"I have an eye injury that has totally incapacitated the vision of my left eye. Consequently I am not in a position to work in my farm nor tend to my livestock, mostly depending on my wife. Most times she gets overwhelmed with providing for me and my 7 children."

"Currently, I'm facing a lot of challenges including lack of money and the effects from the recent floods that riced our village. Since I depend on casual labor which is not consistent it has been very difficult for me to provide for my family. This has been made more challenging by the recent floods which destroyed our maize farm leaving us hopeless about the future. We had invested all our money on the farm with the hope of getting food and also money from the sale of the crops. However, we are left not knowing what the future will bring since we don't have enough money to replant the maize."

"My biggest challenge currently is where I live. Over the past 10 years we have lived together in our relatives house which we find very difficult because we don't have a place of our own. Recently, they have asked us to look for a place to move to which is challenging since we don't have money to purchase land or even build a house. We have three children which makes our situation even more dire."

"Over the years, my main focus has been supporting my children to finish school. Once they're done, especially with one in high school, I’m counting on them to join forces with me to achieve my dream of building our own house. Living with my parents isn't ideal, but it's a necessary compromise while I prioritize their education. Once they graduate and secure good jobs, we can work together towards our shared goal of having a place to call our own where we can all feel comfortable and secure. I plan to use the transfers and my charcoal business savings to reach this goal, and I believe it will be attainable."

"I run a motorcycle taxi business and also work as a farmer. Back in March 2024, I planted maize on a one-acre plot, hoping to provide food and income for myself and my family. Sadly, just a month later, flash floods swept through and wiped out all my crops, leaving my land barren. It hit me hard because I had leased that land and now I am struggling to recover from the losses. Right now, I cannot afford to lease another piece of land, and it breaks my heart. Not being able to grow my own food means I will have to buy it with the profits from my motorcycle taxi business. It is a challenging situation, but I am hoping for better days ahead."

"I am currently grappling with the challenge of raising school fees for my daughter who will be starting college in September 2024. As a family of seven relying on our grocery business, our income has been unpredictable lately. On good days, I make about $10 in profit, but sales have been declining, exacerbated by recent floods that wiped out our crops. This leaves me uncertain about how to finance my daughter's education. I am also reaching out to community resources and government support programs such as Higher Education Loans Board for any assistance available. It is a tough situation, but I am determined to find a way to support my daughter's dreams of a college education."

"In the next few months to come, I have plans that have been running through my mind for a while. First of all, I would want to acquire a pair of oxen on my homestead. With these cows, I can easily use them to plough my farm, making it easier to grow crops. Not only that, I plan to offer ploughing ing services to others for a fee, which will bring in extra money for my family since, for now, I do not have a reliable source of income to sustain my family. I am hoping to achieve all these using the incoming transfers that I have yet to receive, as well as with the help of my sons, who also rely on casual jobs."

"I saw the transfer notification in the evening while I was relaxing after the day's activities. This was after I overheard my neighbor talking about receiving their transfer and decided to check mine as well. Since I cannot read messages, I called my grandson to check for me. When he checked, I was overjoyed to learn that I had also received my transfer. I couldn't wait to withdraw the money and start building a new house, as I've been staying in my son's house since mine collapsed last year."

"I am so grateful for the support I received from GiveDirectly. Two years ago, I lost my job as a kindergarten teacher at a school in our village because I didn't have the right qualifications. Losing my job made it difficult to provide for my family and pay for my children's education. I couldn't afford to go to college to further my career to secure a job. Since then, I've been doing odd jobs in the village, struggling to make ends meet. Receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly has transformed my life because I now have enough food to feed my family, and I no longer have to skip meals like before. I was also able to buy a new bed and mattress, replacing the old, worn-out ones. I can now afford to sleep comfortably unlike before when I was using the old beddings. I also acquired some goats, and I hope they will multiply into a herd that I can sell to meet my financial needs."

"The officers took their time to explain every detail about the program. Their patience and clarity built our trust, and it felt reassuring to know that we had someone to turn to if we had any questions or concerns. The transparency of the program made a huge difference, as it allowed us to see exactly how things were supposed to work and gave us confidence in the entire process. Receiving the money directly into our phones was another aspect that stood out. It was empowering to have control over the money and decide how to best use them for our families. This approach ensured that the money went directly to where it was needed most, without any intermediaries or delays. From my experience, there is nothing I would change about the program. The combination of thorough education and direct financial support has been incredibly effective, and I am grateful for the positive impact it has had on our village."