"Receiving transfers from GiveDirectly has motivated me to pursue the construction of a brick house. I have been setting aside part of these transfers each month through my local savings group. At present, my wife, three children, and I reside in an old two-room mud house. The transfers have enabled me to contribute to our savings and loan group, which has significantly improved our living conditions. Looking ahead to the next year and beyond, my goal is to build a three-room brick house. So far, I have obtained ten iron sheets for the construction and plan to acquire more using my group savings and extra income from my daily endeavors. Constructing my dream house will create a spacious and comfortable environment for my family, including an additional room that can function as a sitting area for hosting visitors. These transfers have been incredibly beneficial for my family, and I remain hopeful about realizing my dream of building our ideal home. Furthermore, I intend to open a small shop to generate additional income that will support my family's needs, including school fees for my children once I complete building my dream house."

"I was diagnosed with asthma about 20 years ago. I have to depend on fishing to make a living, and this livelihood has contributed to my health's deterioration. Standing in the chilly water for hours is not ideal for someone with my health condition. But I have to do it to sustain my needs and those of my 2 grandchildren. If I can't fish, there's no money and no food. So I continue to gamble between my health and sleeping on an empty stomach."

"Water is a basic need and every human being needs it survival. I am faced with adent challenge of accessing water not only in my homestead but even the entire village. I have piped water that is not running. I get access to water only two days a week and the taps run dry the rest of the week. This has negatively impacted our lives on the side of selfcare which water is basic. Besides, I keep livestock, 8 goats, which need atleast 40 litres of water per day. I am forced to walk a long distance to get water for my family use and also for the goats. Sometimes after working out on my daily casuals, I get back home late yet I am supposed to go and fetch water far away in the darkness of the night. This is really a challenge to me."

"I am a widow caring for my one grandchild since her mother left the village to find work and support us. Her daily income of $8.88 is not enough for both of us. I decided to start a small business selling doughnuts and vegetables with the money she had been sending me. However, my old age, coupled with various health issues, has made it difficult for me to run this business. As a result, I have had to rely on a kiosk to sell my goods, but this has reduced my revenue since I can’t reach as many customers as I used to. The limited income in my business is making my life even more challenging."

"Lack of any investments in life is the challenge I am facing in life. I do casual jobs selling palm wine in the village, making approximately $40 per month, which caters to school fees and food for the family. This job is seasonal, sometimes I can take even a whole month without any job. This has made my son, who is in form three at Ngerenya secondary, miss classes due to a fee balance of $50. Last term he stayed home for two weeks."

"As a motorcycle rider, I have encountered both advantages and challenges in my business. Often, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, especially considering the current economic situation. My home is about 5 km from the town where I operate, and while this distance is manageable, returning home in the evenings can sometimes be difficult. On occasions when my earnings don't cover fuel and food expenses, I find myself dipping into my savings, which disrupts my financial planning."

"It was early in the morning as I was preparing to head to the primary school where I work as a cook. My mind was already on the tasks ahead when suddenly, my phone buzzed. I picked it up and saw a message confirming that I had received the first transfer! My heart raced with excitement, and a wave of happiness washed over me. I couldn’t believe it had finally arrived. The first thought that came to my mind was my house, and how I could finally start plastering the walls to make it more comfortable and welcoming. It filled me with hope, knowing I could now make my home a better place for me and my children."

"It was around 6 am when I heard my phone buzz with a message. Since I could not read, I called my grandchild to check what it was all about. She quickly glanced at the screen, and with a big smile, she told me it was a confirmation that I had received my first transfer. At that moment, joy filled my heart, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. The first thought that came to my mind was how I could finally fix a fresh water tap at home. For years, I had been fetching water from a distance, and the thought of having clean water nearby made me so happy. I knew this transfer would change my life in ways I had only imagined."

"Since receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly, the most significant change in my life has been my ability to address urgent needs that were previously impossible to meet. Life was challenging, especially with my ailing husband requiring medical attention, which I could not afford. However, thanks to these transfers, I was able to take him to the hospital and ensure he received the care he needed. This has brought my family peace of mind and stability. We are now healthier and more secure, and I can provide for my family’s basic needs without the constant worry that once burdened me."

"Living a life of debts is what has robbed away my joy as a mother. I am currently struggling to offset my loan of $5384.6 that I took three years ago. Being a widow, I assumed all the household responsibilities. Since I have four children in school, I have never had peace of mind because I am forced to borrow loans to support them. My teaching job is currently not reliable since I use the salary to offset the monthly installments. In a month, I am required to pay $176.9. This leaves me with $61.5 only from my salary, that I use to cater for other household needs. Imagine working for a whole month and only to receive this amount! It is so demotivating. Thus, finacial constraints stands out to be my biggest challenge."