"I was harvesting my maize together with the laborers I had hired to assist me when I heard a message on my phone. I checked and confirmed that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was happy, but I kept it to myself because if I had told the laborers, they might have taken advantage by raising their daily wage. My first thought was to use the money to finalize the maize harvesting process. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Getting food has been a struggle, especially after I lost my maize on an acre of land to floods, and since then, I’ve been relying on casual jobs, which are not always available. On the day I received my transfer, I had gone out early to look for work but found none, and we had nothing to eat that day. Thankfully, the transfer arrived just in time, and I spent $30 to buy maize, which sustained us for a while. Despite losing my crops, I didn’t give up. I used part of the transfer to rent half an acre of land for $50, spent $30 on preparing it, and another $40 to buy butter bean seeds, which we planted as a family to save on costs. My son, who is in high school, was about to return to school, and since I didn’t have any other income, I used $32 from the transfer to pay for his fees. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Together with my husband, we rely on crop farming to support our family. This year, when we lost our three acres of maize crops to floods, which we depended on especially to pay school fees for our children, we were stressed as parents. Our two children in high school had a debt of $200, and our son in college owed $400. We were planning to do a fundraising event, but luckily, GiveDirectly's support came just in time. We used $100 to reduce the high school fees and planned to clear our son's college fees with proceeds from our melon harvest. Although we haven’t cleared the entire fee using the transfer, we were able to reduce it, which gave us peace of mind. Knowing we still have pending transfers brings us even more relief. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"I was in town doing my shopping around 4 PM when I heard a notification on my phone. When I checked the message, I saw that I had received the money, and I was overjoyed! For the past five years, my house has been without sofas and curtains, so this was a big deal for me. I immediately thought about how I could improve the appearance of my home. It felt like a wonderful opportunity to make my living space more comfortable and welcoming. I couldn't wait to use the money to buy the things my home had been missing for so long!"

"Before receiving the transfer, I lived in a small one-room house that was too cramped for my family. My children were growing up, and we had no privacy as parents. I always dreamed of having a proper house where my children could have their own space. However, I struggled to gather enough materials to make this dream a reality. After receiving support from GiveDirectly, I now have some materials for construction, which gives me hope. I may not have finished the house yet, but I can see a future where my family can live comfortably and happily. Thank you so much Givedirectly for such a great support."

"Before I received the transfer, my life was difficult because I had no proper cupboard in my house. The one I had was destroyed by floods and was too small to hold all my utensils, so I couldn’t close it. This made it easy for my children to access my things, which created a mess. However, since the transfer, I have a new and larger cupboard that keeps everything organized and safe. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for making this change possible. Now, my home feels much better, and I can finally keep my utensils in order without worrying about my children getting into them."

"After taking my goats to the market the next morning, I was pleased to see that I made a profit of $10 per goat. The success of that sale encouraged me to invest more in livestock, which is something I am passionate about. With $150, I decided to purchase three sheep, not for immediate resale, but as a long-term investment. I believe in the value of livestock farming, especially with sheep, because they multiply easily and don’t require as much attention as goats. In our area, we have plenty of farmland, making it ideal for keeping sheep, and I see them as a future safety net for my family. Livestock farming has always been a smart choice for me, particularly when thinking about the future. Sheep can provide income when needed, and knowing that I have something to fall back on brings me peace of mind. Additionally, with the floods that recently destroyed our farm, I’ve realized how important it is to have different sources of income. That’s why I’m committed to continuing my livestock business, as it gives me hope even when other things go wrong. Finally, I used the remaining $30 to buy food for my family. Our crops were swept away by floods, so food has been a challenge for us recently. With five people in the household, it's important to keep everyone fed, and this money came at the perfect time. I’m grateful to have a stable way to provide for my family through both farming and livestock trading, with my wife by my side helping me in all the work. The future feels more secure now, knowing we are building something sustainable. "

"One morning, my son came to me with exciting news. He told me that the GiveDirectly money had arrived, and I was overjoyed. I had no idea the money had come because he was the one with the phone. I instantly felt a wave of relief and happiness. For a long time, I had been sleeping on a mattress on the ground, and each morning, I would wake up feeling tired and in pain because of my back. The thought of finally being able to buy a bed brought me so much hope. I knew this money would change my life and ease my daily struggles."

"The biggest difference I've seen since receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is that I was finally able to buy four chairs and a sofa set. Before the transfers, I used to sit on logs outside, or worse, I had to borrow seats from my neighbors. That never sat well with me, especially because people would talk behind my back, saying things like, I used to be a teacher, but I can't even afford to buy proper seats. It hurt because teaching didn't pay much, and I eventually quit because of the meager salary. But now, thanks to the cash, I no longer have to rely on anyone for something as basic as furniture, and that sense of independence feels incredible."

"The biggest difference I've seen since receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is how much I've been able to boost my business. I'm a lot busier now than I was before, and it's been a good change. With the profits I’ve made, which is about $2 from both my shop and small restaurant, I’ve been able to invest in planting half an acre of watermelon. This has given me even more potential for growth. Most importantly, my three children are now constantly in school, unlike before when they used to get sent home for lack of fees. It's a huge relief to know they're getting an uninterrupted education."