"My health has been on a downward trend in recent months. My goal in the coming year and beyond is to save enough money to go for a thorough check-up to understand the root cause of these problems and find the proper solution. After completing the construction of my house, I also plan to purchase a wooden bed and mattress. Currently, I sleep on a sisal bed, which is very uncomfortable. Buying these items will provide me with much-needed comfort whenever I sleep. To achieve these goals, I plan to save enough money from my subsequent transfers and ensure that I can accomplish them."

"My goal in the coming year and beyond is to allocate a significant portion of my subsequent transfers to go for more medical checkups. This will help prevent my health from worsening further by catching any problems early. The money will also be used to purchase any medicines prescribed by the doctor. Additionally, I plan to use the funds to buy nutritious food, especially fresh and leafy vegetables and fruits, to help boost my immunity. I am very happy with the financial support, as it is helping me take care of my health."

"My goal in the coming year and beyond is to use my subsequent transfers to purchase livestock. Due to my health condition, I am unable to work and provide for myself, so investing in and rearing livestock offers me a chance to earn some income and reduce my reliance on my mother for financial support. As the goats multiply, I plan to sell some, and the profits I earn will help me take care of my personal needs. I am deeply appreciative of the financial transfers from GiveDirectly, which are helping me work towards achieving this goal."

"The biggest change since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly has been my ability to gradually recover from the devastating floods. Thanks to the support from GiveDirectly, I was able to save part of my farm, and despite the challenges, I managed to harvest 70 bags of maize. Although I had originally expected to harvest over 200 bags if not for the floods, I’m grateful for what I was able to salvage. Additionally, I’ve been able to get back into poultry farming. With the money from GiveDirectly, I bought 50 chicks, which is the largest number I’ve ever bought before this, the most I could afford was 20 chicks. This has made a big difference for me because I plan to sell some of the chicks and let others lay eggs, generating more income from selling the eggs. I’m truly thankful for what GiveDirectly has done for my life. The support has not only helped me recover from the floods but also allowed me to grow my farming ventures and secure a better future for my family."

"When I received $180 from GiveDirectly, I had an acre of land where I had planted maize and vegetables, but unfortunately, the crops were completely swept away by floods. Determined to recover and start farming again, I used $55 for land preparation and labor since I already had kale seeds. My farm is now doing well, and I hope to sell the produce and plant maize when the maize season arrives. The income will help sustain my family, and I’ll also use it to pay school fees for my two children. I also used $50 to pay school fees for my son, who attends a nearby academy. It was important to me to keep him in school without any interruptions. Additionally, I spent $58 to buy a sofa. I had always wanted to have a comfortable sofa set so that when neighbors visit, they have a nice place to sit. The rest of the money was used to buy clothes for my kids, so they could look good and feel confident. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for this support, which has helped me get back on my feet after the floods and improve my family's well-being."

"I was on the farm with my brother, preparing the land. My brother, who is also a GiveDirectly recipient, received his transfer first, and just two minutes later, I received mine too—$180. We were both so happy and felt a great sense of relief. I had been stressed, wondering where I would get money from to address our needs. The first thought that came to my mind was how I could finally put an end to the threat of floods once and for all. This money gave me hope and the ability to start planning for a solution. I am grateful for the support, which has lifted a huge burden off my shoulders."

"Recently, after receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I used the funds to improve my house. It was previously just one room with old, damaged roofing. I spent all the money buying iron sheets, frames, and posts to enhance the house. Now, I have a comfortable two-room house perfect for me and my kids. I also upgraded the roofing to a more modern and durable type. I look forward to going home each evening because of how beautiful it has become, just as I envisioned. With this improvement completed, I hope to receive the next transfers from GiveDirectly so that I can continue my education. I had to drop out of school after secondary school due to financial constraints, but with the upcoming transfers, I have the opportunity to enroll in college."

"I received $180 from GiveDirectly while attending a prayer day event at a secondary school where my grandchild studies. There were about twenty of us there, and we began quietly sharing the news that we had received the money. The event was festive, with everyone enjoying the food, and the atmosphere was filled with joy. The money came as a delightful surprise on top of the day’s prayers. On the bus ride back, people were excitedly discussing how they had received the money and their plans. For me, the first thought was to use the funds to improve my house, which had been filled with mud from recent floods and was in poor condition."

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, I immediately knew how I wanted to use it to benefit my family. With $92, I bought two sheep. Sheep have always been a good investment for me because they multiply quickly—within five months of conception, you can have more, which means a steady increase in our livestock. Plus, they’re more affordable than goats, making them a smart choice for someone in my situation. I also used $32 to purchase four plastic chairs. Before this, we only had two chairs, which made it difficult to accommodate visitors. Whenever we had guests, we had to borrow chairs from neighbors, which was a bit embarrassing. Now, with six chairs, we can comfortably host people in our home without any trouble. This small change has really made a big difference in how we interact with our community. The remaining amount went toward securing our household's food supply. I bought a 90kg bag of maize to ensure we wouldn’t run out of food, and with the little money left, I purchased various household food items that we are still using today. This has provided us with peace of mind, knowing that we have enough to eat and can focus on other important things without the constant worry of running out of food."

"The biggest difference in my life right now is that we have a better kitchen for my wife to cook from. In the past, when it rained, she would struggle because the roof leaked, and now she can cook without stress even when it pours. I'm also happy that we have food in the house, so I no longer have to do casual jobs like burning charcoal just to make ends meet. This has allowed me to concentrate on other things I want to do at home, like farming, which gives me peace of mind. I will forever be grateful to GiveDirectly because they have given me a reason to believe that I can start all over again even at old age."