"In the coming months, I plan to use the remaining transfers to pay the required labor fees to finalize the construction of the house. Once the house is fully completed, my next goal is to start a kiosk business. Establishing this business will diversify my income sources and provide me with additional financial stability to support my family. I am already a member of a savings group and intend to save more once the house is complete, so I can accumulate enough capital to launch the business next year. I am deeply appreciative of the support from GiveDirectly, which has empowered me to make significant strides towards my goals, especially rebuilding my home and planning for a more secure financial future."

"I spent my unconditional cash transfer wisely to improve my life. First, I bought four sheep for $80 because they multiply quickly. I already had four goats, so this will help me grow my livestock. Next, I purchased a mattress for $30. I had never owned a mattress since moving here and had been sleeping on sacks. Now, I sleep well every night, which makes a big difference in how I feel during the day. I also bought clothes for $30 because I wanted to look nice when going out. Before this, I didn't have beautiful clothes, and it affected my confidence. Now, I feel much better about myself and walk around with my head held high. Additionally, I bought two plastic chairs for $15 because I needed somewhere for visitors to sit when they come over. This has made my home feel more welcoming. Finally, I spent $16 on a water container to help with storage. Having enough water is important, especially during the dry season. With the remaining money, I bought household food items to ensure I had enough to eat. Overall, these purchases have improved my living conditions and made me feel happier and more secure."

"I was at a burial in a nearby village when I heard a notification sound on my phone. I checked it and felt so happy to see that it was the GiveDirectly transfer! I was really glad and I could not wait to get home to share the news with my wife. I then knew that I could pay off some debts I had and also cover the school fees for my three children. "

"When the floods came, they completely wiped out 1.5 acres of maize and an entire acre of tomatoes that I had been counting on to sell for school fees and food security at home. It was a devastating blow, and I honestly didn't know how I was going to recover. I had also accumulated so much debt, not knowing where the money would come from to pay it off. But thanks to the unconditional cash I received from GiveDirectly, I was able to cover food costs and pay the school fees for my children. Most importantly, I’ve managed to clear all my debts, and now, for the first time in a long while, I don’t owe anyone anything. It’s a huge relief, and it truly makes my soul rejoice, and feels great to have this weight lifted off me."

"Before I received the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, I was in a tough spot. I didn't know how I was going to pay my daughter's school fees. She had been sent home several times to collect the money, but each time she returned with nothing, which meant she would just be sent back again. It was heartbreaking because I knew how much she wanted to be in school, but I couldn't afford it. When the transfer came through, I was finally able to pay her fees. Now, she can stay in school without worrying about being sent home, and she can focus on her schoolwork like any child should. It's been the biggest relief for both of us."

"I have always depended on farming to raise money for my two sons' school fees. Every season, I’d plant maize on my four-acre plot, and though it wasn’t much, it got us through. But this year, things were different. The floods came and destroyed everything—my entire crop was washed away. Being a single parent, it’s already hard enough, but losing my main source of income made it feel impossible. Then, I received a transfer from GiveDirectly, and it changed everything. With the money, I was able to pay the school fees for both of my sons. I can’t express the relief I felt knowing that they wouldn’t have to miss out on their education because of the floods. It would have been incredibly difficult for me to raise the money on my own. Now, I can focus on rebuilding what was lost, knowing that their future is still secure."

"The biggest difference I have seen since I received the transfer is that I now have a pit latrine of my own. For the last four years since we moved here, my family and I have been sharing a pit latrine with our neighbors, and it reached a point where they started complaining. They would often accuse us of leaving it dirty, even though we always made sure to clean it after using it. The tension was uncomfortable, but thanks to the money from GiveDirectly, we were able to build our latrine, and that has lifted a huge burden off our shoulders. Now that we have our own latrine, the misunderstandings with our neighbors have reduced significantly, and everyone is happier. It feels good to have that independence and privacy, and we no longer have to worry about who is saying what or getting into unnecessary arguments over cleanliness. Having this basic facility has improved our peace of mind and made life here much more comfortable."

"I was at a burial in a neighboring village when I received the text message confirming that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. I felt an overwhelming sense of joy, but I couldn’t express it, knowing I was surrounded by mourners in such a sad moment. I kept the news to myself, but all I could think about was fulfilling my plans, especially buying a mattress and a bed for myself."

"My job only brings in $50 a month, which became increasingly limited after we lost our crops to floods. Our alternative source of income made it even tougher to pay for my children's school fees. The financial strain pushed me to take out a loan, and I was left wondering how I would ever manage to pay it back. Thankfully, I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly at the perfect time. With that money, I was able to clear my debt and buy essential items for my children, which was such a relief. Now, I can focus on other things without the weight of that burden on my shoulders. I am grateful to GiveDirectly."

"My husband and I rely on crop farming to support our family of six, but we have faced many setbacks over the years. We have often lost our crops to drought, and this year, when we finally found land near the river, floods destroyed our maize in an acre of land. With such unpredictable income, we struggled to meet all our family needs. Therefore, when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to buy a mattress for my husband and me, which cost $35, since we had given our old mattress to the children, who were using a worn-out one. Additionally, I bought a water drum for $17 to store rainwater, as fetching it from the river was quite a distance. Furthermore, our sitting arrangements were inadequate, with only two plastic chairs for our family; thus, I bought two more chairs for $17 and a table for $11 to make things more comfortable for us and our visitors. Since we lost our maize crop, food has been a challenge, so I purchased a bag of maize for $30, along with other essential food items for $41. Finally, with the remaining funds, I paid $40 to clear my son's private primary school fees from last term and reduce the arrears for this term because I wanted to ensure he wouldn’t be sent home due to unpaid fees."