"Around 3 o'clock, when I was hiding from the sun beneath a tree outside my house, my phone rang with a message. Because I cannot read or write, I asked my aide to translate the strange message after the phone rang twice quickly. When he informed me that GiveDirectly had sent me the initial transfer of $550, I was perplexed. I was overjoyed to get the money because I knew I would finally be able to realize my ambition of having a nicer place to live."

"The hardest thing in life is being a housewife and a mother of five children because you end up becoming a parasite on your partner. Prior to receiving the first transfer from GiveDirectly, life had not been easy for a long. I was washing my family's clothing at around three o'clock when I heard a message on my phone. When I checked, I saw that the initial transfer had been made to my account. Since I realized that relief doors were opened for my family, I ululated with joy."

"I assumed the responsibility of raising my family single-handedly after the death of my spouse and two of my children after being involved in a road accident 10 years ago. I was able to sustain severe injuries that made me lose both legs. Life has not been a walk in the park, especially in providing for the education of my daughter whom we were able to survive. Her goal was to pursue a degree in education but was able to enrol for a certificate. After receiving my transfer, I spent all of the recent transfers to advance her studies by enrolling her on a diploma of education course on a part-time basis. This is because she is already a teacher at the nearby school. I am optimistic that she will be able to complete her education and fulfil her dreams."

"I work as a hotel attendant, and my daily wages are insufficient to support my family due to the high cost of living. To break the cycle of poverty, I want to start a viable business. My current job does not pay well. As a result, running my business will enable me to meet my children's educational needs. A food canteen and a grocery canteen are two viable business ideas I have. If I am successful in starting a business, I will be able to start raising livestock for the benefit of my children's future."

"I am a single parent, living in a small one-roomed house together with 3 children, a girl and two boys. I had desired to own a decent house but my efforts were in vain due to the poverty condition in the family. I spent $280 to build a decent two-roomed structure, one room for myself and others for the children. Furthermore, I used $170 to support the education of my three children who are both in primary and secondary school. Remaining with them at home because of the huge fee arrears was bothering my mind. At the moment, they are learning without being discontinued because of the transfers. I also bought enough food with the remaining amount because of the ongoing famine in our area."

"I was at home cleaning the compound with my 5 children. It was around 2 pm when I received the message notification on my phone. After checking my phone, I was very happy to see that I had received the cash transfer. I was positive that I would accomplish most of my goals through the aid. I had to wait for my spouse who was out to pick up the kids from school. When he arrived I informed him about the good needs and we together celebrated receiving the transfer and started to make plans on how to use the transfer."

"This year, I want to construct a house. I'm pleased to report that I have purchased eleven iron sheets and have money set up for five more. There will be no need for a larger residence because I live alone. Once I have the required sixteen pieces of iron sheets, I will go out and buy wood, nails, and construction labor. In order to make the house more stable than a mud house, I will later plaster it. I'll be proud and feel independent once my ambition is realized."

"I don't currently have a job or any other income. About 16 goats are what I intend to buy, and I will sell some of them later to help pay for college. I hope to complete the remaining 10 transfers this year after having already purchased six with initial transfers. I took my primary national exams in 2011, but due to a lack of funding for my registration costs, I was unable to enroll in the secondary school. Even yet, I have always had a desire for electrical installation, but I was unable to pursue it since I lacked the funds. Thanks to the initiative, I anticipate raising the enrollment price for college by the next year."

"I want to buy two cows this year to raise them. They are very helpful because I will have more of them once they give birth, and we will have enough milk for the whole family to consume, so we will consume more frequently than we do now when we can not afford it. I joined a savings group where we all save $10 each month and each month we give a member shares worth $230, so I think I will be able to do this. I'll use them to buy the cows when it comes time for me to get my share."

"I am completely dependent on my parents right now because I do not have any other means of earnings. I need to come up with a solution to meet my child's needs before she enrolls in school because I have one that will start there shortly. I shall thus be buying and raising at least twenty hens this year. In order to raise money to buy goats, I will sell some of them after a year because they increase more quickly and are therefore more profitable. I'll sell some of them later, after two years, to raise money so I can start a business. Even though I still don't know which company to invest in, I think I will have decided by then."