" I was at home with my husband, busy with my house duties, when I heard a message notification on my phone. I handed the phone to my husband to check, and he confirmed that we had received the transfer from GiveDirectly. We were so happy, but we didn’t rush into spending it. Instead, we decided to sit down the next day and carefully discuss how to use the money wisely."

"Before the transfer, we lived in a two-room house with muddy walls, located beside our two-room iron sheet main house. One room was for my children, and the other served as our kitchen. A few months ago, heavy rains caused flash floods that destroyed this house. Although our main house also flooded, it wasn’t damaged. We had to temporarily relocate to camps, and when we returned, my husband, our five children, and I had to live together in the main house. Having both boys and girls under one roof—especially with our oldest being 18 years old—was an uncomfortable situation. When I received my first transfer, I immediately decided to build a separate room for my three boys. I spent $129 on building materials and started the construction. I also paid the carpenter $100. Now, I’m waiting for my next transfer to complete the building. After the floods, getting food became a major challenge, especially after losing my one-acre maize farm, which I had leased. This was a huge loss for my family since I rely on crop farming and my small vegetable-selling business, though it’s struggling at the moment. I also do casual jobs to support us, as my husband lost his hand in an accident, leaving most of the work to me. To ensure we had enough food after the floods, I used part of the transfer to buy food worth $40, including 45 kg of maize, 5 kg of beans, and other essentials. The remaining, I spent on transport."

"Rearing seven children has been challenging for me. I am not employed; I primarily rely on charcoal burning, producing five bags per week and selling each for $7 to $8, depending on the season. Prices and demand are higher during the rainy season. Life has never been easy. My husband, who is a polygamous man and works as a carpenter, does not earn enough to cover the expenses for two families, though he sometimes helps with school fees. Upon receiving this cash, I used $60 to pay my son's school fees, as he had accumulated significant arrears and the teachers were frequently calling to ask for payment. The recent floods severely affected me, forcing me to relocate and bringing illness to my family. I became too sick to collect charcoal, so I used $100 to buy enough food to ensure my children had enough while I recovered. With the remaining $15, I looked for birth certificates for my three younger children to ensure we are prepared if the teachers request them."

"My parents did not send me to school, so I dropped out in fourth grade. Although their actions crushed my dreams of becoming someone important in the community, I resolved that I would ensure my children receive a top-notch education. Now, thanks to the money from GiveDirectly, they have lights to study as long as they need, and I am deeply thankful for this opportunity. I am also happy and stress-free knowing that once I harvest from my farm, I will be able to buy my own plot of land."

"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."

"On Sunday morning, my son became very sick, and we didn’t have any money to take him to a good hospital. So, my husband and I just sat at home, worried. By around 2 PM, our son’s condition worsened, so we decided to take him to a nearby dispensary for treatment. As we arrived, I heard a message notification on my phone. I handed it to my husband to read, noticing an unusual smile on his face—he rarely smiles like that. When he told me it was money from GiveDirectly, I was both relieved and overjoyed. After getting the medicine for our son, we returned home and immediately began planning how we would use the money the next morning."

"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."

"Receiving this transfer has made a significant difference in my life. I'm certain that it will change things for the better. The stress I had about my future has eased, especially after losing my six chickens and 3.5 hectares of maize to floods. Now, I’m grateful to own two goats and 30 chicks, which will not only help me in the future but also provide the means to pay for my children's school fees and meet their basic needs."

"It was on the evening of July 14th while I was preparing our evening meal when I suddenly heard my phone beep twice. Curious, I put down what I was doing and went to check it. The first message was from GiveDirectly, confirming that the unconditional cash had been transferred to my account. The second message was from Fuliza, deducting the amount I owed. I stood there, whispered a thank you prayer to God, phone in hand, thinking about how this money would finally allow me to pay my children's school fees, a burden that had been weighing heavily on my mind."

"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."