"The challenge that I am currently facing is the burden of life. I am a single mother of 3 who depends on charcoal burning business as the source of income. The job is very involving and time consuming considering the process of making them. You have to cut loggs, dig a big hole and arrange them inside before yo cover them with soil. Eventually, you put fire and let it burn inside for around two weeks. After all that you can get approximately 4 bags which sell at $ 3 each. In a month you can get $15 which is not sustainable for a family of 4 members. Due to this, it has been difficult to finance the education of my kids. One of them completed primary school learning and did not proceed further because of lack of fees. Besides, effort to have him join a vocational training has not been successful. I am scared that the future of my household may be affected if the situation does not change anytime soon."

"A neighbor hired me to use his motorcycle and send him money on a weekly basis after taking my share, the business has been generating $15.5 per week in revenue, with my share of $7.75.Regardless, the money is inconsistent, and as the sole breadwinner in a difficult economy, meeting the family's basic needs has proven difficult. What is making my life difficult right now is the unpredictable flow of money from the business."

"payments of my children's school fees is the worst headache which gives me sleepless nights every day. I have three children in secondary school. I have fees arrears of twenty thousand shillings. As a small farmer in the village, I depend on rearing domestic chickens for sale. The time to mature is about five months. This long duration has made me incur many debts because I need medicine and food plus my domestic needs before I get the sales. I am stuck I have many debts to settle"

"I had no power on my phone, so when I came back from the farm and charged it, I immediately saw a message from M-Pesa confirming that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I couldn’t believe it at first, so I took my phone to my neighbor, Mama Miguel, and asked her where the money came from. When she confirmed it was from GiveDirectly, I was so excited that I went straight to withdraw the money and took my child to the hospital because he wasn’t feeling well."

"I was overjoyed when I received a message from GiveDirectly on a Sunday afternoon, around 3 p.m., just as I was coming back from church. The moment I saw the notification, I couldn't help but smile all the way home. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I had been struggling to figure out how to rebuild my life after the floods destroyed my farm, and this transfer felt like a new beginning.I had always loved farming, and before the disaster, I had been growing crops to support my family. But after losing everything, it was difficult to recover. As I walked home, I kept thinking about how I could use this money as capital to restart my farming. Watermelon, in particular, seemed like a good choice because it grows well in this area and could help me rebuild my income. The transfer gave me hope that I could finally get back on my feet."

"I am an elderly woman who relies heavily on my daughter for financial support. When the transfers were sent to my phone, I was very ill and barely aware of what was happening around me. Once I started feeling better, my daughter shared the wonderful news that I had received the transfers. I was overjoyed, smiled, and thanked God for this financial blessing, knowing it would greatly help support me through my recovery and health needs."

"I was at home relaxing after a hard day at work when I heard a message notification on my phone. Out of curiosity, I picked it up and read the message immediately, and to my surprise, it was the GiveDirectly transfers. I couldn’t believe it—I was so happy that I called my wife over right away to tell her the news. She was just as thrilled as I was. Finally, our plans to buy food for the family and clear my daughter’s school fees were within reach. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off our shoulders."

"When I received the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly, the first thing I did was use $100 to pay off the school fees arrears for my son, who is in Form Four. That debt had been weighing heavily on me because I had no idea where I would find the money. After that, I took on various casual jobs to clear the remaining arrears, making sure I could fully settle the school fees. With $50 of the money, I cleared a piece of land that a friend in the village had given me; it was overgrown with bushes, and I knew that clearing it would make ploughing and planting easier later on. The rest of the money went towards buying essential household items—cooking pots, cups, plates, and water containers—since the ones I had before had been swept away by the floods."

"When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I was overjoyed and excited. It was the first time I had such a significant amount of money. As a single young man with a fiancée, I am focused on acquiring household assets for our future together. I allocated $110 to buy a new cupboard, which I needed for organizing my house and storing utensils and other items. I also spent $34 on household items like utensils, as I want to be prepared for when I get married, ensuring that my fiancée will find everything she needs. Additionally, I used $20 to repair my roof, which was leaking during the rain and causing discomfort. With this improvement, I no longer worry about rain affecting my home. Lastly, I spent $40 as a deposit for a new smartphone. I want to stay updated with local and international news, and having a reliable phone is important for this. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for your support, which has helped me make these important improvements."

"The biggest difference in my life since receiving $180 from GiveDirectly is the profound improvement in my overall well-being. At 82 years old, I was struggling with illness and lacked basic comforts. The money allowed me to get necessary medical care, buy a new bed and mattress for the first time, and secure enough food for the next two months. Most importantly, it enabled me to move in with my elder son, where I can receive the close care I need. This support from GiveDirectly has significantly transformed my quality of life, bringing me comfort, health, and peace of mind."