"It was around 3:00 p.m. and I had just returned from gathering firewood in the nearby bush. I was in the process of kindling a fire to prepare porridge for my two young children, aged 3 and 1. They had been crying due to hunger since morning, and I wanted to soothe their hunger with some porridge, as it was the only meal we had at the moment. We were awaiting my spouse's return in the evening, hoping that he would bring flour for a proper supper. Suddenly, my phone alerted me with a notification, indicating the arrival of an SMS. Without delay, I reached for my phone and eagerly opened the message. To my astonishment, it was an Mpesa SMS confirming the receipt of GiveDirectly transfers. A surge of joy overwhelmed me as I realized that my children would no longer have to go hungry. I wasted no time in calling my husband to share the wonderful news with him."

"The moment I received the initial transfer from GiveDirectly filled me with immense joy. Despite having only approximate dates, the uncertainty dissolved, and I was exhilarated, realizing that I could now bring to fruition many of the plans I had set in motion. The notification arrived around 3:00 p.m., and upon reading the word "segiovia," I was reassured of its authenticity and source. To confirm further, I promptly forwarded a sum to settle a food debt I had accrued at the shopping center. This instant was incredibly gratifying, marking the realization of my aspirations with the support of GiveDirectly."

"The arrival of the first transfer from GiveDirectly brought me immense joy. As I was grappling with various commitments, GiveDirectly has brought me hope since I enrolled. I received the first transfer around 3:00 p.m., while I was out operating my usual motorcycle taxi. Upon receiving the message, I promptly contacted my family to share the wonderful news, and their elation mirrored my own. The following day, I journeyed to the nearby shopping center, where I collected the entirety of the amount, marking a pivotal moment in our journey."

"Receiving the initial transfer from GiveDirectly was a heartening experience for me, as it arrived at a time when I had a specific issue I needed to resolve. Although the exact date of receipt was uncertain, we were informed about the month. The arrival of the funds took me by surprise, but I swiftly connected the dots and understood that it was indeed from GiveDirectly after going through the message. Even though I received it as early as 3:00 pm, I could not immediately collect the funds, so I patiently waited until the next day after aligning my goals. Living on my own, I had my own set of plans and goals that the money would assist me in achieving."

"Despite the small scale of my sewing business, which currently serves our immediate community, it has played a pivotal role by consistently providing a daily meal for my family of six. Looking ahead to the upcoming year and beyond, my hope is to leverage the existing space for greater income generation. I intend to expand the business to encompass the sale of both new and secondhand clothing, diversifying our sources of income. This expansion would be tailored to the preferences of my regular customers, ensuring a varied selection of materials and customized designs that are not only affordable but also yield profitable returns. While I lack a readily available source of capital to match the necessary investment, I am considering the option of securing a loan. This strategy would enable me to source my business stock with the intention of repaying the loan through the proceeds generated on a daily basis."

"I hold GiveDirectly in high regard and attribute their support to a higher power. I am appreciative that they took the time to visit my home, educate me about their program, and allowed me the space to fully comprehend before making a decision. The information presented was crystal clear, facilitated by direct communication between their staff and me. This approach greatly enhanced understanding, leading to widespread acceptance and a warm reception of the program in the entire community. The whole process, from the program's inception to its completion, unfolded seamlessly, and I am thankful. I hope that other communities in similar need will also experience the same level of positive engagement and support from this organization."

"In the coming year and beyond, I have several plans that I hope to accomplish. Firstly, I plan to complete the furnishing of my new construction. Although this will be covered by the remaining transfer, I may need to use some of my savings to buy new furniture. After that, I hope to start a cereal business that focuses on selling dry beans to the immediate community since they are in high demand. Currently, I am working in a posho mill, hired by a neighbor and a friend who pays me an appreciable amount at the end of each month. I plan to start saving from this job and in the future, I hope to secure a shop where I will stock some cereals to sell to the immediate community members. To achieve these goals, I will need to be intentional with my spending and continue to work hard to save up enough money to start my business"

"In the coming year and beyond, I plan to open another small shop within the village to sell charcoal. Since I live along the road, I hope to tap into the travelers who visit nearby tourist attractions like lakes and sell the charcoal to them. This is because most of them buy locally produced goods, and we have been producing charcoal but not selling it to the community members who are capable of producing it too. I intend to use the profits accrued from my retail shop to start the charcoal production and selling business. This will help me to expand my income-generating activities and provide more employment opportunities for the community members"

"I want to join Teachers College in September 2023. I am really happy that I have saved enough that I can proudly join school. I had difficulties in joining school due to the fee but now, even if I don't have enough I still have something to start to get me started. I am planning to save enough to continue with my studies. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I believe I will have a bright future."

"I really want to improve my family's living standards; I really want to start a grocery store. Currently I am at home taking care of my children and my goats. With the savings I have and the monthly transfers I will be able to start my business and sell it at an affordable price to my neighbors. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I am able to dream again."