"Upon receiving the $180 from GiveDirectly, I was full of excitement and immediately began allocating the money to address the most pressing needs in my family. At the time, my youngest child had been sent home from school due to unpaid fees. It pained me to see her at home while her classmates continued their studies. I knew how much she valued education, and seeing her fall behind was deeply troubling. That’s why I used $100 to pay her school fees. The very next day, she returned to school, and the smile on her face as she walked out the door filled my heart with joy. Knowing she was back on track with her peers made me proud. Her happiness meant everything to me because I wanted her to succeed and stay on par with the other children. The money also came at a time when my family was struggling to put food on the table. With three children to feed, I decided to use $30 to buy enough food that would last us for at least a month. This brought great relief, as I no longer had to worry about where our next meal would come from. I also used $20 to buy clothes for myself and my children. It was important to me that we all felt the impact of GiveDirectly’s support, not just through food and education but in small comforts like having decent clothes to wear. With the remaining money, I bought a charcoal stove, something I had needed for a long time. Cooking had become a challenge, especially during the rainy season. During the last flood, everything in my homestead was swept away, and I wanted to be better prepared. The stove would make cooking easier, even during tough weather conditions."

"Now, after receiving the transfer, things have changed drastically. I am happy because, for the first time, I have a sofa set, which means that when people visit to check on the progress of my sick son, they can sit comfortably. It’s something I never thought I could afford, and it’s a small but significant improvement in my life. Most importantly, having food at home has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. The stress of not knowing where the next meal would come from is gone, and I have even managed to send money to help reduce my son's medical bills. This transfer has brought a sense of relief and stability that I hadn't felt in a long time. Thanks so much GiveDirectly."

"It was on Sunday, the 14th of July, right after church, and I was in the middle of preparing lunch when I heard a message notification on my phone. I checked it immediately, and to my surprise, it was the GiveDirectly transfer! My heart leaped with joy, and I couldn't wait to share the news with my children. Later that evening, when my husband got home, I told him about the transfer, and he was just as excited as I was. We both knew that this meant we could finally pay the school fees for our two children in private school."

"When we moved here in 2021, we had big dreams of building a better house, but with our limited resources, it felt like it would take us a lifetime to accomplish. We were determined, but the progress was slow but then,  GiveDirectly stepped in, and everything changed.The biggest difference I've seen is the tangible progress we've made. Before, the idea of buying iron sheets for the roof was just that—an idea, something we hoped for but couldn't quite reach. But now, with the funds from GiveDirectly, we’ve been able to purchase them, and seeing those sheets stacked and ready to go feels like seeing light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a sign that our dream of a better home is finally coming true, and that gives us so much hope and motivation to keep going."

"I remember that Sunday evening when I went to bed, leaving my phone to charge because it had completely run out of battery. I had no idea what was waiting for me the next morning. As soon as I woke up and switched on my phone, a message came through almost immediately. When I checked it, I saw it was the GiveDirectly transfer. I was overwhelmed with joy—honestly, it felt like a miracle. For days, I had been stressing about how I was going to come up with the money to pay my son's school fees. And just like that, the GiveDirectly funds had arrived at exactly the right moment."

"I take on various part-time jobs, such as washing and serving in hotels, to make ends meet. In addition to this, I run a grocery business to support my family. In the coming year and beyond, my goal is to have a spacious separate house where I can have some peace. Currently, we are living in the same house as the goats, in separate rooms. This situation isn't healthy at all. I also have skills in tailoring and would like to start my own tailoring business. However, my major challenge is that I have not been able to afford a tailoring machine, and I am also looking for a suitable business premise. Therefore, I have started saving a portion of my GiveDirectly transfers in our merry-go-round group. This savings will help me acquire the sewing machine and set up the business premise. I am truly grateful for the financial support, as it has helped me to progress to a higher level."

"I am grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me to acquire seven goats through their transfers. This is an investment that I had longed to establish, and I am pleased with the progress I have made. I still plan to continue investing in this project as it will act as my future financial security. I am aware that these transfers will soon come to an end, and this project will serve as a lasting reminder of the support I received. Looking forward, I have two priority items. Firstly, I am determined to ensure that I can afford to send my child to college. To achieve this, I am saving in our merry-go-round to generate enough income to support my child's education. Education is the key to success, and I want to ensure that my children receive the best education possible. Secondly, I intend to continue investing in goat rearing. As the goats multiply, I will be able to sell them and support my children's needs."

"As a mother of two children, I am fully dedicated to ensuring they receive a good education despite the financial challenges we face. Our eldest son has recently completed his Form Four, and we are extremely grateful for the opportunities he has had. Currently, our focus is on supporting our other son, Karisa, to enroll and complete his education as well. Financial stability is an ongoing concern for us, particularly because my husband's income from cutting and selling brushing sticks is not consistent, and I am currently unemployed. I am managing our home and saving diligently from transfers to make ends meet. Our approach involves prioritizing one child's education at a time. At present, our main goal is to support our eldest son through his mechanical engineering studies. We firmly believe that once he completes his education, he will be able to secure a good job that will enable him to support our family and help our son attend college."

"Years ago, one of the NGOs helped me by constructing a two-room house after I was affected by flooding. The house looked nice with its cemented floor, but it was empty—just a beautiful shell without any furniture. For years, I had hoped to buy furniture for my living room, but I only had plastic chairs, which didn’t last long. I never managed to fulfill this wish due to financial constraints. This year, I was hopeful because I had planted maize on two acres and expected to harvest about 50 bags. I planned to use the proceeds to pay my son’s school fees, replant some crops, and finally buy the furniture. Unfortunately, floods destroyed everything I had worked for. Just when I thought my wish might never be realized, I received the GiveDirectly transfer. I was overjoyed, and the first thing I did was buy a three-seater sofa and a cupboard for storing my utensils. The sofa cost $52, and the cupboard was $60. Now, I’m so happy at home; you can hardly see me outside. When I have visitors, I’m quick to invite them in and show off my house proudly, unlike before. With the remaining funds, I bought $26 worth of food to ensure I have enough now that my previous supplies were depleted. I still have some food left, which is a relief. I also gave my son in high school $10 for his shopping. I used the remaining $12 for transport, both for myself and for the items I bought. Thank you, GiveDirectly"

"Managing school fees was a major source of stress. I was constantly worried about the possibility of my two children in high school being sent home due to unpaid fees. The arrears had mounted to $160 for both, and I knew that if I couldn’t pay, they would be sent home soon. I felt a great relief when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was finally able to reduce a significant portion of their arrears, leaving a balance of $60, ensuring they could continue their studies without interruption. The fear of them being sent home vanished, and I could focus on other pressing issues, knowing their education was secure. Thank you, GiveDirectly."