"I have a wife at home, but, well, I haven’t paid her dowry yet. It’s something that’s been weighing on me for a while now. You know, it’s not that I don’t want to—I do. I want to honor her family and make everything official. But, life… life hasn’t been easy. Right now, where we’re staying, every time it rains heavily, we’re on edge because of the flooding. I plan that once the tomatoes I planted are ready, I’ll sell them off and use the money to buy a small piece of land. That’s my ticket to moving out of this place and into somewhere better—somewhere safe. After that, I’ll keep planting, keep working hard. Once we’re settled and life feels a bit more stable, I’ll finally take the step I’ve been meaning to take for a while. I’ll pay the dowry which is important to all of us and I want to do it right, make our marriage official in the way it should be. We’ve been through a lot together, and I want to honor her properly."

"When GiveDirectly came to our village, they explained everything so clearly. They told us where the money came from and how they were here to help us without any conditions. I remember thinking how different it felt from other aid programs I’d heard about. They didn’t push us or make us feel like we had to join, and that gave me so much peace of mind. They made it very clear that we had the freedom to spend the money however we thought best, and that trust made me feel empowered. Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing about the program. The way they approached us with no strings attached, giving us the responsibility to make our own choices, was perfect. Being able to use the money on what my family and I needed most made a real impact. It wasn’t just about receiving help; it was about being treated with dignity and respect."

"Since my husband passed away two years ago, I’ve had to take on the full responsibility of covering our children’s school fees, clothing, food, and other essentials. The house was already in poor condition when he passed, and it’s been a struggle to meet all their needs with the limited profits from my charcoal business. With the recent increase in the cost of basic commodities, the situation has become even more difficult. My children were often sent home for unpaid fees, so I decided to dedicate all my transfers toward paying their school fees. Renovating the house is my second priority. Although I replaced the roof, the house is still unsafe as the cracked walls let in insects and rain. My immediate goal is to rebuild the walls, and I plan to save $4 each month to buy construction materials. I can’t save more than that right now due to other basic needs. Once my children finish their education, I intend to invest in goat and chicken rearing projects. These projects will generate more income, as they multiply when well taken care of, increasing their financial value. I'm confident that once these projects are established, they will provide security. In case of a financial crisis, I’ll be able to sell some animals to support my family."

"Moving forward, my primary focus is to use my transfers to help my child, who has a deformed leg. I am determined to ensure that he receives the necessary medical attention so that he can have a good leg and enjoy a normal life like other children. In addition to my child's medical care, I plan to use part of the transfers to buy goats. My hope is that these goats will multiply and increase in number over time. I then intend to trade some of the goats for cows, which I can train to help plow my farm. In the future, I may be able to sell some of the cows as they multiply and use the proceeds to fund my children's education. I am excited to see these plans come to fruition with the help of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, and I am hopeful that I will be able to provide my children with the best possible opportunities."

"I decided to spend $300 on tomato seeds because tomatoes grow well in this area. Last season wasn’t great—the prices were low—but I’m optimistic things will improve. I planted them on half an acre, hoping to make a good profit this time around. The plants are coming along nicely, and I’m currently weeding the farm to keep them healthy. With another $190, I bought a cupboard for storing utensils, medicines, and important documents. My old cupboard was broken and not safe, especially with kids around. Now, I can organize everything properly, and I don’t have to worry about the children accidentally getting into the medicine or misplacing our papers. To afford the cupboard, I had to sell six of my roosters to top up the deficit from what the transfers could cater for. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was necessary. The new cupboard has already made a difference in how we manage things at home, and I feel more at ease knowing everything is in its place. Now I can focus fully on my tomatoes and hope the market works in my favor."

"Upon receiving the cash transfers, I used $550 to purchase building materials, including tiles, cement, ceiling boards, and all the necessary labour charges for completing my permanent house. This project had initially started, but I had run out of cash and had to stop construction. At that time, the house was only partially completed, allowing my family of two to sleep in it, but I was always stressed about where I would find the money to finish it. I had borrowed a loan for the construction, and the lender was causing me sleepless nights because I had not yet repaid it. Therefore, it would be hard for me to borrow again, as I needed to repay the previous loan. This situation could mean it would take years for me to finish this decent project and provide a happy home for my family. Now, however, I am a happy and hopeful mother, free from worry, as this financial support has enabled me to complete the house I’ve always desired."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to revive the poultry farming business I used to operate a few years back. This business was helpful to me because I supplied eggs and broilers all over the town centre, generating a good income. During those days, I didn't struggle to meet my family's needs at all, including paying fees for my children and other necessities like food. However, there came a point when I was forced to shut down because the chicks died from various diseases that attacked them. Despite my efforts to treat them, they didn't survive. Since that tragedy, life has never been the same; I used to get good returns from selling the chickens, as one chicken sold for $5. Therefore, reviving this project has brought me immense joy and hope because I am certain that soon I will start supplying the products and earning a living, which shall enable me to fend for my family without struggling."

"I was preparing myself to go to work as usual at exactly 5 in the morning when I heard my mobile phone ringing very loudly. I was a bit nervous; it was unusual for me to receive a call at that hour. So, I stopped what I was doing and decided to check who it was. I felt so happy to see that I had received my first cash transfer from GiveDirectly. This was my happiest moment, as I knew it would bring a positive change in my life; I would be able to revive my poultry farming business, which I used to operate some years ago."

"Financial constraints are the greatest challenge. Both my husband and I rely on casual jobs to earn a living, it is not sustainable because what we earn only meets our basic needs halfway through. We borrow loans to be able to pay school fees for our children and repay slowly. If we had a better source of income our lives would have been better."

"For years, my children have been sleeping at their grandmother's house because mine was too small, which caused me many sleepless nights. Knowing that their grandmother lives a bit far from where I live made it stressful for both me and my children to bond well, especially since I am their only surviving parent after their mother passed away many years ago. My joy has always been to see my children, but I often felt lonely, and this was sometimes not achievable. Therefore, upon receiving the cash, I used $215 to buy building materials to construct new houses for them right next to mine. Now that this house is complete, it has restored the joy I had lost, as I can now live happily with my children, just close to them. Additionally, I bought one goat for $45, which is now in my compound. This will serve as an asset that I can rely on in the future. If I encounter any challenges, I can sell one or two goats since, for now, I do not have a steady job. I also bought a mattress for $65 for my children, as the previous one was too small, and they had to squeeze together, lacking comfort. Later, I paid $140 in school fees for my four children, who had been going on and off from school. Now, they are enjoying a stable stay at school as I settle the entire arrears. With the remaining $85, I stocked up the kitchen since getting food daily has been very challenging."