"The moment I heard the news, my heart raced with excitement. I was at a nearby farm, doing casual work with my neighbor, when he mentioned that money had arrived. Unfortunately, I didn't have my phone with me because it was charging in town, so I couldn't confirm it myself. However, when I finally got my phone in the evening and saw the message, I was overjoyed! I had been dreaming of owning a cow again since mine had died from illness. I had been taking care of other people's cows, but it didn't feel right without having one of my own. This money gave me hope, and I was eager to use it to buy a new cow."

"Before receiving the transfer, life was very difficult because my wife and I struggled to save money from our casual jobs, which only paid us $3 a day. This small amount was barely enough for food, and saving for school fees was nearly impossible. We were constantly worried about how to keep our children in school. However, after receiving the money from GiveDirectly, things changed. I was able to pay the school fees, which took away a lot of stress. Now, we can focus on other needs, and I feel much more at ease."

"It was around 3pm, and I had just returned home from doing some casual work when my phone rang. I checked it, and to my surprise, it was an M-Pesa notification from GiveDirectly. At that moment, I felt a rush of relief and joy because my wife was in the hospital, admitted with a large medical bill that had been weighing heavily on my mind. I had no idea how I was going to manage such an amount, and it felt like a burden I couldn’t escape. But I thank God, because the money came right when I needed it most. Without wasting any time, I rushed to the hospital to settle the bill, feeling grateful and at peace."

"Currently, my family and I reside in a small one-room house. I have always wished to build a better and more spacious house for us, but due to limited income as a peasant farmer, this has not been possible. However, since I joined the GiveDirectly program, I have gained hope and determination to work towards constructing a new house in the coming year and beyond. My plan is to build a new house to provide my children with their own space and to give the adults in the family their own space as well. To achieve this, I intend to allocate my transfers towards paying school fees for my children and purchasing building materials for the house. This way, I can gradually work towards constructing a new home for us. Additionally, I have aspirations to own cows for plowing my farm. To accomplish this, I have been investing in chickens, hoping that they will multiply. In the future, I plan to trade the chickens for goats, allow the goats to multiply and increase in value, and eventually trade them for cows. Achieving these goals means a lot to me and will bring me great happiness."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly has been the ability to rest. With food in the house, I no longer need to take low-paying odd jobs, which has greatly improved my health. This stability has allowed me to look for other opportunities, such as opening a business shortly. My home now looks appealing thanks to the new household items I was able to buy with the GiveDirectly transfers, items that I did not own before. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for their timely support, which has made a significant impact on my life."

"I was at home that evening doing my household chores when my daughter, who helps me because I am not very familiar with using a mobile phone, rushed over to me. She had my phone and excitedly informed me that we had received $180 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy because I knew that my problems had come to an end. The first thought that came to my mind was to use the money to buy bedding so I could finally sleep on a bed. This support meant so much to me, as it would improve my quality of life and bring comfort to my home."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly is in my mental health. I no longer have the stress of searching for school fees for my kids, and having enough food has significantly reduced the pressure and desperation I felt from doing odd jobs that often paid very little. Now, I can spend more quality time with my family, and our overall well-being has greatly improved. This support has brought peace to my life, allowing me to focus on what truly matters: my family and our happiness."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been the ability to own a goat, which has since multiplied to two. Before this support, I did not own any livestock, so this feels like a significant achievement. This is just the beginning; I hope to increase my herd with future GiveDirectly transfers. By allowing my goats to multiply, I can create a sustainable source of income and have livestock to rely on in times of emergencies. This new venture gives me hope for a more secure future and the ability to support my family when needed."

"The biggest change since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been the ability to lease a one-acre piece of land for farming. This felt like a dream come true because I have always wanted to start maize farming. With this farm, I can generate more income, which will open up more opportunities for me to develop myself and sustain my farming activities. For this, I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly."

"While I was alone on the farm preparing the land, a notification popped up on my phone. It was from GiveDirectly, and they had sent me $180. I felt a wave of happiness and gratitude to God, as well as to GiveDirectly, especially since I had many pressing issues to address. My first thought was to rush home to inform my husband so we could plan together."