"Since I’m old and can’t burn charcoal like others here to earn a living, I mainly grow a small amount of kale on my farm to sell and cover my bills. All of my children are married, and my husband passed away a long time ago. I live with my two grandchildren because I can't stay alone, and caring for them is not easy. Sometimes their mother helps with providing food. After receiving the cash, I used $50 to buy enough food to last for 90 days, ensuring I have supplies while I care for the two goats I bought for $115. These goats will not only be a future investment but also a lasting reminder of the help from GiveDirectly, which I truly appreciate. Additionally, I had no chairs and was using a jerrycan to sit, as all my chairs were broken and I couldn't afford new ones with my income from selling kale. I used $15 to buy two plastic chairs. Finally, I spent the remaining $20 on clothes for myself and my grandchildren, as we had no suitable clothing for outings."

"Initially, I had two sheep that I had acquired a year ago after selling my maize. I didn’t bring them home because they were just two, so I decided to keep them at my neighbor's place. When I received the transfer, I allocated $140 to buy three more sheep and bring the two from my neighbor so that all my sheep could be at home. I chose to invest in sheep because I love them, and in this village, everyone owns livestock. I saw it as a good opportunity to be like them and to have an asset that I could sell in case of an emergency, plus it would provide sufficient milk for my family. Life hasn't been easy, especially when it comes to feeding my family of six. We mainly depend on farming, and while waiting for the crops to be harvested, my husband and I burn charcoal as a part-time job. We allocated $30 from the transfer to purchase food. Finally, I used the remaining $30 to buy new clothes for my family. We didn’t have many clothes, and it was especially hard for the children, who each only had two outfits. Since they play and get dirty easily, they needed to be changed at least twice a day."

"I used to be a very hardworking woman, dedicated to my work to ensure my children got everything they needed. However, the floods came and almost destroyed the dream I had. The floods destroyed my house, my 1.5 hectares of maize, and caused my business to collapse. This setback returned my progress to zero, but I thank God because just when I had lost all hope, the GiveDirectly money arrived. I immediately used $160 to purchase iron sheets and build a small house. Although the iron sheets weren't enough to fully complete the house, they covered the roof and three walls; I had to use tents to cover the remaining wall. With the remaining $40, I bought enough food to sustain my family, as I have five children to care for, and my husband is unemployed, working only as a farmer. I run a business selling food in a hotel near my village, and the income I used to earn was enough to cover our bills and buy food. However, the business collapsed when the entire village flooded, forcing everyone to relocate to higher ground. When the floods receded, I returned and reopened my business, where I am now making a better profit of $15 per day. Since people received money from GiveDirectly, I've started earning much more than before when I only made around $5 a day. I am truly thankful and appreciate GiveDirectly for their great support."

"I was at home relaxing with my baby Blessing when I heard a message notification on my phone, but I didn’t bother to check it right away. It wasn't until my neighbor came by asking if I had received the money that I rushed to check. Sure enough, there it was—the GiveDirectly transfer! I couldn’t contain my excitement and started jumping up and down in jubilation. The first thing I did was call my mother to share the good news, and she immediately reminded me to use the money wisely."

"I was doing a casual job on my neighbor's tomato farm while leaving my phone charging at home. Upon returning and checking my phone, I saw a message confirming that I had received my transfer of $200 from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed and in shock, as I had never received such a significant amount on my phone before, not even since I started using Mpesa services. I eagerly waited for my husband to come home so I could share the exciting news with him."

"I was in a difficult situation before receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly. My two children in high school had been home for two days due to unpaid fees, with arrears totaling about $150. I had no money to cover their fees and was on the verge of selling my three goats—one of the few long-term investments I had left after the floods affected me. Thankfully, the transfer arrived in time. I used $100 from the transfer to reduce their school fee arrears, which not only allowed my children to return to school but also saved me from selling my goats. This made a significant difference in my life, as I could secure my children's education while preserving an investment that will benefit us in the future."

"Before receiving the transfer, life was incredibly challenging. I didn’t have money, and I had lost my maize and vegetables to floods, which I was relying on for income. With my children’s school fees due, and since they had been sent home two days before the transfer, we were planning to go to the school and speak to the head teacher, unsure of how we’d manage to pay afterward. The total fee was $110, and it felt overwhelming. However, thanks to the GiveDirectly transfer, I was able to reduce that amount significantly, and now I’m only left with $30 to pay for this term. This has brought me relief and peace of mind."

"My day started with blessings that morning, and I had no idea another blessing was waiting to close the day. I had just given birth to my baby boy in the morning, and later that day, I received a transfer from GiveDirectly. As I was watching my baby sleep, a message came in confirming that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed; it was truly a special day for me. Shortly after, I received some calls from home asking if I had received the transfer, and I happily said yes. Knowing I wouldn’t have to worry about food upon discharge was a huge relief."

"As a single mom of four children, with three in high school, I used to rely on my shop, posho mill, and poultry farming to meet all our needs. But after the floods, I lost my poultry, and now I only have the posho mill and shop, neither of which is doing well. The fees for my three children in boarding school total about $600 per term, and this has been a constant source of stress for me. It’s not easy, but as a mother, my children's education is my top priority, and I will always work hard to ensure they get the best education possible. When I received my transfer from GiveDirectly, it felt like a blessing that lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. For the first time, I was able to reduce my arrears without the overwhelming stress of figuring out how to pay the fees. Now, I feel much more at ease, knowing that I can use my next transfer to cover the fees for the coming term."

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, I knew exactly how I wanted to spend it. The first thing I did was buy two sheep for $120, something I had longed to do for a while. I already had three sheep, but adding more to the flock would be beneficial for us in the long run. Seeing the flock grow was a great feeling, knowing that this investment would help secure our future. Next, I used $35 to buy a new mattress for our bed. The mattress we had was old and worn out, and my pregnant wife often woke up with back pain. It was hard seeing her in discomfort every morning, especially with the baby on the way. The new mattress made a significant difference in our lives; we started getting better rest at night, which was especially important when our son was born. Now that he’s three weeks old, we all sleep much better, and I can see how it has improved our overall well-being. With the remaining money, I decided to spend $20 on clothes for myself and our soon-to-be baby. It was comforting to know that we were prepared for his arrival with everything he needed. The last $25 went toward buying food for the household. Ensuring that we had enough to eat was crucial so that I could focus on other important matters without worrying about our daily sustenance. The cash transfer allowed me to make thoughtful decisions that improved our quality of life in multiple ways."