"The condition of my house is in a state of disrepair, with a portion of the wall riddled with large holes that allow cold air to permeate inside. In a previous endeavor, I acquired some poles with the intention of constructing a two-bedroom house. Looking ahead to the end of the year and beyond, my objective is to accumulate sufficient funds from my monthly transfers. With these savings, I aspire to construct a larger and more secure dwelling that provides both safety and warmth."

"It has been an extensive period since my house collapsed. The deep poverty my family endures, coupled with my limited income, has hindered any progress in constructing a new dwelling. As the year draws to a close, my objective is to accumulate sufficient funds that can be allocated toward purchasing building materials. This will enable me to embark on the journey of constructing a new house for myself."

"I deeply appreciate Give Directly for their initiative to financially support people in communities like ours. These transfers alleviate numerous hardships, with the most pressing one being hunger. With the received funds, I can contribute to our household needs and relieve the burden on my son, whose income from selling chewing sticks barely provides for our daily sustenance. My goal is to ensure that even after the transfers cease in a few years, hunger becomes a rare occurrence in our lives. As I am unable to engage in active work due to my age, I plan to accumulate wealth through goat rearing. Additionally, I aspire to start a small business selling vegetables or dried sardines to maintain a steady income flow."

"First and foremost, I am thankful for the cash transfers as they have significantly alleviated hardships in my household. My main objective is to acquire goats, so when the cash assistance from Give Directly stops, I can rely on selling the animals to generate a steady income. To achieve this, I am dedicated to saving a portion of my monthly earnings through a self-help group. I hope that the current farming season yields enough food, allowing me to accomplish this goal in the next few years. This will enable me to accumulate sufficient funds to purchase goats and build wealth, ultimately improving the financial stability of my household."

"While enjoying the company of my grandchild who had come to visit me during the December holiday, a message popped into my phone at around 4 pm. I did not hesitate to check, but before I could take the phone from the table where I had placed it, my grandchild picked it up and read the message to me. My face brightened with the good news. It was the first transfer of $550. My heart was filled with joy and thanksgiving since I thought it was just a formality of registration but the ones to be assisted were already known; it was not the case. Involuntarily, the mood of the stories we had with the grandchild changed and we became happier than before."

"Before receiving the transfer, my life was full of frustrations. I had no defined source of income other than making and selling charcoal, which was unreliable. I had two children taking care of them after their dad passed on. They needed school fees, food, and clothing. Life was not easy for me. I am now happy because after I received the first transfer, I was able to fix the majority of the hurdles I was passing through. As of now, my children are happy in school and they get food at home. This could remain a nightmare if it were not for GiveDirectly."

"Before receiving the transfer, I used to struggle to make ends meet. Poverty made me venture into some tiring businesses to support the situation. Life was a struggle but now I am grateful for the cash transfer. It has boosted us and enabled us to get some meals daily unlike before when we usually took meals only in the evening due to lack of food and sometimes we went for at least two days a week without meals."

"Before receiving the transfer, I had already planned how to spend it. I acquired this knowledge from the civic education which we were taken through by the officers before registration. Upon receiving the transfer, I first bought a bale of maize flour for $24. I decided of buying some food to ensure that I have enough stock for my family of 6. Initially, I used to make charcoals for sale to cater to my children's education and food which was strenuous. Since I did not have a bed and I used to sleep on the floor using some empty boxes and sacks, I opted to buy a nice modern bed for $59 and two mattresses for $96. Since then, my children and I have been very happy sleeping well and comfortably, courtesy of GiveDirectly. In terms of investment, I saw it best to buy a cow for $275 and two goats for $65 which will serve as security in the future and can be converted into monetary value to sort some issues out if the need arises."

"I spent the money I had just withdrawn on 20 pieces of iron sheeting, 4 ridges, construction poles, rafters, and roofing nails. Due to the terrible condition of my grass-thatched house, the goal was to build a new one rather than attempt to repair it after obtaining the transfer. The house, which frequently leaked during rainy seasons and had walls that were so broken that you could see everything happening outside while inside, sleeping peacefully was a dream I never imagined coming true. There was no protection for my life or the possessions I had in the house. These supplies cost $342 in total. The building process has currently begun, and the contractor's labor will cost $100, which I have already placed up for him. In addition, I paid $100 in school tuition for my five children, who are entirely dependent on me now that their father has passed away. While the other four are in elementary school, one of them is enrolled in secondary school. I thought it would be wise to spend the remaining money on the family's maintenance because I had to rely on charcoal burning for existence, which was quite taxing."

"Lack of water for home consumption and livestock use is a challenge. I fetch water from a nearby borehole at a cost of $1 for six twenty litres containers. I consider it expensive because I must also purchase fuel for my motorbike since it is far. If I had piped water within my compound it could be easier."