"I was at my neighbor's farm doing some casual work when the message arrived, just as I finished for the day. The moment I saw the notification, my heart jumped with joy—I knew it was the money from GiveDirectly. I couldn’t wait to share the news, so I immediately called my wife, who was at her mother’s home, and told her the money had finally come. I asked her to come home quickly so we could sit down and plan how to use it. We needed to budget carefully, especially for the school fees that had been keeping me up at night. My children were close to being sent home, but now there was hope we could pay in time."

"Before receiving the transfer, I was completely lost, unsure of how to pay the large medical bill for my wife’s cancer treatment. Even with the help of my neighbors who conducted a fundraiser, it wasn’t enough to cover all the expenses. The pressure was overwhelming, and I didn’t know where else to turn for help. After receiving the transfer, I was able to clear the hospital bill, but sadly, my wife still passed away. The biggest difference now is that I have some financial relief to focus on my children, especially their school fees. Life is still tough, but at least I no longer have the weight of the hospital debt on my shoulders."

"As I surveyed the dilapidated state of my old house, which was too small to accommodate my family of three, I felt a sense of urgency to make a change. With the recent cash transfer, I allocated approximately $498 towards building materials like iron sheets, poles, timber, nails, and threads, as well as labour costs, and I embarked on the journey of constructing a new home for my family. The cramped conditions of our previous dwelling, coupled with its unstable structure, had long been a source of worry. However, it was difficult for me to build the house using my cash, as my earnings as a palm wine tapper averaged around $8 a day, but not daily. This amount was barely enough to sustain our daily needs. Now that the house is complete, I no longer feel stressed and can focus on other household needs. I can't thank this organization enough; it would have taken me years to build this house using my cash. I also managed to buy a bed at $51, so I no longer have to sleep on the floor on a mattress. This has been a terrible experience, as I would often wake up in pain, which affected my overall productivity. I am happy now, and I sleep like a baby without any more pain."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now sleeping in a decent two-room house. To me, this is the greatest fulfilment that will forever remain in my heart. The shelter has been my biggest challenge since our old house was in a pathetic state and too small to accommodate my family of three. The harsh weather and cold nights were unbearable, as there were holes all over the walls. I had no hope of upgrading to a better house since I depend on my palm wine job, which does not pay well at all. My income only covered our daily food, which was sometimes insufficient. I am at peace and grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me to build a new, decent house to live in with my family. I am no longer worried about rain or other insecurities. I also no longer have to be concerned about hosting visitors; I can now welcome them comfortably."

"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."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly has been the ability to rest. With food in the house, I no longer need to take low-paying odd jobs, which has greatly improved my health. This stability has allowed me to look for other opportunities, such as opening a business shortly. My home now looks appealing thanks to the new household items I was able to buy with the GiveDirectly transfers, items that I did not own before. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for their timely support, which has made a significant impact on my life."

"After receiving $180 from GiveDirectly and the initial excitement wore off, I focused on achieving my goals. I used $60 to buy a new mattress. Previously, I had to sleep on the floor with makeshift bedding, which was uncomfortable, especially considering my old age. Now, I enjoy a good night’s sleep and look forward to bedtime, a feeling I had not experienced before. I spent $50 to buy food, which was a huge relief since I have no farm due to the floods that swept it away, and I no longer have the energy for casual labor. This situation had forced me to rely on my daughter for support, which added an extra burden on her. Now, I have enough food to eat. Finally, I used $32 to buy chairs, making it possible to welcome guests with dignity. In the past, I felt embarrassed to have guests because there was nowhere for them to sit."

"When I received $180 from GiveDirectly, I had a significant burden of school fees. I have two children in secondary school, and I spent $100 to pay their fees. This support came at a crucial time, as they had missed several days of school. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to send them back to school, and they have had uninterrupted studies so far, which I am truly grateful for. Previously, I struggled with casual labor that didn’t provide enough to cover their fees, leaving them at a disadvantage because they spent most days at home. After paying the school fees, I spent $45 to buy a mattress and chairs. The mattress has greatly improved our health and overall well-being, as I used to sleep on the floor, and now I finally have a comfortable place to rest. With the remaining money, I bought food since the recent floods had swept away my farm, leaving me with no harvest and no food at home. This assistance from GiveDirectly has made a significant difference in our lives, and I am deeply thankful for it."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been the ability to own a goat, which has since multiplied to two. Before this support, I did not own any livestock, so this feels like a significant achievement. This is just the beginning; I hope to increase my herd with future GiveDirectly transfers. By allowing my goats to multiply, I can create a sustainable source of income and have livestock to rely on in times of emergencies. This new venture gives me hope for a more secure future and the ability to support my family when needed."

"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."