"While asleep, I heard a message tone from my phone but I ignored it since I do not know how to read. My husband who is also my helper wakem up to see what kind of a message it was. When he checked, he looked straight into my eyes and smiled before breaking the news that it was the first transfer of $550 from GiveDirectly. My heart was filled with happiness for receiving the money. I tried to hold back and not attract the attention of other people that night though Ifelt like ululating due to happiness."

"Upon receiving the money, I first opted to build a kitchen. I decided so because I used to get some hard times cooking during rainy seasons. I bought 12 pieces of iron sheets for $114. The kitchen will be of great help to me, especially during the rainy season. Thereafter, I bought three goats for $120 and two sacks of maize for $90. I also paid $80 school fees for my five grandchildren who are orphans and they entirely depend on me. For the remaining amount, I save it for the upkeep of the family."

"While resting under a shade at home at around 4 pm, my helper who is also my son approached me with good news. He had heard neighbors talking about receiving their transfers from GiveDirectly. Therefore, he took my phone to confirm whether I had also received mine. I was surprised after the confirmation that I had received the money in the past 4 hours. I felt very happy and thankful for the help. Being a widow has been the most challenging thing to go about since I solely depend on charcoal burning."

"Before getting the first transfer, I was going through a tough ailing time with no money for medication. Currently, I am doing well because the money boosted me for medication. In addition to that, I will not strain much on school fees because I saved some amount for them. I also bought some food to ensure food security. Initially, I used to go without food for at least a day a week but now I have access to food. I register my gratitude to the organization."

"During the last year, the intensive rains which come from uphill destroyed my crops(beans) in the gardens. This happens as the heavy rains come, it washes away all the soils and destroys the crops. This left us with scarcity of food and we have to struggle to get two full meal in a day."

"I planted my trees on one acer of land in October 2017, but they were all washed away by land slides that happened in 2018. I and children would get income for sustainability, school fee and food at home,once I sold these trees. But since the incidence happened my financial status got so worse that buying food for my Family is now a challenge since I am a widow. It is also so hard for me to acquire income to buy maize seeds and onion for me to plant, yet while the trees were around this was not a challenge at all,because I would buy the various seeds I needed whenever I would sold my trees."

"Words can't express the happiness that I had when I saw a text message on my screen displayed showing I had received money from GiveDirectly. It was at 3 pm, seated outside my house reading. There was too much heat inside the house. I asked my son to come and confirm whether what I had read in the text was true. He confirmed, and at that moment it was when I believed. I'm grateful for the support of this cash transfer that's nondiscriminatory to anyone. Since we were all equally served respectfully."

"The moment I received my transfer, I can vividly recall that it was in the evening when I was at home relaxing. I was told by my neighbour that he had received money from GiveDirectly, When I went to check if what he was saving was indeed true, that was when I confirmed to have received money from GiveDirectly. This was the best news that I had received that day. It was so refreshing that forgot that I was tired after a long day in the sun. I was overwhelmed with joy because I knew God had answered our prayers. We embarked on planning how we would utilise the money."

"The biggest difference in my life today is the start of my goat-rearing project. This project, I'm optimistic it'll change my living status for the better. Goats are easy to rear plus they are drought resistant. I'm forever indebted to GiveDirectly for putting a smile on my old age."

"I'm delighted to have initiated a poultry project that gets my family an extra source of income. I'm also glad that my family will have enough food for the entire drought season that we are experiencing. This is because of the bag of maize that I purchased. The support from the organizations brought happiness and wiped my tear."