the night anymore because the mattress is soft and it gives her good rest."

"GiveDirectly did good for us by changing our lives. They have given us money to improve our properties and own cattles as well as sending our children to school. Before, my children used to suffer for school fees through the farm work I do, but GiveDirectly has made us happy and ease the burden on our lives. They have not done anything bad that I have heard about."

"What I hope to accomplish in the next year or more is to see my house to a finished level. Once my house is completed, I will be free and gain respect in the town. I will also be happy to invite my family to come and visit me and we can happily, freely, and comfortably sleep at night even when it rains."

"The house completion is what I hope to achieve in the next year and above. I want this life of suffering to end and I am happy that GiveDirectly has given this money which will change my life a lot. Moving into my new house will keep sickness away from my children. I also hope to see my cocoa farm producing well so that I will sell and get more money to feed my family."

"The ability to feed my family has made the biggest difference since receiving the money. As a farmer, my only means of guaranteeing that my family would have food came from the farm and the rains. I have had to get by on one meal for the past three years because I don't have enough money to buy enough food to eat three times a day. After receiving the money, everything improved. I now eat three meals per day and follow a healthy diet. My body has gained weight, which is a sign that everything is fine."

"The biggest change I've noticed since starting to receive payments from Give Directly is the financial boost that enabled me to completely renovate my home. I had been bothered and troubled for a long time by the state of my home. I couldn't build a better house due to my family's poverty. I'm glad that I now reside in a more secure and improved home than I did previously. For my husband, who doesn't have a nice house, I'm building an extra room. I'm very happy about how my life has changed."

"Since I had a daughter who was to join secondary school, I prioritized spending $80 for the admission of my daughter who joined Day school. Because we have been suffering from a shortage of water, I spent $25 on application and fixing for water supply in my home. I am hoping it will begin to function well soon. With the transfer, I have been using the balance on food because we experience a scarce food supply in the area, and the rest I shall use to buy goats. As my flock increases, I will raise additional money for my family's support."

"From the time I received my transfer, I have experienced a significant improvement in the way of our lives. Previously, I was stressed because I could not afford to buy food or pay my school fees. Since receiving my cash transfer, I have felt some relief in terms of paying school fees and purchasing food for my children. I am glad that all five of my children are enjoying their academics. In addition, I have been able to obtain sufficient nourishment. Formerly, I was reliant on my husband, whose income was insufficient for my family."

"Eight years now! This has been a period of hardship in my life since I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Our area's main economic activity being charcoal burning, I find it tough for me to engage in this work because of my condition. This means I have to depend on my son to provide me with food and other basic needs. Since he has a family to take care of, sometimes getting his full support is a challenge and in some cases, I forfeit meals. Skipping meals has worsened my condition since I am still on medication. This situation has robbed away my joy because I am always in stress. What a life!"