"I was at my daily hustle as a palm wine tapper when my phone started ringing uncontrollably. I became curious, paused the task I was handling, and checked who had sent the message. Upon opening it, I realized that I had received cash transfers from Segovia Technology. I could hardly contain my joy as I felt so happy and grateful to know I would be able to build a new house, as the current one is too small to accommodate my growing family of three."

"Currently, my family and I reside in a small one-room house. I have always wished to build a better and more spacious house for us, but due to limited income as a peasant farmer, this has not been possible. However, since I joined the GiveDirectly program, I have gained hope and determination to work towards constructing a new house in the coming year and beyond. My plan is to build a new house to provide my children with their own space and to give the adults in the family their own space as well. To achieve this, I intend to allocate my transfers towards paying school fees for my children and purchasing building materials for the house. This way, I can gradually work towards constructing a new home for us. Additionally, I have aspirations to own cows for plowing my farm. To accomplish this, I have been investing in chickens, hoping that they will multiply. In the future, I plan to trade the chickens for goats, allow the goats to multiply and increase in value, and eventually trade them for cows. Achieving these goals means a lot to me and will bring me great happiness."

"Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I immediately shifted my focus to planning how to use the funds effectively. I spent $34 on household items, including chairs, a table, and a utensil stand, which improved the appearance of my home and made it more inviting. With $30 I bought a sheep as an investment, hoping to see it multiply and help me meet future challenges without worry. I also spent $35 on a mattress; for many years, I had slept on an old, torn mattress that made my nights uncomfortable. Now, with a new and comfortable mattress, my sleep has improved, positively impacting my overall health. Furthermore, I used $70 to address our immediate food needs, ensuring my family had enough to eat, especially after the floods swept away my farm, which I relied on for food. As a single mother, this support from GiveDirectly has allowed me to take a break from low-paying odd jobs and focus more on my family. I am truly grateful for the difference this assistance has made in our lives."

"The biggest change in my life since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly is the ability to sleep on a mattress. Before this, I had no choice but to sleep on the floor, which was uncomfortable and difficult, especially given my old age. Now, every night I enjoy a restful sleep, which has greatly improved my overall well-being. Additionally, I no longer feel embarrassed when I have visitors because I can now offer them chairs to sit on. This small but significant change has made my home a more welcoming place, allowing me to welcome guests comfortably and enjoy their company without the worry of inadequate seating. Overall, these improvements have brought a sense of dignity and comfort to my daily life."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly is in my mental health. I no longer have the stress of searching for school fees for my kids, and having enough food has significantly reduced the pressure and desperation I felt from doing odd jobs that often paid very little. Now, I can spend more quality time with my family, and our overall well-being has greatly improved. This support has brought peace to my life, allowing me to focus on what truly matters: my family and our happiness."

"It was in the evening when I received a message confirming that I had received $180 from GiveDirectly. At that moment, I was at the nearby river, checking on a piece of land that I wanted to cultivate. Excited by the news, I rushed back home to inform."

"One afternoon, as I was relaxing at home, I received a phone notification. When I checked, I saw that it was GiveDirectly who had sent me $180. I was so excited and immediately felt a sense of relief. I knew that with this money, I could finally accomplish one of my goals. The first thought that came to mind was to lease a piece of land so I could start maize farming. It felt like the perfect opportunity to work towards improving my family’s future."

"Recently, after receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, my husband and I had many pressing issues to address, so we sat down together to plan. One of our main concerns was our daughter, who is in form four. I didn't want her studies interrupted, especially since it was her final term, so I took $50 from the transfer to clear her school fees balance. This ensured that she could stay in school and focus on her studies, which is crucial as she prepares for the upcoming national exam. I am hopeful that she will perform well. With the school fees settled, we focused on our housing situation. We live in a small, old house that doesn’t meet our needs, and it's also at risk of flooding if the rains come again. I used $120 from the transfer to buy construction materials, including iron sheets and frames, with the hope of completing the construction with future transfers. This will give my family a safer and more spacious home, away from the threat of floods. I used the remaining money to buy kale seeds for my home garden. The kales have since matured, helping to meet my family’s food needs, and I can also sell some to cover other household expenses. This support from GiveDirectly has made a real difference in addressing our most urgent needs"

"I married my wonderful husband who was working as a teacher. For many years, life was smooth as his salary comfortably supported our family of seven. However, since his retirement last year, we have faced significant challenges, particularly with paying school fees for our five children, who are in college and secondary school. Our firstborn, pursuing a diploma in hospitality, had to drop out this year due to unpaid fees. The other children are still in school, but their academic performance has been affected by the financial strain because they are in and out of school. As a housewife, I have found it difficult to support him because I am a house wife and unemployment has become one of the greatest challenges I am facing."

"Ever since I got married, my brother-in-law used to host us, as my husband could no longer work due to his advanced age. Therefore, I had to take care of six children, my co-wife, who is also elderly, and my husband. However, there have been ongoing issues and unending conflicts between us and my brother-in-law. Upon receiving the cash, my co-wife and I each contributed $250 to buy one acre of land, where we will soon move and have our compound to avoid conflicts and ensure peace of mind for my growing family. I also have six children attending nearby schools. However, their education has been a constant struggle, as I have been the breadwinner, relying on any job that comes my way. This has weighed heavily on me, and I have not had anywhere to seek help. After receiving the cash, I paid $220 in school fees so they could have a better experience at school. For the first time since they joined the school, they will not be sent home regularly due to arrears for the better part of this year. As a parent, I feel great since this generosity has inspired my children so much, and I can see it reflected on their faces every morning. Finally, with the remaining $80, I used to buy food, as food insecurity has been a major issue in our household. We now take two meals a day, unlike before, when that was not possible."