"Life was difficult for me and my children. For years, we slept on the floor with no mattress, exposed to the cold every night. The floor was hard and uncomfortable, and we used mats as makeshift mattresses. My children, being young, were especially vulnerable. Without proper bedding, they often caught colds and the flu, which made them feel miserable and added to my worries. Every night, I would lie awake, uncomfortable and exhausted, constantly concerned about their health. Since getting the mattresses and bed, the difference has been remarkable. My children no longer sleep on the cold, hard floor, and they have been healthier. I no longer have to worry about them getting sick as often. We finally have a sense of comfort and safety, and it has made a huge impact on our daily lives. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"GiveDirectly's cash arrived at the perfect time. Things were tough for us after losing our crops to floods, including maize, melon, and vegetables. Before this, we had planted melons and used the income to invest in our posho mill business. We had been buying already milled maize and selling it, but transportation from town limited our profits. After buying a posho mill machine in Nakuru, we didn’t have the money for transportation and installation, so the machine stayed in Nakuru for two weeks. When I received my first transfer, I decided to allocate $100 to cover the transport and installation costs. Previously, we made a profit of about $2 per 90 kg bag, but now we’re making $3 per 90 kg bag. At the same time, my two children needed school game kits and sweaters, which I bought for $50. With the remaining funds, I purchased a table worth $30 because the one we had was too small and not sufficient for our family of seven."

"I had long wanted to plant maize but faced a challenge with capital. My husband and I do casual jobs and produce charcoal to meet the daily needs of our family of nine while making small savings. After a month, we finally rented land for planting maize. However, due to the floods, we had to postpone our plan and temporarily relocate. When we returned a month later, the floods had stopped, but we lacked the funds to proceed with planting, worried about losing the money spent on renting the land. Our hope was restored when the chief invited us to a community meeting, where we learned about GiveDirectly and their support. After enrolling, my first transfer went towards cultivating the land. Although I initially planned to plant maize, I chose watermelon instead due to pest issues and waterlogged conditions. I spent $50 on seeds and planted them ourselves to cut costs. The watermelon is growing well, and I expect to harvest in less than two months, potentially earning about $10 if all goes well. I plan to use this money to buy a generator, pipes, and reinvest in agriculture. Additionally, I bought kale seedlings and planted a kitchen garden to help with our daily needs. Since my children’s house was destroyed by floods, I now sleep in one room with all seven of my children while my husband sleeps with a relative. I decided to purchase iron sheets for $50, planning to buy more with my second transfer to build a new house for my children. To ensure we have food, I spent $30 to buy basic ones like maize. We also had only one chair and used old containers, so I bought two more chairs for $13. The remaining funds were used to buy uniforms and books for my children, as their previous ones were swept away by the floods."

"I used my first transfer to buy livestock—specifically, two sheep, one for $30 and another for $16, and a cow for $140. I chose to invest in livestock because they are assets that I can sell in the future, providing financial support when needed. Two weeks ago, my nephew was joining college. I had supported him through high school, but I didn’t have the money to pay for his college fees. I had hoped to raise it, but unfortunately, I was unable to. So, I sold the cow for $200 to help cover the fees. My brother doesn’t have a job, and his son is passionate about animal health. He did well in high school despite many challenges, and now he’s pursuing a career in animal health. This motivates me because, through his education, he will become self-sufficient, and our family will benefit in the long run."

"As my wife was preparing supper, I sat in our living room waiting patiently when my phone buzzed. I checked it, and, to my surprise, I saw that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I rushed outside to share the exciting news with my mom, wife, and children. We all felt happy as a family. Later, we sat down to enjoy our dinner, with smiles on our faces, knowing this was a turning point for us."

"I currently work as a motorcycle driver and my main goal is to own my own motorcycle. Right now, I'm using a motorcycle owned by someone else and paying them $4 each time I use it. This leaves me with very little money for myself, let alone for my family. Due to the increasing living standards and a lack of customers, it's becoming a challenge because I have to pay the motorcycle owner daily, making it a very stressful job. However, thanks to GiveDirectly for coming to our rescue. Previously, my children would sleep without eating, but now, with financial support from GiveDirectly, that doesn't happen anymore. I'm hopeful that once I buy my own motorcycle, I'll be able to provide my family with the life they deserve. I plan to save from my income and transfers, and I'm confident that I will buy the motorcycle, ultimately transforming my life and that of my family."

"The biggest difference in my life since receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly is owning a proper mattress and finally enjoying good sleep. Before, I slept on a makeshift bedding that left me uncomfortable and tired every morning. Now, with a comfortable mattress, I sleep better, wake up refreshed, and feel energized throughout the day. This simple change has improved not only my physical well-being but also my mood and productivity. I start my day in a better state of mind, which makes me more focused and able to get more done. The impact of having good sleep has been life-changing for me."

"I attended a fundraiser in my village, and while there, I heard people whispering that they had received money from GiveDirectly. I didn’t have my phone with me because I had left it at home to charge. After the event, I was eager to check if I had also received the money. Two friends accompanied me as I rushed back home, filled with excitement. When I finally checked my phone, I was delighted to see that I had received $180 from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed, and my first thought was to buy a bed and mattress, as I had been sleeping on a makeshift bedding that was very uncomfortable."

"The biggest change in my life since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly is the immense sense of relief I’ve felt knowing that my daughter’s school fees have been paid. This was made possible entirely because of GiveDirectly. Without their support, my child would have fallen behind in her studies, as I had no other funds available at that moment. This assistance has been crucial in ensuring her continued education and has greatly alleviated my worries. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for this timely support."

"When I received $180 from GiveDirectly, I was excited and knew I had to stick to my original plan, despite having many pressing issues. I allocated $105 to buy two sheep, increasing my flock from three to five. I chose to invest in sheep for their long-term benefits. With two young children, I want to ensure that I can cover their school fees in the future, and by letting the sheep multiply, I hope to secure a stable income to support their education without struggling. I also set aside $35 to buy food for my children. At that time, we struggled with food since we had just returned from a camp after being displaced by floods. With this money, we could have enough food, which brought happiness to my family. Additionally, my farm needed irrigation, so I used $15 for that purpose. I spent the remaining money on clothes for everyone in my family. Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I was able to address these immediate needs and make a meaningful investment in our future."