"Our area was severely flooded, causing extensive damage to my home and sweeping away my 5 hectares of maize and butternut. I felt deeply embarrassed and stressed, with no place to stay. I decided to relocate and rent a house at a nearby center. Life became very difficult, but receiving this unconditional cash gave me a glimmer of hope. Now, I have enough food at home, which has alleviated some of my stress. My son is comfortably attending school. Without GiveDirectly’s support, I fear I might have fallen into a deep depression, as I cannot bear seeing my children suffer while I have the ability to work and earn money. I am sincerely happy and thankful, and I feel close to overcoming poverty, especially when I receive the second transfer."

"After a long and exhausting day on the farm, I was so tired that I collapsed under my favorite tree to rest. There was no one at home to prepare lunch because my wife had gone to a prayer event for one of our neighbor’s children. Just as I was about to doze off, a message popped up on my phone. At first, I thought it was just a regular M-Pesa alert, but the sender was listed as Xegofia Technology Kenya, not GiveDirectly.Curious and a bit doubtful, I decided to visit a nearby center to check if anyone else had received a similar message. To my surprise, the center was buzzing with excitement. People were shouting and laughing joyfully. I joined the celebration, and we all went to a local hotel for tea.When my wife arrived home in the evening, she asked if I had received any money. I told her yes, and we sat down as a family to discuss our plans. I gave her the opportunity to decide how to use the funds, as I believe women are excellent decision-makers. She suggested that we first purchase a solar panel so our children would have light to do their homework."

"About six years ago, my wife and I separated, and she took our two children with her. Although the children live with her, I am responsible for paying their school fees. I have been struggling to plant Kenyan seeds and use the proceeds to cover their fees and ensure I have food at home. After receiving this cash, I used $60 to pay for school fees since I hadn’t sold anything that term because my farm was swept away by floods. To ensure I have something to invest in and sell in case of an emergency, I decided to use $50 to purchase a goat. When it gives birth, I will use the milk and sell it if needed.Additionally, I had been sleeping on a traditional bed made of sticks. Although I was comfortable with it, I wanted to have something more like what my friends and neighbors have, so I spent $50 on a new bed. With the remaining amount, I bought food to stock up at home, ensuring that while I continue burning charcoal, I have something to eat without having to borrow from shops."

"On Sunday morning, my son became very sick, and we didn’t have any money to take him to a good hospital. So, my husband and I just sat at home, worried. By around 2 PM, our son’s condition worsened, so we decided to take him to a nearby dispensary for treatment. As we arrived, I heard a message notification on my phone. I handed it to my husband to read, noticing an unusual smile on his face—he rarely smiles like that. When he told me it was money from GiveDirectly, I was both relieved and overjoyed. After getting the medicine for our son, we returned home and immediately began planning how we would use the money the next morning."

"I was just at home on Sunday, relaxing under a tree, enjoying my last bit of a meal. I was worried about what I would eat in the evening. As thoughts were running through my mind, my phone vibrated with a message. I checked it, and to my surprise, it was money from GiveDirectly. I was so excited that I left my food and even the plates outside the house. I was filled with joy—more than I had ever felt before. I immediately went to Logumgum center to withdraw the money before the M-Pesa agent ran out of cash. After withdrawing, I bought some meat at the butcher because I wanted to eat something special to celebrate this huge, unexpected blessing that landed in my M-Pesa for the first time."

"After returning home from church, my husband and I settled down for lunch—he had just come in from the farm. As we were eating, my phone buzzed with a message. My husband urged me to check it, and to our surprise, it was a notification of a cash transfer from GiveDirectly. Excitement filled the room as we immediately began planning how to use the money. Without hesitation, we decided to invest in goats, something we had always wanted but hadn't yet acquired."

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, the first thing I did was pay off the school fees for my two children. They’re in a private school, one in Grade 4 and the other in Grade 2, and I had fallen behind on payments. The probability of them being sent home was high, and my husband, who works as a policeman, hadn't yet received his salary. Using $100 to clear the arrears brought me a huge relief and ensured that my kids could continue their education without interruption. With $60 of the remaining funds, I decided to buy two sheep. I’ve always wanted to own livestock, and this was the perfect opportunity to invest in something tangible. The sheep are not just a source of pride for me, but they’re also an asset I can rely on in case of emergencies. I know that if we ever face financial difficulties, I could sell them to cover urgent needs. Finally, I used the rest of the money to buy household food items, ensuring that my family had enough to eat. This has been a tremendous help for us, and I'm grateful for the chance to stabilize our household and make investments that will support us in the future."

"I remember attending a prayer day for my cousin who was about to sit for his final exams, and during the event, I overheard some of my fellow villagers talking excitedly about receiving money from GiveDirectly. I hadn't checked my phone yet because it was out of charge, so I tried not to think too much about it, but the curiosity nagged at me. As soon as I got home, I immediately plugged in my phone and waited anxiously for it to charge. When I finally switched it on, to my utter surprise, the money was there! I was so overwhelmed with joy because I finally knew I could buy goats and some furniture. The relief that washed over me in that moment was indescribable; I felt like a burden had been lifted, and I could finally plan for a better future."

"After the floods, my family faced a severe food crisis. We stayed in a camp for a month, and when we returned home, it was difficult to adjust to our old life. There were no opportunities to earn money, and our farm was gone, so we had no food. When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I decided to allocate $150 to buy enough food to last us for two months. Before receiving this money, we could barely afford one meal a day, but now I enjoy three meals a day. This has greatly improved my mental health because I no longer have the stress of finding food. I used the remaining money to buy a bed and mattress, as the floods had swept away our bedding and I had been sleeping on the floor, which was very cold. Now, I sleep comfortably and with dignity. I am happy and grateful for this timely support, which prevented us from facing starvation after the floods."

"I attended a prayer day for my neighbor’s son, who was in form four when I received $180 from GiveDirectly. I was with several other recipients, and my heart was full of joy and gratitude. During the event, people began whispering for us to check our phones because GiveDirectly had sent the money. As we were coming back, we sang throughout the journey in celebration. It was a day full of joy, made even more special by the fact that it happened during a prayer day that brought many people from my village together. It was truly memorable. My first thought was to go home and plan how to use the money properly so that I could do something that would make me remember GiveDirectly for a long time."