"To earn a living, my husband and I rely on casual jobs, each earning $4 a day, though these jobs are not always guaranteed. Sometimes we also depend on charcoal production. Our focus has been strictly on basic needs like food and education for our children. With this income, saving or investing in other areas was difficult. In our area, goats thrive, and our home was almost the only one without them, so this was a key investment for diversifying our income. With my first transfer, I prioritized buying two goats worth $100. Additionally, I purchased a mattress for my children, costing $40, as the old one was so worn out that you could feel the bedboard, which was disheartening for me as a mother. I also bought two plastic chairs to add to the two we already had for $12, as it was not enough, especially when we have visitors. Furthermore, I spent $32 on food, specifically maize, which is our staple food and sustained us for some time. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Now that I have been enrolled and received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, my long-term goal of owning a generator and pipes is finally within reach. This will enable me to fulfill my plan of improving crop production without the constant struggle of borrowing equipment. In the past, I often failed to secure what I needed, leading to the loss of crops after leasing land. Thanks GiveDirectly, I can now invest in my future and work towards a more stable and successful farming operation."

"After separating from my husband a few years ago, I moved back home with my three children. My brother kindly let us temporarily live in his house, but the thought of eventually having to leave has never been easy. Receiving GiveDirectly's support brought me hope, and all I could think about was building my own house, especially since my parents are willing to give me a space to build. I spent about $150 from my first transfer to buy building materials like iron sheets and nails, planning to use my next transfer to buy the remaining materials and start building. The rest of the money went toward food for my children. As a single mom with no formal job, I can't abandon my duty to provide for my kids. I've been doing casual jobs and charcoal production. Thanks to GiveDirectly, the cash gave me a break from these jobs, although I had to resume since the food didn't last long. But I am hopeful that by the end of my transfers, things will be better."

"I was in my farm, looking after my maize crop against free roaming livestock, when I received a notification upon confirming it was GiveDirectly's cash. I was overjoyed, especially since my vegetable seedlings were ready for transplanting, and I didn't have the money to facilitate it. Thank you, GiveDirectly"

"Before receiving the transfer, life was challenging for me and my family. My husband is a farmer, and I run a small shop at home selling foodstuffs. The floods nearly wiped out my business as many people in the village, including us, had to relocate. The damage was extensive—I lost sugar, maize, 14 chickens, and even their eggs. I had to sell my goats just to restock my shop and replace the utensils and shoes my kids lost. Although food was not too difficult to access due to the shop, the strain was immense, especially with a 2-year-old son to care for.When I received the transfer, I wanted to ensure that I made investments that would support us in the future. I bought three sheep for $150, seeing them as a safety net that I could sell in case of an emergency. I also spent $20 to purchase flasks and jars to add stock to my business, expanding it beyond just selling foodstuffs. Additionally, I used $30 to buy clothes for my family and two plastic chairs to add to the two we already had."

"It was a very fine Sunday afternoon, and I was just resting at home with my children when my phone vibrated with a message. When I checked, I saw it was an M-Pesa message, but I didn’t think much of it because I wasn’t expecting the GiveDirectly money yet, having just been enrolled a week before. Later, I went to fetch water at the nearby borehole and overheard some women discussing the arrival of the money. I joined in the conversation, feeling both excited and happy, knowing that I could finally repair my toilet, which had sunk after being swept away by floods."

"Previously, before I received money from GiveDirectly, I was sick for an entire month without going to the hospital because I couldn't even afford the transport to a government facility. However, as soon as I received the cash, I went to the hospital, and now I am feeling much better. Without GiveDirectly's support, I might not have survived, so I am truly grateful for the help. I am hopeful for even more improvement in my life when I receive the second transfer."

"Raising seven children has been tough for me. Ensuring they have everything they need has been a constant struggle, especially since neither my husband nor I are employed; we are both farmers and charcoal burners. In our area, charcoal is a significant source of income, as one sack sells for $7, and I used to produce four sacks per week. So, when I received the cash, I used $60 to ensure we had enough food at home, which gave me the energy and peace of mind to continue with my farming. Additionally, I spent $50 to purchase a sheep, as I didn’t own any livestock before. I saw this as a good investment since it could become a source of income in the future or be sold in case of emergencies. I also used $40 to send transport money to my four children who were returning home from school. Finally, I spent the remaining $20 on clothes for my husband, who had almost no decent clothing left. His old clothes were so worn out that he couldn’t even go out to socialize with other men due to the shame."

"Before I received the money from GiveDirectly, I was severely affected by floods. The floods destroyed my entire maize farm, which I had been eagerly waiting to harvest, and took away all 14 of my chickens. I felt so embarrassed because I had been relying on that maize to sell and pay for my children's school fees. But I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly because the money I received became a source of hope in my life. My children had accumulated huge arrears at school and had been in and out of school every term. Now, I thank God because they are peacefully studying, and for the younger ones, there is enough food at home when they return from school in the afternoon."

"The biggest difference in my life right now is that I no longer have to go out looking for casual jobs to provide for my family. Before receiving the cash from GiveDirectly, I used to burn charcoal just to make sure my children had something to eat. It was a hard life, always struggling to make ends meet. But now, thanks to GiveDirectly, I have enough to feed my family without having to resort to burning charcoal. I only take on casual labor when the need arises, but it's no longer a daily necessity. This support has truly changed our lives for the better."