"Before I received the transfer, I was constantly worried about my tomato farm. The pests had taken over, and without money for pesticides, I feared I would lose the entire crop. Every day I watched the plants deteriorate, knowing that if the tomatoes were destroyed, it would be a huge loss for my family. The transfer from GiveDirectly changed everything. I was finally able to save my tomatoes. The relief I felt was immense. Now, I don’t have to worry about losing the crop. I’m so thankful that this help came just in time."

"After the recent floods, my house was submerged in water, forcing us to relocate temporarily to a camp at the nearby center across the river for one month. When I returned, hoping the water had receded, I was shocked to find the house still damp. I had no other option but to stay with my youngest daughter, who is in primary school. The situation was unbearable. A few weeks later, I got sick with pneumonia and had to go to the hospital. My daughter also caught a cold, and as a mother, it pained me deeply that I couldn't do anything to improve our situation. Then, GiveDirectly's first transfer restored my hope. After receiving it, I couldn’t think of anything else but building a new house. My brother kindly gave me a piece of land to build on without hesitation. I had some savings left after paying my children’s school fees, around $100, which I combined with the entire GiveDirectly transfer. I also sold one of my goats to top up the amount needed to build the house. Now, I am living comfortably in my new home. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for their support."

"Thanks to the financial transfers, I now have nine hens. My plan is to expand further by investing in more livestock. I am especially interested in purchasing goats with my upcoming transfers because they breed quickly. This will allow me to sell some in a short time and generate income. I'm deeply grateful for the support, which is helping me become more financially independent and capable of meeting my needs."

"When I received the cash transfer, the first thing that came to mind was the verandah I had been dreaming of adding to my three-roomed house. With $150, I bought iron sheets, some metals, and roofing nails, all the materials I needed to extend the verandah. It was something I had wanted for a long time, a place where my children and I could sit and enjoy our meals without feeling the intense heat inside the house. The verandah has a half wall, which allows the breeze to flow through, making it comfortable. With $30, I bought a bag of maize, which has been a staple for us. This maize will provide us with enough flour to make meals for several weeks, ensuring that my children go to bed with full stomachs. The final $20 went towards paying the mason who built the verandah extension. Watching the verandah take shape was incredibly satisfying, knowing that every dollar was spent with purpose. Now, we have a place that not only shields us from the sun but also brings us together as a family in a space that feels open, cool, and welcoming."

"The biggest difference since receiving the cash transfer is that it provided my family with immediate relief and stability. We no longer had to worry about food, which allowed us to focus on our maize farm without the constant stress of daily survival. Clearing the school fees ensured my child stayed in school without any interruptions, bringing me peace of mind. Additionally, the new clothes for my family lifted our spirits, helping us feel better despite the challenges we continue to face. The transfer has given us a sense of security and hope for a more stable future. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for their support."

"I received the money earlier in the day, but I only saw the message around 5 p.m. Feeling both excited and cautious, I immediately called my neighbor, an elderly man, to remind him to keep his phone safe and not share his PIN with anyone. I was filled with happiness and relief, knowing that this money would finally allow me to invest in agriculture. The excitement grew as I began planning to use the funds as capital to start planting watermelons, a project I’ve been wanting to pursue for a long time."

"Receiving the transfer has made a huge difference in my life. Before, I was constantly stressed about how to pay my children’s school fees. Without the support from GiveDirectly, my kids might have been stuck at home, and I would have felt ashamed in the village seeing them not attending school. They had already been out of school for about five weeks, which was a difficult time for us. Thanks to the transfer, I was able to pay their fees and get them back into school. Now, I am much more at ease, knowing they are receiving their education and not falling behind. "

"I was at home preparing meals for my family around 6 pm when I decided to check my phone. To my surprise, I saw that money from GiveDirectly had been sent to me earlier. I was so happy! I immediately told my children that we had received money, and they were just as excited as I was. They had been sent home to fetch school fees, and this money couldn't have come at a better time."

"Receiving the transfer has brought significant changes to our lives. Now that I own goats, I see a brighter future ahead. When the goats multiply, I’ll be able to sell them and use the income for farming and other needs. They will also provide us with milk, helping to improve our daily nutrition. The transfer has given us hope, especially after the heavy rains destroyed so much of our household. It’s been hard recovering from that, but knowing we have something to rely on, like the goats, has made life more manageable. The support has helped us start rebuilding and planning for a more stable future."

"Raising eight children is very challenging, but I always want to see my children living a good life, just like others. Right now, neither my husband nor I have jobs, and I am pregnant, expecting a baby. This makes it hard for me to do difficult jobs, like burning charcoal, which is our main source of income. Life has been overwhelming, especially after the floods destroyed our property. I felt hopeless, but I thank GiveDirectly for helping me when I needed it most. With the money I received, I spent $100 on school fees. I used to farm and sell the harvest to pay for fees, but last year, I couldn’t harvest anything because the floods destroyed all my maize. I also used $50 to buy a mattress and utensils, as the floods ruined what we had, leaving me with nothing. For a while, I had been sleeping on a bed without a mattress. Finally, I spent the remaining $50 on food to make sure we had enough, as we can’t burn charcoal right now because the floods have made it impossible."