"It was a delightful Sunday. I was attending a women’s group meeting, discussing our plans, when my phone suddenly vibrated. Checking the notification, I saw it was an M-Pesa message. Excitement surged through me as I stepped away from the noise to make a call and share the good news with my husband. He was equally thrilled but suggested we discuss our private matters when I got home. Once I arrived, we sat down together and immediately used $60 to pay my son's school fees, ensuring he could continue his education without the risk of being sent home."

"My parents did not send me to school, so I dropped out in fourth grade. Although their actions crushed my dreams of becoming someone important in the community, I resolved that I would ensure my children receive a top-notch education. Now, thanks to the money from GiveDirectly, they have lights to study as long as they need, and I am deeply thankful for this opportunity. I am also happy and stress-free knowing that once I harvest from my farm, I will be able to buy my own plot of land."

"I am thankful and appreciative to GiveDirectly for their generous support. With the cash received, I was able to pay my daughter’s school fees, ensuring she won’t be sent home for non-payment. Additionally, I bought a goat that will provide milk and can be sold if needed. As I am getting older, I know I won't be able to continue doing hard jobs like charcoal burning for much longer, so this investment is very important to me."

"Even though water poses many challenges to our development, I am grateful to GiveDirectly for their great support. I see myself making good progress once the water recedes, as I plan to start planting watermelons, which I am confident will yield high profits. The floods have caused significant difficulties, as they washed away my 2 hectares of maize, setting my life back to square one and delaying my planting plans. Despite these setbacks, I remain hopeful for a better outcome."

"I was just at home on Sunday, relaxing under a tree, enjoying my last bit of a meal. I was worried about what I would eat in the evening. As thoughts were running through my mind, my phone vibrated with a message. I checked it, and to my surprise, it was money from GiveDirectly. I was so excited that I left my food and even the plates outside the house. I was filled with joy—more than I had ever felt before. I immediately went to Logumgum center to withdraw the money before the M-Pesa agent ran out of cash. After withdrawing, I bought some meat at the butcher because I wanted to eat something special to celebrate this huge, unexpected blessing that landed in my M-Pesa for the first time."

"After returning home from church, my husband and I settled down for lunch—he had just come in from the farm. As we were eating, my phone buzzed with a message. My husband urged me to check it, and to our surprise, it was a notification of a cash transfer from GiveDirectly. Excitement filled the room as we immediately began planning how to use the money. Without hesitation, we decided to invest in goats, something we had always wanted but hadn't yet acquired."

"The biggest difference I've seen after receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is the relief and peace of mind it brought me when it came to my children's school fees. The school term was coming to an end, and I hadn't paid a single amount. This was giving me sleepless nights, knowing my children could be sent home any day, missing out on their education. I hate the thought of them being sent home when I'm not there, especially since they stay at their aunt's. But after receiving the cash, I was able to pay the school fees, and that burden was lifted. Now, I can rest easy knowing my children are in school, learning without interruptions."

"The biggest difference in my life since I received the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is that I've been able to add two more goats to my flock. I used to have just three, but now with five goats, I can look forward to selling some of them when they grow, which will help me buy inputs for my farm. Another change that has brought me so much joy is that I was finally able to purchase a sofa set. Before, I only had two plastic chairs, and whenever I had visitors, I had to borrow more chairs from my neighbors just to accommodate everyone. Now, I feel more confident and proud to host guests in my home."

"It was my neighbor who first informed me about the news from GiveDirectly. Since I am older and cannot read messages on my phone, I quickly went to my son, who is also my helper. As soon as he saw me, he told me that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. Overcome with gratitude, I knelt to thank God. When asked why, I explained that it was because of my happiness and relief, as we had been starving without food after the floods destroyed our farms. Now, I finally have enough to eat. With nothing else on my mind, I focused on buying food to end the hunger that had affected me and my husband."

"Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I took some time, after the excitement, to plan how to use the money wisely. At that time, I didn't have bedding and was sleeping on the floor, which was very uncomfortable. I decided to spend $95 to buy a bed and a comfortable mattress, and now I enjoy a good night's sleep. I also spent $45 to buy new clothing for myself and my family of four. This has greatly improved our confidence, making us feel more presentable for events and welcoming visitors, as we now look like the rest of the community. Additionally, I spent $40 on food because, at that time, we had no food and were struggling to put meals on the table. I needed to address this need, especially with the money I received, to ensure my family had enough to eat."