"It was on the 14th in the afternoon, and I was just relaxing with my grandson when I heard a message notification on my phone. I always have my phone close, so I checked it immediately. When I saw that it was the GiveDirectly transfer, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with joy. At that moment, I knew I could finally cover the school fees for my children and buy food items for the household. It was such a relief, knowing that the help had come right when I needed it most."

"The biggest difference I have seen after receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is the relief I feel in paying my children's school fees. Before, I used to rely on my monthly salary to cover those expenses, and I never had any issues. I paid the fees on time, and my children were able to focus on their studies without interruptions. But after retiring, my steady income was gone, and I found myself unsure of how I would continue supporting their education. Thankfully, GiveDirectly stepped in just when I needed it most. The cash transfer allowed me to continue paying the school fees without delays, even though my income had dried up. It has made this transition into retirement so much smoother than I ever anticipated. My children have remained in school, and I have avoided the stress and anxiety of scrambling to find the funds. Honestly, I do not know what I would have done without it."

"With two children in secondary school, my current goal is to ensure they complete their education. God willing, by the end of this year, they will have finished their final exams. Once they do, I will have some relief and can redirect the transfers I've been using to pay their school fees toward building a house for my family. We currently live in a small one-roomed house, which is not comfortable for all of us as we lack privacy. As a single parent, my ambition is to provide my children with good living arrangements that they deserve. My plan is to build a three-room house where we can all live comfortably and have the privacy we need. To achieve this, I plan to use a portion of the transfers I've been using to pay school fees for my secondary school children, along with some money I will be making from my other casual hustles. I will gradually buy building materials and start building the house I've always desired. I am hopeful that I will be able to achieve this, and once complete, I will be very happy. I am grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has been giving us. This assistance has been instrumental in helping me pursue my goals of educating my children and giving me hopes of improving our living conditions."

"Now that I have completed my house, my focus now is on securing our future and improving our lives, which I aim for it to be free from the financial struggles we faced before. I envision achieving financial security by establishing a livestock base, particularly goats. To achieve this, I plan to use a portion of my future transfers to purchase goats, hoping they will multiply and increase in number and value so that in the future they can become a valuable asset I can rely on, especially when this program comes to an end. I am truly grateful for the support that GiveDirectly has provided us, and I look forward to a future where I can educate my children and care for my family with the help of the livestock asset base I am planning to create."

"My goal in the coming year and beyond is to complete my two-year tailoring course successfully. The course will equip me with the necessary skills to run my own tailoring business in the future. With my subsequent transfers, I plan to continue using the money to pay for my tuition fees and accommodation to ensure I complete the course without interruptions. Once I am done with the course, I aim to seek employment in the tailoring field, gain experience, and save a portion of my income to purchase a sewing machine. This will allow me to establish my own tailoring business and work towards financial independence. I am very happy and optimistic about the future, thanks to the financial support from GiveDirectly, which has helped me get closer to achieving my goal."

"In the coming year and beyond, my main goal is to use a significant portion of my transfers to purchase food for my family. Since both my husband and I cannot work, the financial support from the transfers will be crucial in ensuring we have enough to eat. The harsh climatic conditions in our village make it impossible to grow food crops, forcing us to buy food at high prices from the local shopping center. This has put a strain on our limited resources, but the transfers will help alleviate this burden and reduce the financial strain on our son, who tirelessly tries to take care of his elderly parents. I am very grateful for the financial support, which has been a lifeline for us, ensuring that we can access our daily needs and maintain a sense of dignity and well-being. The support has significantly improved our quality of life, and I am hopeful that, with the continued assistance, we can remain resilient in the face of these challenging circumstances."

"The biggest difference I have seen since receiving cash from GiveDirectly is the remarkable boost in my business. Before, I used to make a profit of about $15 a day, but now, I make up to $20 daily. The reason for this improvement is that I no longer have to take stock on credit. Back then, part of my daily earnings always went into paying off debts to my suppliers, which limited how much I could grow. Now, with the cash from GiveDirectly, I can purchase stock outright, which frees up more profit for me. With no debts to worry about, every cent I make from my sales is truly mine. I am no longer stressing about setting aside money to pay off what I owe. That extra $5 each day has made it easier to cover my family’s needs and even save a little bit for the future. My business feels more stable and reliable now, and I am grateful for that."

"At the moment, food insecurity is the biggest challenge my family of eight is facing. It has been two years since we were able to harvest maize from our farms, and even though we have tried planting other crops like cassava, drought has impacted those as well. We now depend solely on my husband's casual job to provide food, but his work is inconsistent. As a result, we often miss meals, which has affected my school going children they struggle to concentrate in class, and sometimes the younger ones miss school altogether due to hunger."

"In our young family of four, consisting of my husband, our two children, and myself, we face numerous challenges that make daily survival a significant struggle. My husband works as a motorbike driver in our village, earning barely $3 a day. I was employed as a waiter at a local food kiosk, but my earnings are less than $2 a day. With the high cost of living in the country, our combined daily income of about $5 is far from sufficient to meet even the most basic needs of our family. The meager earnings limit our ability to afford essential items such as food, clothing, and healthcare. Our children, who deserve a chance at a better life, are particularly affected. We often worry about their nutrition, as providing balanced meals on our limited budget is challenging. The rising cost of food makes it increasingly difficult to ensure they get the necessary nutrients for their growth and development. Healthcare is another major concern. With our low income, accessing quality medical care is almost impossible. We live in constant fear of illnesses, knowing that we might not be able to afford proper treatment if any of us fall sick. This fear is heightened by the fact that our children are young and vulnerable to various health issues. Education, a crucial aspect for our children's future, is also at risk. The costs associated with schooling, such as uniforms, books, and other supplies, are burdensome. We struggle to keep up with these expenses, which affects their ability to learn and grow."

"The biggest challenge I am facing right now is the lack of support from my children's father. We divorced three years ago, and I had to return to my parents' home. I had hoped that even though we parted ways, he would still be there for his children, especially since he has a stable job. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Currently, I am unemployed, and it breaks my heart that I can not even raise as little as $15 to cover my children's school fees. This situation deeply saddens me."