"When the transfer arrived, I immediately knew that my top priority was to pay for my son's school fees. It was the most pressing need at the time, and I was able to use $100 of the funds for this purpose. As a widow with only one child to support, I depend on farming for my livelihood. However, due to the harsh weather conditions in our region, my income has been inconsistent. With the remaining $10, I purchased some much-needed food, which would have been impossible without the cash transfer. I am grateful for your support, which has significantly improved my living standards."

"I was overwhelmed with happiness when my grandson informed me that I had received a cash transfer from GiveDirectly. It was 4 p.m. and I was sitting outside my house, trying to escape the heat inside. I couldn't believe it because I had never experienced such a generous act before. The support I received came at a crucial time during the drought season and has greatly improved my life. I am incredibly grateful for this assistance."

"Due to financial hardship, my wife left me to seek better opportunities in the city, and I now reside with my son. The pain of losing my family to poverty was almost unbearable. As a farmer who also does casual work on other people's farms to earn a living, buying goats was an investment that I couldn't afford due to financial constraints. However, with the financial aid from GiveDirectly, I was able to purchase goats worth $120 which was a practical investment given the favorable climatic conditions. Previously, I only had one goat, but unfortunately, it was devoured by wild animals. Lastly, I bought foodstuffs and solar lights worth$40 and $15 respectively. The support from GiveDirectly came at the right time and has greatly impacted my life for the better."

"The financial aid I received has made a profound impact on my daily life, allowing me to purchase food and invest in my farming endeavors with ease. This was not feasible before due to financial hardships. I am now filled with optimism that in a few months, I will have a bountiful harvest that will provide ample food for my family. The gift of financial support that has transformed my life will always be remembered with gratitude."

"It was a bright afternoon around 3:00 pm when my phone beeped with a message from Mpesa, confirming the receipt of my first transfer from GiveDirectly. At first, I was skeptical about the sender and didn't believe it was from GiveDirectly until my helper arrived and read the message for me. He was already aware that some people had received their transfers and was equally excited when he read the confirmation message. I was filled with joy on that assurance of the receipt as I thought of all the things I could do with the money, including building a new house. I could not wait to get started, so I instructed my helper to collect the money and purchase construction materials the next day. The excitement and hope for a better life filled my heart, and I felt grateful to GiveDirectly for the timely support."

"When I received the first transfer from GiveDirectly, I was thrilled to finally have some financial relief. As a family of three, we had been struggling to make ends meet, especially with my health concerns. I first sought medical attention from the nearby clinic, which cost me $20, and I felt better after receiving medication. I also decided to invest in a plastic water tank worth $37 so that we could collect and store rainwater. This was an informed decision, as our region is prone to long dry spells, which make water accessibility a challenge. I then used $67 to buy food to last us for a while, which was a big relief. To transport all my bulky purchases from the shopping center, I had to spend $10 on transportation. With the remaining amount, I decided to buy new clothes and utensils to replace the old and cracked ones that we had been using for a long time. This first transfer has been life-changing for us, and I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the support."

"As the head of a family of seven, I have always struggled to provide for my family through subsistence and livestock farming, a difficult task due to the unpredictable droughts that often strikes our region. Despite my best efforts, the income I made from casual labor was barely enough to put food on the table. However, with the support of GiveDirectly, I was finally able to purchase a full sack of maize and other household necessities for $90, marking a significant change in our circumstances. We carefully managed the food to ensure it lasted as long as possible while we worked to replenish our supplies. Additionally, I used $20 of the funds to cover medication costs for a knee problem I had been experiencing. I invested $50 in tilling my acre of land and planting seedlings, with a $20 labor charge. I also used some of the funds to cover transportation costs for my two grandchildren as they returned to school, providing them with $9 as a token of my appreciation for their company during the holidays. I used the remaining funds to replenish exhausted household items. I am incredibly grateful for GiveDirectly's support and am eager to make the most of the remaining transfers."

"When the second transfer from GiveDirectly came through, I felt relieved and excited at the same time. As a father of seven, providing for the family has never been easy, especially since we depend on charcoal production and a tree seedling nursery bed, which have been affected by unpredictable weather patterns. With the transfer, I decided to prioritize my children's education by paying for their school fees of $105, buying them new school uniforms for $15, and also spending $70 to ensure they had enough food to sustain them. I bought a sack of maize, millet, and 5 kg of beans, which would last us a while. I used the remaining money for transportation costs, as I took my children to school on the reporting day. It was such a huge relief to be able to cater to all these expenses without worrying about the limited income from our small errands. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the support, which has greatly impacted our lives."

"My source of income! Currently, I work as a waiter in a small hotel in our nearby town center. This work earns me $1.5 per day, an income that can not fully cater to our household's needs. This has pushed me to mostly depend on my husband who is a casual laborer. His monthly salary is usually $100, an income that goes into supporting our extended family of 10. This burden has made us live a life of misery and I can not afford to have a decent house. In addition, my children are also weak health-wise because we normally forfeit meals or survive on one in a day. Thus, I consider the lack of a stable source of income as my biggest challenge."

"As a widow, life has never been easy for me and my family of 4. I have lived a life full of misery due to life challenges. As a mother and the sole breadwinner, I have experienced tough moments in supporting us with household needs. The greatly disadvantaged ones are the children who suffer the most in school because I can not afford to clear their fees on time. In most cases, they are sent home due to huge fee balances. Imagine sending your son to school with only $5 as a fee! This was the most difficult moment in my life and I always recall that day. I am so optimistic that one day, our life will change for the better. My small business of selling foodstuffs has not thrived well and in a day, I earn $2 as a profit. This goes to food leaving me with nothing to save. Hence, the lack of a stable source of income to support us stands out as the biggest challenge."