"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."

"Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I took some time, after the excitement, to plan how to use the money wisely. At that time, I didn't have bedding and was sleeping on the floor, which was very uncomfortable. I decided to spend $95 to buy a bed and a comfortable mattress, and now I enjoy a good night's sleep. I also spent $45 to buy new clothing for myself and my family of four. This has greatly improved our confidence, making us feel more presentable for events and welcoming visitors, as we now look like the rest of the community. Additionally, I spent $40 on food because, at that time, we had no food and were struggling to put meals on the table. I needed to address this need, especially with the money I received, to ensure my family had enough to eat."

"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."

"Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I was very thankful and took time to plan how to use the money and prioritize my needs. At that time, it was just after the recent floods that hit our village, which swept away my bedding. I had been sleeping on the floor with makeshift bedding, which was cold and made the nights feel even longer. I decided to use $90 to buy a bed and a comfortable mattress. Now, I can’t wait for nighttime because of how comfortable my bed is. I also spent $82 on iron sheets because I plan to build a small, separate kitchen. This way, even when it rains, I can continue with my household chores without being affected. I am so happy and grateful for GiveDirectly’s support, which has enabled me to have basic items like a bed and mattress, making my nights much more comfortable."

"The biggest differences in my life since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly are in education, food, and my energy to work. Before the transfers, I was constantly stressed about where to find the money to pay school fees. But now, that stress is gone because I know it’s all taken care of for this term. Regarding food, before GiveDirectly, we had a serious food security issue. We didn’t have farms producing food, and our stores were empty, making it difficult to have meals. But now, my family has enough to eat, which has greatly improved our situation. This, in turn, has increased my productivity in what I do. I now have more energy to work on my farm and do casual jobs, unlike before when I would go to the farm on an empty stomach."

"Every mother strives to work hard and provide the best life possible for their family. Unfortunately, this is not the case for me. I am currently struggling to put food on the table and buy my family other basic needs such as bedding and clothes. This is embarrassing and it is slowly killing my ambition as a father. I was optimistic about having a bumper harvest last season on my one acre of land. My crops were not spared by the April flash floods. I managed to harvest one bag of maize and this was the biggest loss that I had experienced."

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, the first thing I did was buy a bed and a mattress for my children. With $100, I was able to give them a proper place to sleep. Before this, they had to sleep on a mat on the floor, which became unbearable especially when the floods came. On that night, water flowed right into the house, and they were the first to suffer. Now, they have a bed that keeps them safe and dry, and I feel much more at ease knowing they can sleep comfortably. Next, I used $20 to buy cushions for our seats. The ones we had were very old and had become so uncomfortable that sitting down for even a short while was painful. With the new cushions, our living space feels much more welcoming, and we can sit together as a family without discomfort. I also bought a curtain and a utensil rack for $10. These small additions have made our home feel more organized. Lastly, I spent $30 on clothes for my children since most of what they had was ruined during the floods. I used another $10 to buy household food items, ensuring that we had enough to eat for the coming days. The remaining $5 went to a mason who helped us partition the house, giving us a bit more space and privacy. Every dollar was spent with care, and each purchase has made a significant difference in our lives."

"I used to work as a field officer with Moving the Game Post before I became pregnant. The nature of my job made it challenging to continue working while expecting. During that time, I was earning $180, and with my husband working as a taxi driver, we were living comfortably. After successfully giving birth, my husband insisted that I stay home to care for our young child, this changed everything. Now, with his income of up to $5 per day, it has become difficult to meet our basic needs, such as food."

"Before receiving the cash from GiveDirectly, my motorbike was in such bad shape that it was useless lying at home. The thought of the high transport costs for getting my maize and vegetables to the drying area was daunting. But with the transfers, I was able to repair the motorbike, and now moving around is so much easier. I could transport my maize to the drying area without any hassle, and I could go there daily to spread it out properly. This has ensured that my maize meets the required quality standards, something I couldn’t have managed before."