"I bought zinc, planks, nails and paid my son college fees."

"I bought land with my recent transfer. I bought the land to build a decent home for my family and I."

"Floods and landslides that happened in 2012 June, I find it difficult to feed my family because I don't have the money to cater for most of the needs."

"The challenge that i faced was when my garden in Shiyambi village was destroyed with the heVy rains in the month of November. The heavy rains destroyed my gardens and now do not enough food to eat. The garden had bananas and cassava that i had planfor about 6 months."

"No sooner had I finished preparing lunch at around 1 pm than a message popped into my phone. Since I do not know how to read and my helper was not around, I went to a neighbor whom I trust to check the message for me. I took this initiative because the promised day of receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly was nearer. Upon checking the message, she told me that I had received the promised transfer of $550 from GiveDirectly. My heart was filled with joy for receiving a huge sum of money that was not a loan."

"It was around 11 am while doing some household chores at home I received a message on my phone. Since the phone was in my pocket, I did not hesitate to check what kind of message it was. Upon checking, I saw some money had been deposited into my account from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and comforted since I was stranded looking for some money to clear my child's university fee balance."

"Upon getting the transfer, I started construction of a new house using interlocking blocks since the one I had was collapsing and I wanted to get a permanent solution. The house is three-quarters complete. Since the collapsing house still has good iron sheets, I intend to use the same iron sheets to roof the new house which is still under construction. As of now, the amount I have spent on the house is $230. Despite my house being incomplete, I am happy for GiveDirectly for the far I have reached with the construction. If it were not for the organization, I would not have done this wonderful work. Living with an extended family of 16 and the breadwinners are casual laborers, I opted to buy two bales of maize flour for the family. Thereafter, I bought two goats for $70 so that I also start an investment because the future is unpredictable. For the remaining amount, I saved $150 for the ongoing construction process."

"While I was in the field plowing, I received a message on my phone. Since I was not only engaged with the shamba work but also unable to read, I ignored and continued with my work till the time I went home. No sooner had I reached home than I gave out my phone to the helper to check what the message was all about. Upon checking, it was the first transfer of $550 sent to my account by GiveDirectly. My heart was filled with joy for receiving a huge sum of money that was not a loan. This happiness did not stop at the ululation stage I slaughter a chicken to celebrate the good deed of GiveDirectly."

"While in the kitchen in early super preparations, my phone which was on a small kitchen chair vibrated twice. I was curious about the double vibration and thus informed my grandson who was right outside the kitchen to check for me what it was all about. Upon checking, he informed me that I had received the promised transfer from GiveDirectly. I left the cooking preparations and moved out of the kitchen very happy while ululating in happiness for receiving unconditional money according to what we were told in the baraza."

"While grazing my goats at around 3 pm, a message popped into my phone. Since I do not know how to read I had to wait till I return home for the message to be interpreted to me. On reaching home, that was the first thing I wanted to know because for once the message tone rang twice rapidly. I gave the phone to my daughter-in-law for interpretation and she confirmed to me that I had received the first transfer from GiveDirectly. My heart melted at thanksgiving for receiving a such huge amount of money at once."