"Before my first pregnancy, I was in college, and my husband was paying for my education. Because of pregnancy complications, I had to drop out of college. Now that my husband has not yet secured a sustainable job, I want to use my savings from my transfers and savings account to go back to fashion and design college. I want to be able to acquire skills, get self-employed, and earn a sustainable living, which will enable me to provide for my family. Being self-employed and having the capacity to provide for my family has always been my dream. Seeing them cheerful and full of joy is my all-time desire."

"I am a mother and a grandmother who has been doing manual labor on people's farms to take care of both my child and grandchildren. At the time when I received the second transfer, my child, who was in primary school and was about to sit for his final exams, was at home and not attending classes because he had a school fee balance. I therefore spent $58 to clear the balance so that he could go back to school and continue preparing for his exams. It was such an amazing moment for me and my son, as he was excited to be going back to school and joining his fellows in exam preparations. I then used $70 to finish building a two-room house that I had previously started building. I was so much in need of a house because I was sleeping in a one-room house with my child and grandchildren, and this was very inappropriate and uncomfortable. I also spent $250 to buy two beds and two mattresses so that we could have a better place to sleep because we used to sleep on the floor on mats and on ragged and worn-out mattresses, which were very uncomfortable. Finally, I spent $150 on a piece of land that I had started buying for farming purposes."

"Reliable source of income is the challenge I am currently facing in life. My husband does casual jobs at the coastal towns earning very little income and I do subsistence farming her at home. Farming is not doing well due to persistent drought . The income from the husband caters for food and school fees though not enough. Sometimes my children miss classes due to lack of school fees. This has affected their performances."

"Receiving my latest transfer filled my heart with joy. In our old age, my husband and I cannot work to earn a living. We depend on our children and grandchildren, who are tirelessly striving to meet the needs of their own families. Our primary concern is securing enough food for sustenance. With this in mind, we decided to allocate $60 towards purchasing essential food items. Our humble abode, a weathered grass-thatched mud house, becomes particularly challenging to live in during the rainy season. Therefore, we resolved to invest $140 in purchasing building materials to improve our living conditions. We took a thoughtful step by purchasing goats worth $200 to help us earn a living in the near future. While we may be too old to manage them, We are fortunate to have grandchildren who will lend a helping hand in rearing these animals. In addition, we set aside $50 to cover miscellaneous expenses. I want to express my deepest gratitude to GiveDirectly for this support. It has brought joy to our hearts and hopes for a more secure and comfortable future."

"Receiving payments from GiveDirectly has transformed my life in profound ways. The most significant change is evident in my ability to own a motorbike, which serves both business and personal transportation needs. The burden of financial stress has lifted, contributing to a substantial improvement in my mental well-being. In addition, the introduction of a television has brought joy to my family, enhancing our shared moments. On the economic side, my family life has significantly improved, allowing me to expand my agricultural endeavours. Previously constrained by limited capital and energy, I now cultivate four acres of land, focusing on maize production. This has not only increased my agricultural output but has also provided a sense of stability and empowerment that was absent before GiveDirectly."

"I am appreciative that the second transfer allowed me to replenish the business I had started when I received the first transfer. I invested $150 in it and another $30 to grow it by establishing a small hotel next to my shop. I also used $200 to save money in a women's group that will yield higher interest at the end of the year. Another significant thing I accomplished with the money left over was to build a house. It's not finished yet, but I'm currently staying in my shop because my house collapsed from the heavy rains. I have no words to express how grateful I am for all of your help. Since we broke up with their father nine months ago, I have been raising my children on my own and am no longer burdened with the tedious task of burning charcoal to pay for school fees and food. I am appreciative of the difference you have made in my life."

"My focus in the coming years and beyond is to on expanding my poultry-keeping business, I am sure that doing this will generate income that will help me to renovate my house which looks very old due to corroded iron sheets, painting it will be a good idea. Also doing more farming like planting maize will eventually result in a more supply of food in my household and life will be enjoyable hoping for better than these."

"From next year, my primary focus will be enhancing my children's education. To achieve this, I plan to expand my current ventures by adding more beehives to the existing 50 and the number of goats. This strategy also allows me to diversify and strengthen my agricultural pursuits. My goal is not only to provide for my family's needs but also to create a stable source of income."

"Receiving the transfers was a significant relief for my family of seven. The first priority was securing my children's education, so $50 went straight towards their school fees. Education is an investment in their future, and I wanted to ensure they had the opportunity to learn without interrupting their schooling for non-fee payments. With the remaining funds, I made essential purchases to improve our living conditions. Investing in comfortable beds and mattresses for the family, totaling $200, was important for our well-being. Additionally, I spent $100 on clothing for my children, ensuring they had decent attire. The bulk of the funds, $120, went towards purchasing food for the household. As my husband's construction job and my charcoal-burning business mainly provided income for food and education, it was crucial to ensure our family had enough to eat. Lastly,addressing outstanding debts with $80 was a weight off our shoulders. It is important to me to honor our financial commitments, and this allowed for some progress in that area. While our income primarily supports food and education, I am glad these transfers have allowed us to improve our living conditions and invest in a more sustainable future. The sense of security that comes from having these essentials taken care of is invaluable for our family's well-being."

"GiveDirectly's unconditional cash transfers are the best thing I can say it has done. The cash has profoundly impacted my life. I now boast an almost complete, permanent house, a stark contrast to my previous living conditions. Furthermore, these transfers have sparked a wave of positive changes throughout our community. Before the arrival of this program, my aspirations for a stable home felt like distant dreams. I lived in a makeshift shelter, constantly vulnerable to the elements. But with the support from GiveDirectly, I seized the opportunity to turn those dreams into reality. Yet, the impact wasn't confined to my own household. The entire community experienced a remarkable shift. Families invested in education, ensuring brighter futures for their children. Entrepreneurs flourished, injecting vitality into our local economy with many other transformations. I am hoping that GiveDirectly will continue to give this support to more communities and if possible add us more."