"That afternoon, I was in Nakuru, getting ready for my night shift as a security guard. Around 3 pm, I received a message on my phone, and when I checked it, I was overjoyed to see the money had come through. I couldn’t believe it at first. My mind immediately went to my kids at home, who were really struggling. They had a bed, but it was in terrible condition, full of bedbugs, and they didn't even have a proper mattress to sleep on. I was so happy because now, finally, I could give them a good place to rest."

"After receiving the cash transfer, I used $90 to buy three mattresses for myself and my six children. The old ones had worn out, and we were forced to use clothes in place of mattresses, which caused us a lot of discomfort, as we couldn't sleep comfortably at night. Now, I feel a huge relief since we no longer endure the pain we used to, nor do we wake up with fatigue every morning, which often affects our daily productivity. Later, I used $200 from the transfer to revive my retail shop business, which I had to close down due to insufficient capital, especially after the death of my daughter. I had used most of the cash I had saved for the business to cover her medical expenses. I'm glad that soon. I am hopeful the business will be back to normal and start generating income again. It has been difficult for my husband for the past two years, as he doesn't have a permanent job to support the six of us. I also gave him $60 to boost his charcoal business, which he operates in neighbouring towns, and I'm happy that it has brought positive results, as he now earns good returns. Additionally, I paid $110 in school fees for my six children, as their exams were approaching, and I was worried they might be sent home for unpaid fees, preventing them from sitting for their exams. With the remaining $90, I stocked up the kitchen by buying plenty of food, ensuring that we no longer went to bed hungry, as we used to."

"It was around 5 in the morning when I had already woken up and was ready to face the day's challenges. Then, I heard my phone ringing loudly, which was quite unusual. I quickly decided to check my phone to confirm what was happening. I was overjoyed to learn that I had finally received the cash transfer I had been promised earlier. I informed my husband and family members, and you could see from their faces that they were all excited. I finally knew that I would be able to renovate my house and finish the remaining parts, like plastering, since I had gotten stuck along the way due to insufficient funds."

"I vividly remember seeing the Mpesa message early in the morning while preparing my sibling for school. I was so excited because our family had been going through hard times since the death of our father, and I knew relief was finally here after receiving this cash transfer. I was certain my sibling would no longer be sent home regularly, as I would be able to clear the school fees for the remaining months of the year."

"I have been the caregiver for my three siblings while my mother struggles to make ends meet. Life has always been tough, as we depend solely on her since our father passed away some years ago. As the firstborn, I have taken on the responsibility of caring for my siblings at home, as they are still young and need attention. However, my mother’s earnings from her menial jobs are too little to cover all our basic needs. This has forced us to face many challenges in our household, one of which is food insecurity. Most days, we went to bed without anything to eat, which was a very frustrating moment, especially for my younger siblings. This often made them cry, and their lack of food made them unproductive in school. Now, I feel relieved and happy, as the past few months have been much better. We now have at least three meals a day, which has brought us so much joy. We don’t take this for granted, as it still feels like a miracle to us. We are now healthier and much more cheerful, which encourages us to face daily challenges with hope."

"I saw the transfer message in the morning when I woke up to prepare for the day's activities. Upon reading the message, I was overwhelmed with joy, realizing it was my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I quickly informed my husband, who checked and confirmed the same. The day before, my daughter had called to say that she was about to be sent home in the middle of her examination. I felt happy and at peace knowing that I could now pay for her and allow her to continue with her exams."

"I saw the transfer message in the morning when I woke up to prepare for the day's activities. Upon reading the message, I was overwhelmed with joy, realizing it was my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I quickly informed my husband, who checked and confirmed the same. The day before, my daughter had called to say that she was about to be sent home in the middle of her examination. I felt happy and at peace knowing that I could now pay for her and allow her to continue with her exams."

"I used the transfer to purchase three goats for $150 and two turkeys for $40. Previously, I owned some goats and sheep, and now I’m pleased to have added three more goats, bringing my total to eight. I've been relying on these animals to help manage my children’s school fees—one is in college while three are in primary school. I hope to breed the goats and expand my herd, which I can sell to raise funds for my children's education as they continue their studies. In addition to this, I also sell palm wine in the village, which has been an important source of income for my family. To boost my profits, I invested $150 into this business, and I’m hoping for increased returns that will help me to effectively cover my family's basic needs, such as food and school fees. Furthermore, I spent $105 on two new mattresses for myself and my children, replacing the old ones that were worn out and uncomfortable. Lastly, I used the remaining funds to buy food for my family, which included a bag of maize, and to cover medical expenses for my son, who was unwell."

"I woke up bright and early to get my children ready for school, reaching for my phone to use its flashlight since the morning light hadn’t quite arrived yet. As I navigated through my notifications, I stumbled upon an Mpesa alert that caught my eye—it was a message letting me know I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. This delightful news instantly lifted my spirits, and I felt a wave of happiness wash over me as I began my day. I was eager to dive into my plans, which were now within reach thanks to this financial boost."

"My goal has always been to reach a point where meeting my family's basic needs, such as food, is not as challenging as it currently is. For years, selling charcoal has been my main source of income, but the earnings have been meager and insufficient to sustain my family. I often find myself struggling to provide for their needs. When I received my first transfer, I decided to invest in a tailoring business to supplement my income from selling charcoal. I spent $400 on a new sewing machine and $100 to purchase a stock of textile materials for my tailoring shop. With this investment, I hope to increase my income sufficiently to meet my family's needs. Additionally, I used the remaining amount to buy food and fulfill some household necessities that I was lacking."