"I have been living a stressful life, feeling as if I had no future or valid dreams. About five years ago, I was displaced due to insecurity issues caused by bandits during the Mukutani wars. I had to come here and borrow land just to stay with my family. I have three children and a wife to support and ensure they are well taken care of.When I received this cash, I realized it wasn’t enough to purchase land, so I decided to first invest in planting vegetables, which require less expense. I used $80 for this investment, hoping that the income from selling the vegetables will eventually allow me to buy my own land for building a home.Additionally, I used $60 to purchase food, as we had none at home and needed to stock up. This way, I can focus on preparing and planting my farm without constantly worrying about where to get food.Finally, I used the remaining $40 to buy a solar panel. This will provide lighting at home for my children to study, improve security, and allow us to charge our phones at home instead of going to our neighbors."

"Sunday was meant to be a relaxing day at home, with no plans to go anywhere. However, as the day went on and I felt bored being alone, I decided to visit my neighbor to pass the time. While we were chatting, he mentioned that GiveDirectly had sent money. I wondered if I had received any as well, but since my phone was out of charge and I was offline, I couldn't check. The next morning, once my phone was charged, I checked and saw the first message was from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Without wasting any time, I immediately sent $60 for my daughter's school fees, as her teacher had been calling me almost every day, and I was anxious about missing her calls."

"Even though water poses many challenges to our development, I am grateful to GiveDirectly for their great support. I see myself making good progress once the water recedes, as I plan to start planting watermelons, which I am confident will yield high profits. The floods have caused significant difficulties, as they washed away my 2 hectares of maize, setting my life back to square one and delaying my planting plans. Despite these setbacks, I remain hopeful for a better outcome."

"Previously, no one could find me at home, and visitors or neighbors would never come to see me because I had nothing, not even food, to offer them. But now, my door is open to everyone. I also have good clothes to wear and change into, all thanks to your unconditional cash. I love you so much because you have changed my life. I appreciate it deeply because even my brother, who is the first judge in the Ilchamus community, has never helped me the way GiveDirectly has."

"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."

"It was my neighbor who first informed me about the news from GiveDirectly. Since I am older and cannot read messages on my phone, I quickly went to my son, who is also my helper. As soon as he saw me, he told me that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. Overcome with gratitude, I knelt to thank God. When asked why, I explained that it was because of my happiness and relief, as we had been starving without food after the floods destroyed our farms. Now, I finally have enough to eat. With nothing else on my mind, I focused on buying food to end the hunger that had affected me and my husband."

"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."

"I was at a prayer day at Emining Boys when I received a confirmation message that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. I was with other recipients who also got the money, and it felt like even more blessings after the prayers. We all traveled back home to plan, and our journey was filled with joy, especially since most of us had received the money. My first thought was about transforming my house from a traditional manyatta to a modern one. So, my immediate plan was to buy iron sheets to make this home project a reality."