"I was in the farm, looking for vegetables so that we could cook and have a meal with my family when my phone rang persistently. It was not normal for it to ring like this, so when I went back home, I asked my daughter, who is my helper, to check it and tell me what was happening. To our surprise, she said that we had received money from GiveDirectly. I was very, very happy, so excited, and I wanted to burst out with ululations, but I withheld myself. I live with my husband and 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl, all in school. We both do not have stable jobs but instead depend on charcoal burning and doing casual labor in people's farms, which earns us very little to support my family. We lived in a house that was leaking and on the verge of collapsing. Rain was literally raining on us, and we would even sit and watch as it rained. Whenever it got windy, we would run outside, scared that the house would collapse on us. What hurt me the most is that I could not do much about it, as the little money that we got would all go to school to settle school fees and food for the family. The first thing I thought of when I got the money was to build a better house for my family so that we could sleep in a warm place."

"In the coming year and beyond, my primary goal is to initiate an investment in livestock farming. Given the high prices of goats, I've decided to begin with chicken rearing as a more feasible option. Once I've established a sufficient number of chickens, I plan to sell them and reinvest the profits in acquiring a female goat. Therefore, I intend to allocate a portion of my transfer towards launching this project, recognizing it as a reliable investment for covering my children's school fees and addressing any unforeseen emergencies. Investing in livestock farming will provide a reliable source of income for me, enabling me to cover my children's school fees and handle any unexpected emergencies that may arise. By diversifying my sources of income through this venture, I aim to create a stable financial foundation for my family's future."

"For over a decade, the weight of hardship burdened every day of my married life. Living on family land was supposed to be a blessing, but instead, it became a battleground rife with conflicts and frustrations, each day a struggle to maintain our place amidst claims we should vacate. This made me worry a lot for my family of six, which is growing. Adding to our woes, our house was a grass-thatched one, and it could leak terribly during the winter seasons. I was hopeless and a sad mother because these conditions used to affect my children's health, leaving me feeling hopeless and despondent. The arrival of GiveDirectly transformed our lives in ways I could never have imagined. With their unconditional cash transfers, we were empowered to purchase our own land, marking the first step towards a brighter future, and I am now in the process of building a new house on it. No longer bound by the shackles of uncertainty, we're escaping the clutches of familial conflict and the humiliation that once plagued us. GiveDirectly didn't just provide financial assistance; they restored our dignity and ignited a flame of hope that had long been flickering in the darkness."

"Despite having a large family of six, we have been living in a small, simple structure made of iron sheets for far too long. My three sons have struggled with discomfort, especially at night and during daily activities due to the lack of privacy. Constructing a new house has always been a dream, but financial constraints, including school fees and providing food, made it seem out of reach. Thanks to GiveDirectly, that dream became a reality as they facilitated the purchase of construction materials, enabling us to build a spacious and decent house for $350. Now, with an extra room, my sons have the space they need to study and relax comfortably. Additionally, I allocated $40 to purchase a sack of dry maize grains for our food supply and used the remaining $60 to cover transportation costs for my children as they traveled home from school. I am grateful for GiveDirectly's support, which has freed me from low-paying, exhausting casual jobs. With this, we are focusing on our farms, aiming to produce enough food for our family and generate surplus for sale."

"I love GiveDirectly's approach to supporting the community. Unlike other organizations that provide specific items, GD offers unconditional cash transfers directly to our phones. This gives us the freedom to choose how to use the money in a way that best improves our lives, aligning perfectly with their goal of eradicating poverty. I am grateful that the transfer has allowed me to enhance my farming, which is our main source of livelihood for supporting our three children. Thanks to the transfer, I was able to fence my land using a chain link, preventing livestock from invading my crops—a challenge I had been facing for a while. This barrier has given me the confidence to make significant investments, such as planting tomatoes for commercial purposes, without the fear of losses. This will further improve our family's financial stability. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"I am a parent to two children who are currently in high school. My top priority is always to ensure that I pay their fees on time. I am currently struggling to make ends meet as I only work menial jobs that do not pay enough. Despite my efforts, I have not been able to raise the fees required using my own resources. Thanks to the monthly transfers, I am hopeful that my children's studies will not be interrupted like before when they would be sent home and stay for weeks. My ultimate goal is to allow my children to achieve their educational goals despite my financial struggles. I am also planning to save some money for a new bed to replace the old traditional one I have been using. It is no longer comfortable to sleep on."

"I am currently in the process of building a rental house on my piece of land, and the monthly transfers have played a significant role in its construction. Previously, I couldn't afford to buy the necessary building materials, but with the help of the transfers, I'm grateful that I started the construction. I've been buying the materials gradually, as soon as I have saved enough, and my goal is to see this house come to completion. I'm assured of earning some rental income once it's complete, which will supplement my income. So far, I've been surviving on fetching and selling firewood, which doesn't pay much. I believe that earning some rental income will not only transform my household's living standards but also help me pay school fees for my children."

"When I got my first payment, I was at home doing chores. But I didn't see it for two days because my phone was off. I used to take it far away to charge. After two days, I went to get my phone. I gave it to my helper to check if the money had arrived because I can't read messages. I never went to school, so reading is hard for me. When he checked, the money was there. I was so happy because I got the money just in time. My kids were sent home from school because I hadn't paid their fees. So, the first thing I did was pay their fees so they could go back to school right away."

"GiveDirectly has brought many blessings into our lives, and we are truly grateful to God for that. We deeply appreciate GiveDirectly for providing us with unconditional cash, allowing us to make decisions on how to use it. With this support, we've invested in agriculture, ensuring we have enough food and have paid our children's school fees. We admire your approach to empowering communities, and we encourage you to continue educating other villages on how to wisely utilize the cash when you visit them."

"In the upcoming months, my aim is to invest in livestock, particularly goats. I am optimistic that they will breed and provide a sustainable source of income for me in the future, even after the financial aid ends. I am pleased with the positive changes in my life that have been facilitated by the transfers. I no longer face the significant challenges I did before, and I am grateful for the progress I've achieved."