"My house was in very bad shape and had weakened over the years. I was afraid that it might collapse at any moment. The rooftop, which was built using iron sheets, had become old and dilapidated, and it used to leak whenever it rained. My husband and I were very concerned about this, but we lacked the financial resources to renovate the house, so we had no choice but to continue living in it despite its condition. My husband is the breadwinner and works as a watchman. His earnings mainly went to food and fees for our four children, with one in high school and three in junior high school. Therefore, saving to upgrade the house was out of the question. Receiving the transfer was a turning point for us. I used $330 of it to buy the necessary building materials, which included 24 pieces of iron sheets, nails, and building poles, to renovate the house. We also built an extension of one room to make it more spacious. I am happy about this huge achievement, which was made possible by the transfers. The support was crucial, and I am grateful for it. Additionally, my children had been sent home from school due to some pending arrears that I could not clear on time. Therefore, I spent $90 toward clearing the fee balance and also bought new school uniforms for each of my three children. I spent the remaining amount on buying foodstuffs, which included a bag of maize that could last us for a month, and some other items that I lacked in my household. I am also happy that this has relieved my husband of the burden of providing everything for the family this time, which was overwhelming him, considering that his job does not pay well."

"I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support they have provided to me and my children. It has been a lifeline for us. Previously, I made a living by selling vegetables moving from house to house in the village. Only in Wednesday is when I was selling the vegetables at the market place. For the other days, I had to walk long distances to sell and supply fresh vegetables. This has been my only source of income and it has helped me take care of my family's needs. Although it was tiring to do door-to-door deliveries, it was still better than my previous work of burning and selling charcoal. To reduce my movements, I have chosen a suitable and strategic place to build a small premise for my business. I have already purchased the necessary building materials such as iron sheets, nails, and building poles using the first transfer. I am also planning to expand my business by stocking a variety of products such as maize flour and other fast-moving items. With these improvements, I hope to serve more clients and increase my profits, making it easier to sustain my family."

"I had just finished having my lunch in the afternoon and was chatting with some neighbours at home when I received a message on my phone. As I read the message, I realized it was from Mpesa. As I read the message further, I was ecstatic to find out that it was my first transfer from GiveDirectly. This news brought great joy to my family, especially because I was planning to build a new house for them, as they are currently having to stay at a neighbour's house every night."

"I received a message while I was at home doing my house chores but since I couldn't read the messages, I called for my helper. He checked for me and confirmed that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed upon hearing this since I have been eagerly waiting for this money to build a new spacious house for myself."

"The house that has been my shelter for many years is currently not spacious enough to accommodate my growing family. I had previously started the process of acquiring the necessary building materials, but due to a lack of finances, I was stuck. I could not afford to buy the remaining materials such as iron sheets, timber, and nails to construct the new house. I was, however, relieved when GiveDirectly came and promised to send us the transfers. Receiving the transfer empowered me to build the new house, a spacious and iron-roofed one. I finally managed to buy the remaining materials such as iron sheets, timber, nails, and even paid for the labor cost. The house is now almost complete, and I can't wait to move into my new spacious house and leave the old house to my children and grandsons to shelter. This would have taken me years to achieve, and I am grateful for the support which enabled me to fulfill this timely, and now my children will have a house too once I move out."

"I wish to increase my flock of goats with the next quarter's transfers. This will gladden my heart, as it will not only increase my wealth but also help me educate my grandchild well, since I believe education is the key to success. I don't want them to be stranded later in the future, like I was, due to a lack of education."

"In the coming months and years, I wish to build on my son's plot in Malanga because I feel Malanga is more secure and will keep my family safe. Since I believe the challenges we face, like illness, are not godly sent, I trust that with effort, things will improve. I plan to bank on the GD transfers, saving weekly, so that I can eventually assemble all the resources I need to start my business and secure a better future for my family."

"In the coming months and years, I hope to accomplish several goals for my farm. I wish to use the next quarter's transfers to expand my flock by buying more goats, knowing that this is a good plan for future investment. I prefer goats to other animals because they can survive in harsh climates, which makes them a reliable choice for me. Additionally, I will be pleased to raise chickens so that I can have a variety of animals as an investment. By diversifying my livestock, I believe I can create a more sustainable and profitable farm."

"In the coming months, I hope to use the next quarter's transfers to buy a bed, install a door, and get other bedding, as I currently sleep on a mat. Sleeping on the mat has caused me sleepless nights, nightmares, and back pain, and I'm worried that it might lead to serious health issues, especially since I’ve been sleeping like this for the past three years. I believe that once I get a bed and proper bedding, it will relieve me of the back pain and improve my sleep."

"I wish to use the next quarter's transfers to finish my house so that it becomes a pleasant place, free from hazardous insects, and secure. This will also relieve me from the stress of sleeping in an unsafe place. I will be so glad to achieve this through the GD transfers."