"The condition of my house is in a state of disrepair, with a portion of the wall riddled with large holes that allow cold air to permeate inside. In a previous endeavor, I acquired some poles with the intention of constructing a two-bedroom house. Looking ahead to the end of the year and beyond, my objective is to accumulate sufficient funds from my monthly transfers. With these savings, I aspire to construct a larger and more secure dwelling that provides both safety and warmth."

"It has been an extensive period since my house collapsed. The deep poverty my family endures, coupled with my limited income, has hindered any progress in constructing a new dwelling. As the year draws to a close, my objective is to accumulate sufficient funds that can be allocated toward purchasing building materials. This will enable me to embark on the journey of constructing a new house for myself."

"I deeply appreciate Give Directly for their initiative to financially support people in communities like ours. These transfers alleviate numerous hardships, with the most pressing one being hunger. With the received funds, I can contribute to our household needs and relieve the burden on my son, whose income from selling chewing sticks barely provides for our daily sustenance. My goal is to ensure that even after the transfers cease in a few years, hunger becomes a rare occurrence in our lives. As I am unable to engage in active work due to my age, I plan to accumulate wealth through goat rearing. Additionally, I aspire to start a small business selling vegetables or dried sardines to maintain a steady income flow."

"First and foremost, I am thankful for the cash transfers as they have significantly alleviated hardships in my household. My main objective is to acquire goats, so when the cash assistance from Give Directly stops, I can rely on selling the animals to generate a steady income. To achieve this, I am dedicated to saving a portion of my monthly earnings through a self-help group. I hope that the current farming season yields enough food, allowing me to accomplish this goal in the next few years. This will enable me to accumulate sufficient funds to purchase goats and build wealth, ultimately improving the financial stability of my household."

"As an aged peasant farmer, I solely depended on selling some water at $0.05 per 20-liter bucket which could not sustain my basic needs. I turned on selling water because I have a freshwater tap at my home and I could no longer manage the farming exercise due to age. Currently, I am humbled and happy because, since the time I got the transfer I have managed to start construction which will see me in a safer house unlike before and I have never gone without food. This could not be the case if it were not for GiveDirectly's transfer."

"Before receiving the transfer, my life was full of frustrations. I had no defined source of income other than making and selling charcoal, which was unreliable. I had two children taking care of them after their dad passed on. They needed school fees, food, and clothing. Life was not easy for me. I am now happy because after I received the first transfer, I was able to fix the majority of the hurdles I was passing through. As of now, my children are happy in school and they get food at home. This could remain a nightmare if it were not for GiveDirectly."

"Before receiving the transfer, I used to struggle to make ends meet. Poverty made me venture into some tiring businesses to support the situation. Life was a struggle but now I am grateful for the cash transfer. It has boosted us and enabled us to get some meals daily unlike before when we usually took meals only in the evening due to lack of food and sometimes we went for at least two days a week without meals."

"Having trouble reading was almost putting off my pleasure. Whether I heard the message tone or not is a memory I do not have. What I do know is that I overheard neighbors jubilantly announcing that they had obtained their transfer as I was returning home from the field. Given that we were both enrolled on the same day, I was interested and asked my husband to verify for me, who then confirmed that I had also gotten my transfer. I felt like a newlywed because, although the GiveDirectly personnel had assured me that I would get a significant amount of money in this case, $550 immediately, I had not anticipated doing so."

"At around 3 p.m., I returned home from the shamba, and my phone immediately rang with a message. My aide was around since I cannot read or write. She analyzed the information and let me know that I had received the initial transfer of $550 as promised by the GiveDirectly personnel who came to our home. I was overjoyed to get a large amount of money that was non-refundable for the first time in my life. This euphoria was brought on by the horrible condition my house was in since a remedy had been found for it."

"Lack of water for home consumption and livestock use is a challenge. I fetch water from a nearby borehole at a cost of $1 for six twenty litres containers. I consider it expensive because I must also purchase fuel for my motorbike since it is far. If I had piped water within my compound it could be easier."