"Subsistence farming which is my main source of livelihood has been greatly affected by the prolonged drought. To make ends meet, my husband takes up plumbing jobs around the village whenever there is a need. Since it is inconsistent, I cannot account for his income but on a good day, he gets up to $5. This amount is not sufficient to meet the needs of a family of 10 hence we struggle to get food and school fees. My family is facing a financial crisis which stands out to be my main challenge."

"Being a widow and a very old woman, I face hardships to raise money for medical bills which has kept alot of pain whenever I fall sick. I also find it hard to pay school fees for my grand daughters who are always sent home for schools requirements yet l am unable to clear for them in time hence making them attend school irregularly and register poor performance in class."

"The biggest difference in my daily life after the first transfer has been having enough food for my three kids. Now that I know the support I am receiving from GiveDirectly is sustainable, I can work on my farm instead of frequently engaging in the typical casual labor."

"The prospect of protecting my plot of land, which has always been overrun by my neighbors' animals, as well as the peace and harmony with my neighbors, have made the biggest differences in my daily life. I had been attempting to fence it off, but I kept putting it off due to a lack of funds, allowing stray livestock to trample my developing trees that has caused disagreement with my neighbors who are also struggling to restrain their animals."

"Initially, I used to cook food in an open place. During the rainy season, it was very hectic and challenging since I had to pause at different intervals for the rain to subside. As of now, I have a nice cooking place unlike before. I also managed to keep some money for my son to commence his academic journey and used the remaining amount for family needs."

"At about 4:30 p.m., I received an SMS notification letting me know that the first transfer had been received. I had to ask my close neighbor for help because I was unable to read and understand the message, and Kevin, my helper, wasn't at home. My neighbor confirmed that she had also gotten the same message. Being a Friday, I had to wait until Monday—market day—when I sent my helper to collect and purchase the building materials."

"Our farming methods have not been successful over the previous three years; therefore, we now frequently purchase various foods from nearby groceries. Given the escalating cost of maize, I spent $55 on a sack of maize grain and $12 on beans for my family of nine when I received the first transfer. For $35, I also purchased a sheep, which I am delighted to say gave birth two weeks later. In order to use them to supplement the school expenses for my lastborn kid, I intend to breed and multiply them. I also spent $50 on Christmas festivities and saved the remaining $20 for my son's enrollment in the ninth grade. After restoring the daytime meal we had abandoned, I am delighted that we are now eating all three meals every day. I am relieved that I can accomplish a lot right now, and I am looking forward to making better use of the money I have left over."

"I was gathering water from the river about 4:30 p.m. when I got a message from GiveDirectly. I was relieved to discover that it was the transfer I had anticipated upon reading it. Despite the fact that I was told during enrollment that I should expect it in January, I was pleased that it arrived a month sooner and added to the specialness of our Christmas. I told my firstborn son, who was overjoyed, and the next day we went to the nearby Koriema shopping mall to pick it up together."

"Since I can now simply clean my home's previously dirty floor, I am currently quite satisfied about this renovation. Since getting the transfer, my sleep has improved. I appreciate the help from GiveDirectly and am eager to raise the standard of living for my family."

"The biggest difference in my day-to-day life is the cost of my child's schooling, who recently started her studies in medical school. She had given up because she couldn't afford the tuition, and she had also faced personal struggles that had led her to settle down. She returned home from her maternity leave, forcing me to hunt for money before returning to school."