"I had gone to my son's prayer day who is about to sit for his final high school exam. I heard my phone sound with a message. I quickly checked it and confirmed that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed! Among the other parents from my village who were there, I asked if they had received theirs as well. Some confirmed they had, while others waited anxiously, but within a few minutes, they too received their transfers. We all rejoiced together and headed home with happy hearts. I knew this was the hope I had been waiting for, and I felt certain that things were going to turn around for me."

"After losing most of my crops to the floods, I was left with just a quarter-acre vegetable farm where I had planted kale and black nightshade. These crops survived the floods, but they were on higher ground, which made irrigation essential. This land was my only hope for securing my family’s food, but I constantly worried that without water, we would lose it as well. The cost of generator oil to run the water pump was a problem, and I didn’t know how long I could keep it going. Fortunately, the GiveDirectly transfers arrived just in time. I was able to use some of the money to fuel my water pump, allowing me to irrigate my farm. This is currently providing food for my family and generating some income of about $10 per week. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"To earn a living, my husband and I rely on casual jobs, each earning $4 a day, though these jobs are not always guaranteed. Sometimes we also depend on charcoal production. Our focus has been strictly on basic needs like food and education for our children. With this income, saving or investing in other areas was difficult. In our area, goats thrive, and our home was almost the only one without them, so this was a key investment for diversifying our income. With my first transfer, I prioritized buying two goats worth $100. Additionally, I purchased a mattress for my children, costing $40, as the old one was so worn out that you could feel the bedboard, which was disheartening for me as a mother. I also bought two plastic chairs to add to the two we already had for $12, as it was not enough, especially when we have visitors. Furthermore, I spent $32 on food, specifically maize, which is our staple food and sustained us for some time. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Now that I have been enrolled and received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, my long-term goal of owning a generator and pipes is finally within reach. This will enable me to fulfill my plan of improving crop production without the constant struggle of borrowing equipment. In the past, I often failed to secure what I needed, leading to the loss of crops after leasing land. Thanks GiveDirectly, I can now invest in my future and work towards a more stable and successful farming operation."

"I received my money while I was at home alone; my children had gone to school. I had just returned from fetching water from the river when I received a message confirming the receipt of $183 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy! The first thing that came to mind was fulfilling my dream of building my own house. For years, I have been living in my brother's house."

"My plan was to sell my goat to cover the cost of leasing land and transplanting my vegetable seedlings. Instead, I received my transfer from GiveDirectly, which not only facilitated these expenses but also allowed me to buy an additional goat. This was truly a blessing. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"It was on a Sunday afternoon when my friend and I were coming back from church. She received a message from GiveDirectly confirming that she had received her transfer. She was very happy and excited, but I told her that I was behind during enrollment and mine would come in August. As we continued walking home, my husband called to ask about the cash, but I told him ours would come in August. However, just 10 minutes later, my phone vibrated, and sure enough, it was the cash from GiveDirectly! I immediately called my husband back to tell him that the money had arrived. We shared a moment of happiness and decided that we would buy sheep since we didn’t have any."

"It was a very fine Sunday afternoon, and I was just resting at home with my children when my phone vibrated with a message. When I checked, I saw it was an M-Pesa message, but I didn’t think much of it because I wasn’t expecting the GiveDirectly money yet, having just been enrolled a week before. Later, I went to fetch water at the nearby borehole and overheard some women discussing the arrival of the money. I joined in the conversation, feeling both excited and happy, knowing that I could finally repair my toilet, which had sunk after being swept away by floods."

"I am a widow; my husband passed away nearly 50 years ago when my three children were very young, but I struggled to make ends meet. Now, all of my children are grown and married, but they left me with grandchildren. One is at Maseno University, and the other is in secondary school. When I received the cash, I used $100 to pay for their fees to help their mother, who had been covering the costs.When the floods came, water entered my house and stayed for a very long time, leaving it wet and cold. I had to sleep in that damp house, and the coldness caused me to suffer from pneumonia, leading to constant coughing. I allocated $5 to seek medication at Marigat District Hospital because it is more affordable compared to private hospitals.Additionally, I spent $50 on purchasing food to ensure I had enough stock at home. Previously, I relied on casual jobs, working on other people's farms to harvest tomatoes. With the remaining money, I allocated $30 to buy chairs and a sofa set, as I didn’t have any furniture before. I also spent $15 on a solar panel because I had no lights in the house and was using my phone's light, which I had to charge at my neighbor's home. That was causing me a lot of stress."

"Raising seven children has been tough for me. Ensuring they have everything they need has been a constant struggle, especially since neither my husband nor I are employed; we are both farmers and charcoal burners. In our area, charcoal is a significant source of income, as one sack sells for $7, and I used to produce four sacks per week. So, when I received the cash, I used $60 to ensure we had enough food at home, which gave me the energy and peace of mind to continue with my farming. Additionally, I spent $50 to purchase a sheep, as I didn’t own any livestock before. I saw this as a good investment since it could become a source of income in the future or be sold in case of emergencies. I also used $40 to send transport money to my four children who were returning home from school. Finally, I spent the remaining $20 on clothes for my husband, who had almost no decent clothing left. His old clothes were so worn out that he couldn’t even go out to socialize with other men due to the shame."