"I had my own house, but after the floods, it was completely swept away, leaving me and my four children homeless. With nowhere else to go, a kind neighbor offered us temporary shelter in her home, and I’ll always be grateful for that. When I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, it was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and my first thought was to rebuild our home. I bought eight iron sheets, and now there’s a glimmer of hope. With the next transfer, I’ll buy the remaining materials to complete the house and also secure a plot by paying the deposit, ensuring we have a stable place to call home again."

"My maize on an acre of land was ready for harvest, and honestly, I didn’t know how I was going to get the money for harvesting and transporting it to the collection point for drying, shelling, and quality checks. Fortunately, my first transfer from GiveDirectly came at the right time, and I used $100 from the transfer for this purpose. Additionally, I run a shop, which is my main source of income to support my family of four as a single mom. To boost my business, I decided to add stock worth $60. Previously, there were items I lacked, and it made me feel bad to send customers away, but now I have them in stock, which has indeed contributed to an increase in my daily sales. Furthermore, my daughter in high school had arrears of $160, so I decided to reduce it by $40 from the transfer, and I plan to clear the remaining balance with my maize proceeds. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"I had attended a burial in the nearby village. As we were finishing the ceremony, I heard a message buzz on my phone. I checked immediately, as some of my neighbors we were with had received their transfers from GiveDirectly, and I saw that I had received it as well. I was filled with happiness. I could not wait to get home and share the good news with my husband and my children. My first thought was to buy food for us, as getting food at that time was a problem. Thank you, GiveDirectly"

"My phone was charging while I was outside relaxing with my husband when my neighbor came to ask if I had received the transfer from GiveDirectly. I didn’t know, so I rushed inside to check my phone, and yes, I had received $200! I was so happy. My husband, who was curious, saw the smile on my face, and at that moment, he knew I had received the money. We were both excited because I was finally going to pay off a loan that had stressed me."

"I had been planning to buy a bed and mattress after receiving my payout from Kenya Seed Company for the maize I managed to harvest. My nights had been a struggle, sleeping uncomfortably on a worn-out tarpaulin and rags, and my bed was old and faulty. I knew I had to be patient for four months to get my payout, so my struggles would have continued until December. But lucky enough, the GiveDirectly cash arrived just in time, and I was able to buy the bed and mattress without waiting. Now, I sleep comfortably, and my nights are finally restful."

"I was at home relaxing; that day, I didn’t leave the house because I was unable to secure a casual job. While feeling devastated about what we were going to eat that day, I heard a message on my phone. When I checked, I saw that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was so excited, and I knew that we were finally going to have something for the evening. I immediately called my son, who is my helper, and shared the good news with him and my husband."

"My two children in high school had a total debt of $200, with each owing $100. When I received my first transfer, schools were about to open, and honestly, I had nothing to give them since the crops I relied on were swept away by the floods. I used $100 to reduce their fee arrears, paying $50 for each child. Furthermore, after losing my maize crops, I didn't give up on farming and decided to replant melons. When I received my transfer, my melons were at the top-dressing stage, so I bought top-dressing fertilizer worth $20, hoping it would help us recover financially. Unfortunately, after the harvest, we incurred a loss because the market price was extremely low—half of the normal price. In addition, food was a constant worry, so I bought a bag of maize for $30 and condiments worth $20, which sustained us for a while until our melons were ready for harvest. Finally, I spent $10 on transportation for the maize, my son, and myself from the market."

"Before receiving the transfer, my life was very difficult because floods destroyed my two acres of land and my house. I was struggling to make ends meet and had hoped to sell my maize to buy chairs for my home. However, my dreams felt far away as I faced many challenges. After getting the cash from GiveDirectly, everything changed for the better. I was able to buy chairs and curtains, making my house look presentable and comfortable. Now, I feel proud of my home and grateful for the support that has helped me improve my living situation."

"The day I received my unconditional cash transfer felt like a blessing for my family. With nine children, our old house was too small to accommodate all of us comfortably. Therefore, I decided to buy iron sheets for $50 to construct a new home where my children can live safely and happily. This investment was not just about shelter; it was about creating a better future for my family, where we could grow without feeling cramped. Furthermore, I used another $50 to purchase a sheep, which is an important investment for our livelihood. Since we didn’t own any livestock, having a sheep would help improve our situation over time. I believe that as it grows and multiplies, it will provide us with additional resources and income. This decision brought me hope and excitement about what our future could hold. Additionally, I spent $40 on clothes for my family. We had no decent clothes for vacations, and I wanted my children to feel proud when we went out together. Lastly, I allocated $40 for food supplies, which we desperately needed since our farming efforts were disrupted by floods that destroyed our two acres of maize. My husband and I had to rely on casual jobs and charcoal burning, but this cash transfer allowed us to meet our basic needs and feel a sense of security again."

"It was just after lunch, and I heard my phone buzz with a message. At first, I didn’t bother to check it, thinking it was just another one of those usual texts from Safaricom. After about 30 minutes, curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to look at my phone. To my surprise, I saw that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly! I couldn’t believe it, so I rushed over to my neighbor’s house to see if she had received hers too. When she said yes, we both started laughing with joy. Right away, I began thinking of how I could finally furnish my house with a proper cupboard, a comfortable bed, and a good mattress. It felt like a blessing had just arrived."