"I joined the GiveDirectly program when I was living in the main house with my co-wife but cooking in separate kitchens. Because I was enrolled alone while she was not, I was advised to split the transfer with her. I had to budget and use the remaining transfer to complete part of the transfer I had. I am glad most of the projects I worked on during the first transfer were successful. When I received the second transfer, I had to pay the $25 tuition fees for my son, who had just started grade 9. I also demolished a small hut he was sleeping in at home because the surroundings were swampy and the hut's floors were always wet. I spent $150 on the construction work after purchasing 12 iron sheets for $8 each, paying $20 in labor charges, and other materials such as nails and timber. He is now living in a more comfortable environment, one that is warmer and free of colds and flu. I spent $30 on a sheep that I intend to breed and sell in the future to help pay for my four children's school fees, and I also spent $45 on food shopping for my family of six. I appreciate the assistance and look forward to expanding the farming activities that I began with the first transfer."

"My house collapsed on one side last year, and I couldn't renovate it in time. I had to save for more than two months in order to buy the required building materials, such as iron sheets and building poles. My husband works as a casual labourer, and his earnings can't satisfy all these needs. I am at peace because, through the transfers, my house is currently in a stable state, and I am happy to have a decent house to live in. In addition to this, I am also able to feed my family, unlike before the program came. I have been depending mainly on subsistence farming, which has not been doing well due to inadequate rains. We have been hit by a severe drought. I am glad that I can adequately provide food for my family and that my children are comfortable in school. Whenever I receive a transfer, I split it into school fees and also buy food."

"I started sheep rearing activity as a reliable source of livelihood with the transfer I received from GiveDirectly. At the moment, I am proud to own 2 sheep and one has already reproduced. I plan to boost it in the coming year by purchasing 2 more. Additionally, I intend to support the education of my 4 children who are still in primary school. Lastly, we have been experiencing drought and famine for over 2 years in our area, and ensuring that I have enough food for the family is another goal that I have."

"I happen to have two children who are in secondary school at the moment and their fees are often quite costly. Therefore, my top most priority is to ensure with each transfer I try and pay off the debt so that they can keep on pursuing their education. At the moment I also happen to own eight hens which I acquired using the money I get from the organization. Hence I plan on using a part of the money that I will keep receiving to buy chicken feed for the hens I own and the eggs that are soon hatching. I am also hopeful that in the future I will be able to buy livestock so that they could help me in farming and also with milk."

"As I continue to get my transfer, my goal has been to service my pending loan. I bought a motorbike on credit last year in October, and I have been servicing that loan. I will always spend $20 monthly on paying that loan and $10 on food. I am glad that I have been relieved from the pressure from the creditors. From the motorcycle, I can always get $4 daily, and in the subsequent days, supporting the family has been easier than before. I am glad I can easily support my family of three, my wife Neema, my daughter Laura, and myself. My wife is a housewife, hence I shoulder all the household expenses."

"Being the first born in a family of 8 children, GiveDirectly transfers have meant a lot to me and my family. I have been able to support my mother pay school fees for my two siblings who are now in secondary school. While doing this, I have relieved my mother who is also a widow and allowed her to concentrate on the needs of other siblings who are still in lower primary school. Had we not received these transfers together with my younger brother and mother then things would have continued to be tough for us as a family. Relying on support from my mother who did charcoal selling to make some income was just not enough. We would have our brothers being sent home for school fees affecting their overall performance in school. At least things are now different in that we have shared responsibilities among ourselves. Going into the future, my goal is to start saving part of my transfer as I prepare to join college to further my studies. I had to take a pause after I completed my form four studies due to lack of school fees. GiveDirectly transfers have awoken my dreams and made me have a clear vision of what I want to do. This year I will be saving from both the casual work that I do and the transfer that I receive each month from GiveDirectly. My target is to reach $200 before the year ends and I will be good to go. After joining school then I will later invest more money on goat rearing and other livestock."

"Sleeping in a structure covered using grass is unsafe for me. Since I had no alternative and my wedge from charcoal burning could not sustain me, I had to cross my fingers till morning. During the rainy season, I am rained on, and the grass leaks profusely. Currently, I came up with a plan that would see me in a good house by the end of the year. This plan came after getting an assurance of the GiveDirectly transfers every month. My six friends and I formed a merry-go-round group where we pool together $30 per head every month and give it to one of us to invest or do as how they wish. So per month, one of us gets $210 which is a good amount to start something big with. Since the time we started, I have aimed to construct a decent and secure house. Currently, I have 12 pieces of iron sheets and I plan to build a two-room mud-walled house that requires 24 pieces of iron sheets. Through this plan, I am optimistic about having constructed a house by the end of this year. I am very grateful to GiveDirectlly because if it were not for you I would not have reached this far of accomplishing my dream."

"My priority is to support the education of my son, who is currently in form two. It would break my heart if he missed a day of school due to unpaid tuition debts. The school requires him to pay $50 per academic term, which is difficult to raise by myself given the lack of a reliable source of income. Though I have been saving through a self-help group for the past six months to support his studies, I intend to spend at least $10 from every transfer to directly cover his school fees. At least this will keep him in school as I slowly accumulate my savings through the club."

"Over 5 years ago, I was hit with a tragedy when my daughter passed on and left her little kids under my care. I love my grandkids, and so I had no choice but to take care of them while their mother was not around. This was not an easy task, especially considering the fact that I had no job. The opportunity from Givedirectly came a few years later, allowing me to care for my grandchildren. I intend to use the money to pay for both of their tuition fees and take care of their basic needs. I also plan on buying a couple of animals, because so far I have bought three goats as an investment for the future, and I will buy some more with the money. Lastly, I will ensure that we always have a meal because occasionally that is also a problem."