"After receiving the cash transfers, I used around $180 to buy two beds and one mattress. The mattress and one bed were for my two children, as their previous ones were too small for them to sleep comfortably. This often caused them discomfort and pain. The other bed I purchased will be for my visitors, as it used to be a challenge when I had guests. Sometimes, I had to force my child to sleep on the floor while letting the visitors use their beds. This was not right at all, but I had no other choice. Now, I feel great knowing that my children are sleeping well in a spacious bed, and I have another bed available for visitors to ensure their comfort. I also used $370 to buy a dairy cow that I am now keeping at home. I bought this cow intending to get plenty of milk and start a business. In my area, a litre of milk sells for $1, which I believe will bring in good income, especially when the cow produces a lot of milk. I will not have to strain to meet my family's needs, as I will be the one to go to the shops and support my family. Additionally, paying my children's school fees will be easier for me, as I have been relying on a menial job to support my family of four."

"After receiving the cash transfers, I used around $180 to buy two beds and one mattress. The mattress and one bed were for my two children, as their previous ones were too small for them to sleep comfortably. This often caused them discomfort and pain. The other bed I purchased will be for my visitors, as it used to be a challenge when I had guests. Sometimes, I had to force my child to sleep on the floor while letting the visitors use their beds. This was not right at all, but I had no other choice. Now, I feel great knowing that my children are sleeping well in a spacious bed, and I have another bed available for visitors to ensure their comfort. I also used $370 to buy a dairy cow that I am now keeping at home. I bought this cow intending to get plenty of milk and start a business. In my area, a litre of milk sells for $1, which I believe will bring in good income, especially when the cow produces a lot of milk. I will not have to strain to meet my family's needs, as I will be the one to go to the shops and support my family. Additionally, paying my children's school fees will be easier for me, as I have been relying on a menial job to support my family of four."

"It was around 5 in the evening, and I was doing my housework as usual when I heard the phone ringing loudly. Since I didn't know how to read, I had to ask my son to check who had sent me a message at that hour. After checking, he told me it was an Mpesa message notifying me that I had received the cash transfers from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy, and it seemed like a blessing had finally come to my household. I knew I could finally buy the motorcycle I had been yearning for."

"It was around 5 in the evening, and I was doing my housework as usual when I heard the phone ringing loudly. Since I didn't know how to read, I had to ask my son to check who had sent me a message at that hour. After checking, he told me it was an Mpesa message notifying me that I had received the cash transfers from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy, and it seemed like a blessing had finally come to my household. I knew I could finally buy the motorcycle I had been yearning for."

"For years, I have been living in a shaky mud house because I couldn't afford to upgrade or renovate to a better one. Over time, its condition has deteriorated, leaving me anxious about the possibility of it collapsing at any moment. When GiveDirectly introduced their financial aid program, it felt like a golden opportunity to finally build a decent, permanent home. With my first transfer, I ordered two truckloads of bricks, sand, and cement to kickstart the construction of my new house. Now, I am in the process of building something that once seemed out of reach, given my challenging financial situation. Once this house is completed, I won’t have to worry about shelter anymore—not like before, when I constantly feared that my old house might fall apart at any time."

"Early in the morning, as I was going about my usual chores and getting ready to head to the nearby quarry where I work as a casual laborer, I noticed an Mpesa message on my phone. Intrigued to see who had sent it, I opened the message and was thrilled to discover that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. A wave of happiness washed over me, as this meant I could finally settle my sister's outstanding school fees, preventing her from being expelled due to the mounting arrears."

"I was genuinely concerned about how I could cover the school fees for my sister, who is currently in high school and at risk of being expelled due to her outstanding balance. Unfortunately, my job as a laborer in a quarry doesn’t pay enough to help me manage this expense. The thought of her being sent home for lack of fees, missing classes, was unbearable. When I finally received my first transfer, I knew my priority had to be settling her fees. I used $250 to clear the arrears, and now she is back in class, free from any interruptions regarding her education. This has also given me peace of mind as I start preparing for the next payment. In addition to that, I invested $140 in purchasing four goats, which brings my herd to six. These goats are valuable assets I can rely on in times of financial strain, especially when it comes to my children’s education, and I hope they’ll continue to grow. I also bought 10 chickens for just $15, keeping them alongside the goats with plans to breed them. As they multiply, I intend to sell some to reinvest in more goats. With the remaining funds, I focused on buying essential food items, including a bag of maize and other groceries. I’m optimistic that this supply will last us a month, ensuring my family stays well-fed and taken care of."

"I spent $350 from my recent transfer to pay off a debt that had been weighing heavily on my mind for quite some time. My husband and I purchased a motorbike together, which he has been using to offer taxi services in our area. So far, it’s been our main source of income. I was paying for it in installments, but the debt felt overwhelming, especially since we sometimes struggled to make the payments on time. Now that I've cleared the balance with my first transfer, I finally feel at peace, as I am the outright owner of the motorbike. My husband, the sole breadwinner at the moment, drives it daily, and the income we earn helps us cover our family's basic needs, like food and education for our children. Additionally, I spent $120 on three goats, which I’m keeping in our compound. Before this, I had no livestock, but I see them as valuable assets I can rely on during tough times. I’m breeding the goats with the hope that they will grow into a small herd that I can sell when necessary. Lastly, I invested the remaining amount into my small fish-selling business, which has also contributed to increasing my earnings. This additional income makes it easier to support my husband in meeting our family's needs."

"My husband was working casual jobs, but the income was unreliable; sometimes he would go weeks without securing a position. As the primary breadwinner, his meager earnings weren't enough to support our family. To tackle our financial challenges, we decided to buy a motorcycle from a friend, which would allow him to provide taxi services—a much steadier source of income than his unpredictable jobs. Although the motorcycle has significantly helped us meet our financial needs, we hadn’t completed the paying for it and still owed $300. When I received the transfer, I was managed to pay off that amount, and now I’m debt-free and the proud owner of the motorbike. The income from it has greatly helped us in ensuring that my family does not lack food daily and also educating my children."

"For several years, my home has been unstable because it is built from mud, which has not held up well over time. The poles that support the house have also weakened, making it more dangerous, especially during heavy rain. I wanted to create a safer living space by rebuilding my house with strong materials like stones and cement. This would help the house withstand bad weather and remove the fear of it collapsing. However, my finances held me back until GiveDirectly came. When I received my first transfer, it felt almost unreal. With this money, I could finally buy the materials I needed for the renovations. I quickly ordered a truckload of building stones, sand, and cement—everything I needed to make my dream a reality. This is a big step in my life. At first, the idea of such a large renovation felt impossible because of my limited resources. I am grateful that soon, my house will become a stronger and more lasting structure. The thought of no longer living with the constant threat of instability brings me relief and excitement for a safer future."