"The support from GiveDirectly has boosted the lives of my village mates. I lack words to express the immense joy and happiness that is in my heart. In my opinion, the organization does a wonderful job of empowering both the young and old without discriminating against anyone. They took time in visiting everyone's house and saw the living condition of all the houses by themselves without depending on the grapevine information."

"I got sick due to the smoke inhaled during charcoal making and I have been on bed rest for almost a month. I won't want to go back to the business once I have recovered. My short-term goal is to use some of my savings and open another business selling plastic equipment."

"GiveDirectly gives money directly to us, they are no intermediaries like chiefs and government officials which means it is not corrupt. I am happy because the money given to us is unconditional."

"I would like to open a grocery shop outside my salon so that I can generate more income to save for rainy days. I would also want to buy land where I would open a restaurant."

"I used 25000 to pay school fees for my children who are in secondary school and used the remaining amount to buy food and clothes for my children. The money came at a time that one of my children was joining secondary school and the only asset that was at my disposal was a dairy cow. Had we not received this cash then we would have sold this only asset to take our child to school. I am a mother of six who relies solely on maize farming to raise income that helps me pay school fees and meet other needs of my family. I am so happy that I was able to comfortably take one of my children to secondary school and that I did not sell any asset as I had anticipated. It has also given me an opportunity to plan ahead on how I am going to pay school fees in the coming days."

"Raising five children on my own as a single mother without a reliable job has not been an easy task. I have been running a green grocery store to earn living. With the tough economic times, the business was not doing well last year and my three children who are in high school had accumulated huge school balance. I spend $400 of my second transfer to pay the fees arrears and the balance to add more stock to my business. What gives me peace is knowing that my children were able to settle in school and do their exams and I was able to support my business which was at the verge of collapsing."

"I am only focusing on expanding my business to a bigger store. Accomplishing this means that I will be able to pay school fees for my children once they join high school and collages and I will also be able to cater for other family needs."

"I am looking forward to graduate in may this year and look for a job. Hopefully, I will get a job and I will be able to get some income and buy a land for farming and for building home for my family since I live on my fathers land now."

"My goal this year was to focus on expanding my business so that it can in turn increase income. Accomplishing this means that I will be able to save money towards buying a land because we now live in our fathers land. I will also be able to support my family without more strain like I used to do before."