"I was in the hospital, looking after my daughter, who was unwell and had just been admitted. When I received the message from GiveDirectly, I couldn't read it myself. I asked my daughter to check for me, and she confirmed I had received my first transfer. I felt so overwhelmed with joy. I immediately called Tracy, my helper, and asked her to come the next day to help me withdraw the money. I knew that finally I could help my daughter with her hospital bills and make sure she got the care she needed."

"The biggest difference in my life after receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly is the ability to purchase plastic chairs. Before, I only had one old and broken chair, and whenever visitors came, I had to borrow chairs from my neighbors. I still remember the day I heard that GiveDirectly officers were in our village for enrollment; I rushed to borrow chairs from my neighbor, feeling embarrassed each time. My prayer has always been to have enough chairs for my family and guests, and I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for making this a reality. Now, I can host visitors comfortably without worrying about borrowing, and it brings me so much joy."

"I am a farmer, and when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to plant green grams and beans in my kitchen garden. I had many needs, but I knew that if I spent the money all at once, I would run out quickly, so I chose to think about tomorrow instead. I spent $50 on seeds, land preparation, and planting my beans and green grams because, with the success of these crops, we wouldn't have to worry about food in the future. Additionally, I bought an improved breed of male chicken for $10 because I only had female chickens, and this rooster would help with reproduction. I spent $20 on household items, such as cooking pots and utensils, and another $20 on food items like maize and sugar, as we had run out of stock at the time I received my transfer. Finally, I set aside $100 for my son, who is in college, to ensure he has fees for the next semester. His education is my priority, and seeing him in college is my pride as a mother."

"Receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I prioritized my children’s school fees because I have three children in elementary school at a private institution. I paid their school fee arrears of $40 each, reducing their debt to $15 each, as I knew that carrying the entire balance into the next term would make it hard for me to pay. As a businesswoman and a single mom, I buy and sell second-hand clothes to support my family of four, which is my main source of income. I spent the remaining $61 to add to my stock, which helped me improve my sales. I used to earn about $30 every market day, but now I make up to $50, thanks to GiveDirectly. Through my business, I have been able to pay my children’s school fees and address our daily needs."

"I am a businesswoman with a small kiosk, and my husband manages our crop farming. When I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, my kiosk was struggling due to low stock. I had started the business three years ago with a small inventory, but it had not grown quickly because we often relied on it for daily needs and dealt with unpaid debts. With the transfer, I used $100 to restock my shop with items like sugar, cereals, milk, and other essentials. Now, my customers can find almost everything they need, and my sales have increased from $50 to $80 a day, which has helped us cover other expenses like paying school fees for our son in boarding school. I also bought household items, including a table for $35, as the one we had was too small. Additionally, I bought clothes for my family of four worth $50, so we could all look presentable and celebrate the joy of the cash transfer. To keep our clothes organized, I purchased a suitcase for $15. Thank you, GiveDirectly!"

"I had just returned from the farm and was relaxing at home after a very busy day around 3:15 PM when I saw a new message on my phone screen. I asked my son to check it for me, as I was unable to read it. As soon as he checked, he realized that I had received my first cash transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy to know that I had received the cash and could buy food, as I had run out of supplies in my household and we were at risk of going to bed with empty stomachs."

"I had just returned from the farm and was relaxing at home after a very busy day around 3:15 PM when I saw a new message on my phone screen. I asked my son to check it for me, as I was unable to read it. As soon as he checked, he realized that I had received my first cash transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy to know that I had received the cash and could buy food, as I had run out of supplies in my household and we were at risk of going to bed with empty stomachs."

"While I was at my farm, away from home, my daughter called me around 3 PM while I was irrigating the crops. She excitedly told me, "Dad, the money from GiveDirectly has arrived!" I immediately instructed her to keep it safe until I returned in the evening so I could check it myself. Since she had my phone, I couldn’t see the amount right away. As I continued working, my mind was filled with thoughts about my daughter's school fees. I had been struggling to pay them, and she had been in and out of school because the arrears were too much for her teachers to tolerate. The news of the money gave me a glimmer of hope as I imagined how I could finally settle her fees."

"Receiving the cash transfer brought me a sense of relief during a time of stress. I had been worried about how to pay the rent for my son, who is studying at the university. Thankfully, I was able to send him $70 right away, ensuring he could focus on his studies without the burden of worrying about housing. Knowing he would have peace at school made me feel much better as a parent.Furthermore, I used $50 to buy medicine to spray my tomatoes on the farm, helping protect my crops from pests. I also spent $30 on weeding those tomatoes to ensure a good harvest. I wanted to support my daughter, who has a shop and provides food for our family, so I gave her $30 to restock her supplies. This way, she can continue to support us while managing her business.With the remaining $20, I harvested my maize, which resulted in an impressive yield of 5,444 kgs. I take pride in being a farmer, and with my wife at home caring for our large flock of livestock, we have managed to create a stable life for our family of eight. Although life can be challenging, I feel grateful for the assets we have, knowing they can help us during emergencies. The cash transfer has truly made a difference in our lives."

"While I was in town doing my grocery business, I received the money, and I couldn't contain my happiness. I immediately thanked God for helping me at a time when I felt so confused and worried about how to pay for my two children joining the university. Their school fees and other expenses were overwhelming, especially with my small business income. The moment I saw the money, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. I realized that I could finally cover their expenses without the stress that had been keeping me up at night. This support from GiveDirectly was truly a blessing, and I felt grateful for the help."