"We are living in a semi-arid area and this has been the main source of our family problems. The land here is not arable and it is characterized by harsh climatic conditions. This area is therefore not favourable for crop production. Life is difficult since we rely on buying food from the market. Sometimes food is sold at an exorbitant price. We do not have a reliable source of family income and it posts a major challenge to us. We are struggling to put food on the table for my family of four."

"Recently, I received $450 from GiveDirectly, and I had already planned how to use it. I spent $162 on construction materials, such as iron sheets and frames, to improve my house. Previously, I lived in a one-room house, which was not enough for my family of six. Now, I have added an extra room, making it more comfortable for all of us. I also bought a sofa for $50, which has improved the look of my home and provided comfort for my family. We now have a nice place to sit together. To ensure we had enough food, I spent $30 on groceries, and I am grateful that my family now has enough food on the table. Additionally, I spent $200 to buy a cow. I came up with this idea by observing my neighbors who owned cows and saw how they didn't struggle to buy milk. I wanted to enjoy the same benefits. I plan to take care of the cow, benefit from the milk, and when it has calves, I can sell some to cover other household needs and school fees."

"The biggest difference in my life is the improvement in my living conditions and my family's well-being. Before receiving the cash from GiveDirectly, I lived in an old traditional manyatta with a leaking roof that put my family at risk, especially during the heavy rains. Water entering the house caused us a lot of discomfort and worry. By buying construction materials and cover labor costs, I was able to fix the roof and protect my home from further damage. Now, I can sleep peacefully without the fear of leaks, which has greatly improved our quality of life. Additionally, spending the remaining money on food has ensured that my children have enough to eat. This support has made a significant difference in our daily lives, allowing us to live with dignity and security."

"The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly is the improvement in my children's health. They are now healthy and happy, whereas before, their health was not good due to the lack of food and a balanced diet. Since I started receiving the transfers, they have been eating well and getting proper nutrition. As a result, they no longer get sick as often as they used to. I am truly thankful to GiveDirectly for this support, which has greatly improved my family's well-being."

"I was doing my usual casual labor when my friend started celebrating, saying they had received money from GiveDirectly. I had left my phone at home charging, so I couldn't join in without checking my status. Eager and desperate to find out, I rushed home. As soon as I got there, I went straight to my phone and turned it on. Immediately, a message from GiveDirectly popped up, informing me that I had received $180. I was so happy and quickly told my family. The first thought that came to my mind was to buy food, as we had none at home."

"Looking ahead, within one year, I plan to start a business to generate more income. With one of my children finishing Form 4, I don’t want him to stay idle at home while waiting to join college. I hope to involve him in the business so he can gain valuable skills. The thought of achieving this fills me with satisfaction, knowing that I’ll wake up every day with a purpose and something productive to do. I plan to use the income from the business to improve my standard of living and complete building a new home."

"This year and in the years to come, I plan to buy a motorcycle. Currently, I have a bicycle, but it can no longer meet my needs. I want to start a business transporting people and farm materials from the village to town, which I can’t do effectively with a bicycle. I plan to use the next transfer from GiveDirectly to buy at least a second-hand motorcycle. This will help me become self-sustaining and generate income even after GiveDirectly’s support ends. The thought of achieving this fills me with happiness and satisfaction."

"GiveDirectly has truly transformed my life with their unconditional cash transfers. One thing that stands out for me is that they do not ask for bribes, and they always follow up to ensure everything is going well. Their honesty and dedication have been remarkable. However, I would love to see GiveDirectly continue providing more cash support, even after the final transfers. It would help us further improve our lives and tackle ongoing challenges."

"When I received the $450 transfer from GiveDirectly, I used $400 to buy a plot of land in a safer area because floods had caused me many problems. I no longer want to face the threat of flooding. My goal is to build a home for my family, so my five children can have a secure place to call home, free from the fear of floods and the health risks of stagnant water, like colds and malaria. I also used $50 to pay school fees for one of my children. I want to make sure my child stays in school without any interruptions. Before this transfer, it was difficult to pay school fees since I had to rely on casual labor to cover the costs. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for this timely support."

"The challenge I'm facing currently is the lack of money. This is a big problem for me because I only depend on livestock and charcoal burning as a source of money. Cutting down trees and burning charcoal is a difficult job and sometimes the money from it is not enough to meet our needs. Also, I have few livestock and I have to wait for many months before I sell some. This has made life quite difficult."