"I have always wanted to have cows and now that I have successfully acquired them I have decided to redirect my goals toward strengthening my living situation and enhancing my personal development. First, I want to reinforce my house to ensure it is stronger and more durable. To achieve this, I plan to save a portion of my transfers through a merry-go-round savings group. Once I receive the pooled funds, I will use them to purchase building materials and reinforce my home. After completing the house reinforcement, I will then shift my focus towards personal development. I have always had a passion for beauty and cosmetics, and I would love to join college to further my skills in this area. To make this dream a reality, my plan is to continue saving a portion of my transfers to enroll in college. My goal is to complete my education and eventually open my own salon, allowing me to become self-employed. This venture will provide me with a sustainable source of income that I can rely on to support my family, especially when the GiveDirectly program comes to an end. I am excited about these new directions in my life and look forward to building a better future for myself and my family."

"I am currently using a portion of my transfers to help my parents pay for my younger sister's college fees. She is nearing the completion of her course, and I am excited to embark on my own educational journey next year. Next year, I plan to join college and pursue a certificate course in mechanical engineering. To make this dream a reality, I am diligently saving a portion of my transfers. By the time I am ready to enroll, I am confident that I will have accumulated a substantial amount to cover my tuition fees and other expenses. In addition to saving for my education, I am also planning to invest in more goats using another portion of my transfers. By next year, I expect these goats to have increased in value whereby I will sell them to generate additional funds for my college. Joining college has always been my dream, and I am happy to be on the journey of making it a reality. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for providing me with this life-changing opportunity and I am hopeful and confident that all my plans will come to fruition as I look forward to a future filled with success and personal growth."

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, my initial plan was to pay for a piece of land that we had placed a deposit on. However, the landowner insisted on receiving the full payment and not installments . With that option off the table, I decided to invest $150 in buying a dairy cow to add to the one I already owned. I've been spending money on buying milk, and I thought owning another cow would be a wise decision, as it would save me some expenses. Now, with two cows, I won't need to buy milk anymore, which will ease my financial burden in the long run. I also had a small but pressing hospital debt of $5, which I owed because my son had received treatment, and I hadn't been able to pay it off at the time. Being able to fulfill that promise made me feel relieved and at peace, knowing I had honored my word and removed that worry from my mind. With the remaining amount, I bought essential household items like a bag of maize and some sugar. Having them on hand gives me a sense of security, knowing that we have enough food to sustain us for a while."

"It was a Sunday evening when I received $180 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and grateful to God. After a powerful and meaningful service, I received this unexpected blessing. Excitedly, I rushed home to share the good news with my family, including my four kids. The first thought that came to my mind was to solve our immediate problem—food. All I wanted was to see my children well-fed, especially after the devastating floods that had swept away everything in our village."

"It was after church when I was walking home with friends, and they started receiving messages from GiveDirectly, notifying them that they had received money. I felt anxious and eager to get home so I could check for myself, as I had left my phone charging at home. As soon as I arrived, I rushed to my phone and was thrilled to see that I had also received $180 from GiveDirectly. In that moment, I knew it would be the last time I slept on a torn mattress. The very next day, I was determined to buy a new, comfortable bed and mattress for myself."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly is owning a bed and mattress. These are essential pieces of household furniture that I didn’t have before. I was sleeping on makeshift bedding, which was very uncomfortable and made my nights feel long. I didn’t enjoy my sleep at all. Now, I love going to bed because I have a comfortable place to spend the night. This is something I have always wanted, as I value a good night’s rest. I am thankful and happy for what GiveDirectly has done for me and my village mates."

"It was evening when I was walking home with my friend, who is also a recipient of GiveDirectly. We were coming back from the farm, but I was feeling very stressed because my three kids had been sent home from school due to unpaid fees. Then, a message popped up on my phone, and at the same time, my friend's phone also received a message. We both checked our phones, not knowing what to expect and to our surprise, we had each received $180 from GiveDirectly. I was so excited and relieved. The journey back home suddenly felt lighter, as I couldn’t wait to get there and tell my kids that they could return to school because I now had the money. It was an unforgettable feeling."

"It was evening, and I was spending time with my four kids at home when suddenly a notification popped up on my phone, letting me know that I had received $180 from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed and grateful, knowing that this was an opportunity to improve our lives. I shared the news with my family, and that evening was filled with smiles and joy. However, I quickly shifted from excitement to planning how to use the money. My immediate thought was to spend some of it on food, as we had none at home."

"I was busy clearing my farm to plant beans when I heard the ding of a message on my phone. I paused my work to check it and, to my surprise, it was money from GiveDirectly. I hadn’t expected the funds to arrive so soon, and the message filled me with unexpected motivation. Energized by this news, I decided to put even more effort into clearing my farm, planning to hire help the next day to finish the preparation so I could plant immediately."

"Being illiterate is challenging, especially when you can't read or write. When the GiveDirectly money arrived early one afternoon, I didn’t even realize it until my children came home from school and excitedly told me, "Mum, the money has come!" I asked them to check the phone, and soon they were running back with shouts of joy—one needed books, and another wanted trousers. My entire compound was filled with laughter and excitement that day. I was so thrilled that I sent the children to the shop to buy milk, making a special treat out of what was usually just vegetables for us."