"I was in the middle of preparing some vegetables for supper one evening when I got a message on my phone. Curious, I opened it and saw it was an Mpesa notification, letting me know I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. A wave of happiness washed over me at that moment, as this was a great opportunity to give my struggling small shop a much-needed boost."

"It was a typical evening, and I was at home getting ready to tackle the usual household chores. Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a message. Curious, I picked it up to check, and to my surprise, it was an Mpesa notification. As I read through the message, I realized it was my first transfer from GiveDirectly. The moment I understood what it meant, I couldn’t contain my excitement—I jumped with joy! Overwhelmed with happiness, I shared the wonderful news with my family, and together we celebrated this incredible blessing."

"The transfer I received brought immense relief and transformed my family’s situation. As a parent, nothing is more important than ensuring your children have a chance to succeed. With $180, I was able to pay off my three children’s school fees, ensuring they could stay in school without any interruptions. Two of them were sitting for their final examinations, and thanks to this support, I managed to clear their fees in time. Knowing they could complete their exams without the stress of unpaid fees brought me great joy. Even more reassuring is that they finished their studies debt-free, which means collecting their results later this year will be smooth—no fear of delays due to unpaid arrears. I also used part of the transfer to support my son, who was building his own home. I bought 11 iron sheets for $100, helping him complete the roofing and take a significant step toward having a place of his own. To further support him, I purchased a new bed and a mattress for $120. His previous bed was an old traditional one, with mats that were far from comfortable. Seeing him sleep soundly now in a proper bed brings me immense satisfaction. Additionally, I spent $50 on medical expenses for my parent, who had been unwell. It was a relief to see her treated and recovering well. The remaining amount went toward food for my family, ensuring that we had enough to eat."

"While I was busy doing household chores in the evening, I received a message on my phone. Curious about who could have sent it, I opened the message and discovered that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt a wave of happiness upon seeing this, as it meant I could continue building the house I had started for my six children, which had stalled for some time due to financial constraints."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now have a comfortable, decent house that I built with my recent funds. My previous home was in terrible condition; it was constructed from mud and was on the verge of collapsing. The roof was in a terrible state, and I constantly worried that strong winds might blow it away. I couldn’t even consider renovating it, as I lacked the financial resources to purchase the necessary materials. When I enrolled in the program and received my first transfer, I didn’t think about fixing up that old house. Instead, I decided to take a different path and build a new, spacious, and solid permanent home using bricks and cement. Now, I live in a sturdy house, enjoying the peace and comfort that I had long missed while enduring my dilapidated old place."

"In the evening, I received a message on my phone, but I couldn't read it. So, I asked my grandson for assistance. After he read the message, he informed me that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy upon hearing this news and couldn't wait to withdraw my funds and build a new house for my family."

"Many years ago, my house collapsed, and at that time, I was unable to build a new home due to a lack of financial resources for essential building materials such as iron sheets and poles. During this difficult period, I sought refuge with neighbors who were kind enough to help me. However, I still felt unsettled; all I wanted was to have my own house to live in with my family. Seeing my struggle with shelter, my granddaughter, who works in town, offered me her house to stay in whenever she was not home. My primary source of livelihood has been burning and selling charcoal, which has not provided enough income to build a new home. I am, however, grateful for the changes I've experienced recently, particularly after receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly. With this support, my main goal was to build a house for myself. I spent $400 on essential building materials, including 16 iron sheets, building poles, nails, and timber, and I also paid for the mason's work. I am pleased to share that my one-room house is now complete, and I can't thank GiveDirectly enough for helping me achieve this milestone. Additionally, our village has been facing frequent water shortages, and at times we experienced a complete lack of water. To address this issue, we collectively contributed $60 from each household to facilitate the installation of water taps. I am hopeful that once the piping is done, I will be able to install a water tap in my compound, ensuring easy access to water. With the remaining funds, I was able to purchase food for my family, including maize flour, which has ensured that we have daily provisions without struggle."

"I am currently enjoying a level of peace I’ve never experienced before, something I had long been missing due to my unstable housing situation. For years, I faced the challenge of finding shelter, often relying on the kindness of neighbours who graciously took me in after my house collapsed. Building a new, spacious home seemed like a distant dream, especially since my only source of income—burning and selling charcoal—was barely enough to support such an endeavour. However, when I received my first transfer, I was finally able to purchase essential building materials like iron sheets, poles, and nails, along with covering the labour costs. I am overjoyed to have constructed a spacious iron-roofed house, which has effectively resolved my shelter issues for good. I am truly grateful for this achievement, as it would have taken years to accomplish without this opportunity."

"In March 2024, I lost all my 30 goats to banditry. My 12-year-old son was looking after them on the grazing fields when, suddenly, gunshots were fired at him. Fortunately, he managed to escape death narrowly, but the trauma of the incident has stayed with him. Those goats were my only source of income, and losing them felt like losing everything. Because of the insecurity, my family of six had to flee Ng'aratuko in search of a safer place to live. Life has been incredibly difficult since then. My husband, Stanley, who is a goat trader, is trying his best to provide for us, but it is not easy. We have had to rely on him alone, and with no goats to trade, the strain is hard to bear. Putting food on the table has become a constant struggle, and some days it feels like there is no way out of this situation."

"We live in a harsh, rocky, and dry area where agriculture is no longer viable due to the hot and unforgiving climate. The biggest challenge we face is food insecurity, as we have to purchase all our food. This is an overwhelming burden because we lack a stable source of income. Our only means of survival comes from small businesses, but these ventures are unpredictable and often fail to meet our family’s basic needs.The high cost of living only worsens our situation, leaving us to constantly struggle to put food on the table. The harsh environment and lack of resources have made it difficult to break free from this cycle of hardship."