"Around 3:00 pm, while I was at home, I heard my phone ringing. I quickly checked and discovered an Mpesa message from Segovia Technology, which matched the information provided in the brochures given to us by GiveDirectly. Excitedly, I informed my spouse, who was by my side, and we both shared a joyful moment knowing that our plans were finally coming to fruition. The following day, I collected the funds from the nearby shopping center as planned."

"I've had this plan for a long time, but the lack of funds held me back in the past. By the end of this year, I want to increase my herd of three goats. My goal is to use the next transfers to get more goats and expand the group. As these animals grow, I can sell them to raise money and support our household needs. Being older, I believe that raising livestock is the best way for me to help my family and reduce my dependence on my son."

"Around 2:00 p.m, I received a message that I didn't immediately check, as I wasn't expecting any significant news that day. Within my homestead, I could hear my neighbors conversing loudly and with excitement. Curiosity prompted me to walk towards their direction when I picked up my phone and saw a message on the screen that was clearly from the service provider. To my astonishment, it contained wonderful news of the first transfer being successfully deposited into my account. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I returned to my seat, thanking God for the provision and expressing my appreciation to GiveDirectly for fulfilling their promise."

"After a regrettable incident in the past, I was compelled to prematurely resign from the police force. This has posed significant challenges for me, as I had to rely on my wife's income from casual jobs to sustain our livelihood. Currently, we reside with our youngest son, who is in his final year of secondary school. Upon receiving my transfer, I immediately allocated $35 to purchase essential food supplies. Additionally, I utilized $50 to settle the hospital bill for my son's wife. Having an ample stock of food in our home brings me immense fulfillment as a parent, as it ensures that my family will have enough for their sustenance. Lastly, I was able to pay my son's school fees, amounting to $70. This was a daunting task before, as I lacked a stable source of income. I am sincerely grateful for the monthly support that has uplifted our lives and provided us with a renewed sense of hope."

"I still have a clear memory of the moment I received a text notifying me that I had been given $180. I was engrossed in my daily activities at the shopping center when my phone suddenly started ringing. As I checked the notification, I was left speechless. It revealed that GiveDirectly had sent me money. The overwhelming feeling of joy and gratitude washed over me, knowing that this support arrived at a time when we least anticipated it. I felt a tremendous sense of relief, as I realized that we could now work towards achieving our goals. And so, we immediately began the process of planning our next steps."

"My three children are currently enrolled in school, and my goal is to ensure that they all achieve their academic objectives. My main source of income has been burning and selling charcoal, which I hoped would allow me to pay for my children's school fees and food. However, this has not been easy because I could only do this twice a week, earning only $7, which was insufficient to meet the needs of my entire household. Due to a lack of fees, my children were occasionally sent home. I was unable to pay for them on time, and whenever they were sent home, they remained for weeks while I sought financial assistance. My top priority since receiving the transfers is to ensure that my children's school fees are paid on time. This will allow them to stay in school and avoid having their education interrupted."

"Hh"

"My primary goal right now is to ensure the academic success of my two children, one in high school and the other in college. My sons' achievement of that level has not been easy; it has been a struggle. To make ends meet, I usually burn and sell charcoal, which can only be used to feed my family. This leaves some other expenses unmet, such as fees for my two children. As a result, they were sometimes sent home and allowed to stay for several weeks because I was unable to raise their fees on time. I do not want my children's education to be disrupted by fees now that I am certain of receiving a transfer. I want to make certain that I pay for them on time and that they are able to achieve their educational goals in the near future."

"I have been having hearing problems for almost six years now. This has made me unable to interact with people freely. I have no money to go see a specialist."

"Lack of reliable income is the current challenge I am currently facing. I work as a security personnel at Kafitsoni primary. The payment is done after four months where I am supposed to get $200 . Most cases they give me $150 or less . This has really affected me interms of planning. My children have been out of school due to school fees."