"At the time I received the money, I was heavily pregnant, in my 3rd trimester, and my pregnancy was at high risk, as was my previous pregnancy. I was required to frequently visit the hospital for close monitoring, and this was really heavy on us because I could not engage in any manual labor to earn anything to cater for the transport and hospital bills. My husband lost his job early this year, and he has not been able to secure a sustainable job but just manual labor on people's farms whose earnings are not sufficient for us. I also have a 1-year-old child who requires milk every day, and this has also been a heavy toll for us. On receiving the second transfer, I spent $370 on transport to the hospital, hospital bills, and a few clothes and items in readiness for the delivery of my baby. I set aside $30 for milk for my 1-year-old for his nutritional well-being. I also set aside $100 as savings."

"I am a mother and a grandmother who has been doing manual labor on people's farms to take care of both my child and grandchildren. At the time when I received the second transfer, my child, who was in primary school and was about to sit for his final exams, was at home and not attending classes because he had a school fee balance. I therefore spent $58 to clear the balance so that he could go back to school and continue preparing for his exams. It was such an amazing moment for me and my son, as he was excited to be going back to school and joining his fellows in exam preparations. I then used $70 to finish building a two-room house that I had previously started building. I was so much in need of a house because I was sleeping in a one-room house with my child and grandchildren, and this was very inappropriate and uncomfortable. I also spent $250 to buy two beds and two mattresses so that we could have a better place to sleep because we used to sleep on the floor on mats and on ragged and worn-out mattresses, which were very uncomfortable. Finally, I spent $150 on a piece of land that I had started buying for farming purposes."

"Reliable source of income is the challenge I am currently facing in life. My husband does casual jobs at the coastal towns earning very little income and I do subsistence farming her at home. Farming is not doing well due to persistent drought . The income from the husband caters for food and school fees though not enough. Sometimes my children miss classes due to lack of school fees. This has affected their performances."

"GiveDirectly's support has been an absolute game-changer in my life. Without their help, navigating life alongside my husband would still be incredibly challenging in our old age. Things have improved significantly; now, we don't just have enough food on the table, but we've also started our own goat-rearing venture and have aspirations of constructing a better home. This transformation has meant the world to us. I wish we could receive even more support from GiveDirectly. Their assistance has been a beacon of hope, and with a bit more help, we could truly build a future beyond our wildest dreams."

"Firstly, I decided to build a new home, replacing the makeshift and outdated one that I had been living in. This allowed me to create a more secure and peaceful living space for myself and my family. Additionally, I used part of the funds to settle the remaining balance of my child's school fees, ensuring her education continues uninterrupted. I also invested some of the funds in my motorbike business that will ensure that my family has sustainable income going forward."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, I want to buy a restaurant and sell both soft and hard drinks. In addition, I'd like to open a barbershop to grow my existing business. My two children are currently waiting to be admitted to college in the coming year, so if my business is profitable, I will be able to send them to college. Seeing my kids succeed and have an easier time in school brings me great joy."

"Receiving the transfer came at the right time of need and was the most significant blessing I encountered, i have witnessed the most significant transformation in my family well well-being, with the $550 I received, I directed $400 to pay school fees for my two children who are both in university. The struggle to meet this fee had been constant since I was using my husband's retirement benefits which sometimes delayed making my children not to attend their classes at the right time, now am very happy knowing that I had paid their fees for the whole semester. Another part of the funds $150, i decided to do poultry keeping ending up purchasing 20 chickens each for $3, my objective is to expand my poultry business which will contribute to increased income and greater financial stability. however, poultry keeping is very easy to maintain especially for a person like me who is always at home managing my small garden of vegetables, so combining the two agri-business will be a great achievement. I am sincerely grateful to GiveDirectly for elevating my living standard."

"Amidst the challenges of unyielding harvests from our farm over the past three years, life has been a relentless uphill journey for my family of ten. The struggle to put food on the table has been an enduring test of resilience. But with the recent blessing of a second transfer of $450, a glimmer of hope flickered. With a heart filled with determination and love for my family, I ensured that education continues to shine for my children. My eldest, pursuing dreams through higher education, received $90 to settle overdue fees. As for the rest, my two teenagers are in secondary school level, and the five little ones are in lower grades. I'm steadfast in ensuring their education remains uninterrupted. My days have been a mosaic of odd jobs, selling honey and goats. All in a tireless effort to support the aspirations of my beloved family. I also entrusted $320 to my resilient wife, the nurturing soul behind a small but thriving shop to offer stability and safeguard against future uncertainties. This investment is a gesture of belief in her unwavering spirit and entrepreneurial acumen, meant to equip and expand her business. It's a step toward sustainability and ensuring that our family not only survives but also thrives. I am thankful for Givedirectly's support."

"I was at home alone, considering burning charcoal to earn some income, when, around 3 p.m., I received an SMS notification that the transfers had come through. It was a moment that brought a rush of thoughts and plans flooding in, especially regarding my children's school fees, which had been a struggle all along. I decided to wait until my husband returned home in the evening before sharing the news with him. Managing a family of seven means every financial decision is crucial. Withdrawing a small amount, just $10, to cover our immediate food needs for the evening seemed like the best choice. I opted to wait a couple of days to withdraw the rest of the funds, ensuring I could carefully plan and allocate the money for our family's various needs. The relief of having the means to cover essential expenses, especially the school fees for my children, was immense. Waiting to discuss the transfers with my husband highlighted the importance of making financial decisions together, ensuring that our choices align with our family's overall well-being."

"As I'm not married currently, my plan for next year is to tie the knot and start a family. By then, my four-bedroom stone house will be complete, offering a perfect haven for my future family. Alongside running a thriving business. My expertise in automotive engineering fuels my ambition to secure a job in the field. Eventually, I envision owning my own vehicle, completing the picture of a fulfilling and successful life ahead."