"In the coming months, I plan to use the remaining transfers to pay the required labor fees to finalize the construction of the house. Once the house is fully completed, my next goal is to start a kiosk business. Establishing this business will diversify my income sources and provide me with additional financial stability to support my family. I am already a member of a savings group and intend to save more once the house is complete, so I can accumulate enough capital to launch the business next year. I am deeply appreciative of the support from GiveDirectly, which has empowered me to make significant strides towards my goals, especially rebuilding my home and planning for a more secure financial future."

"One evening, I was surprised to see people full of excitement, buying food at the nearest shopping center. Curious, I asked them what was happening, and they told me that the GiveDirectly transfer had come. Earlier, I heard a message on my phone, but I didn’t check it because I couldn't read. So, I took a motorbike to Marigat to ask my son about the message, and when he confirmed that the money had arrived, I felt so happy. I knew right then that I wanted to buy a mattress."

"I was at a burial in a nearby village when I heard a notification sound on my phone. I checked it and felt so happy to see that it was the GiveDirectly transfer! I was really glad and I could not wait to get home to share the news with my wife. I then knew that I could pay off some debts I had and also cover the school fees for my three children. "

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, I had so many things on my mind. First, I used $40 to pay off some debt I owed for food. You see, being a farmer, we were hit hard by floods, and accessing food was tough, so I had to rely on credit. Clearing that debt was a huge relief for me because now I can walk into the shop without feeling embarrassed. Then, I sent $50 to my son who's in university, to cover his house rent and his upkeep. It's important to me that his stay in school is smooth, without any financial worries. After that, I used $20 to buy household food items, making sure my family had enough to eat. I also bought some new clothes and a pair of shoes for $25. I needed to look presentable, especially when I stepped out of the house or met with people. The rest of the money, I spent on buying a sheep. I used to have a few sheep, but I had to sell them to cover my children's school fees. Now, with this sheep, I hope to rebuild my small livestock. When the sheep give birth, I plan to milk them and when they multiply, they will be my emergency plan. In time, they'll help with any urgent expenses, and I can slowly build a more stable future for my family."

"I was in the kitchen, preparing vegetables for dinner when my daughter came home from school, all excited. She told me that some villagers were celebrating because the transfers had arrived. Since I didn't know how to read, I asked her to check my phone for me. When she confirmed that the money from GiveDirectly had indeed come, I felt a rush of joy that I couldn't hold back. I was overjoyed! Not long after, a GiveDirectly staff member arrived in the village to take photos and videos of us celebrating. I was filled with gratitude, knowing that I could now pay for my daughter's school fees and buy food for our home. It felt like a dream coming true."

"I have always depended on farming to raise money for my two sons' school fees. Every season, I’d plant maize on my four-acre plot, and though it wasn’t much, it got us through. But this year, things were different. The floods came and destroyed everything—my entire crop was washed away. Being a single parent, it’s already hard enough, but losing my main source of income made it feel impossible. Then, I received a transfer from GiveDirectly, and it changed everything. With the money, I was able to pay the school fees for both of my sons. I can’t express the relief I felt knowing that they wouldn’t have to miss out on their education because of the floods. It would have been incredibly difficult for me to raise the money on my own. Now, I can focus on rebuilding what was lost, knowing that their future is still secure."

"I had just gotten home from the day’s work, and we were sitting under a tree with my in-laws, relaxing after a long day. Suddenly, my phone chimed with a message notification, and out of curiosity, I went to check. To my surprise, my in-laws also received messages at the same time. We all quickly realized it was money from GiveDirectly. Without thinking, we jumped up from our seats, hugging and cheering. It was such a joyful moment! We celebrated right there, knowing that our long-awaited plan to build a pit latrine would finally be a reality."

"I was at a burial in a neighboring village when I received the text message confirming that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. I felt an overwhelming sense of joy, but I couldn’t express it, knowing I was surrounded by mourners in such a sad moment. I kept the news to myself, but all I could think about was fulfilling my plans, especially buying a mattress and a bed for myself."

"I was busy serving customers in the shop where I work when a child handed me her mother's phone to check a message. To my surprise, I saw that she had received cash from GiveDirectly, and just then, I heard a notification on my own phone confirming that I had also received the transfer. I was overjoyed because I had been patiently waiting for this money after being told I qualified. At that moment, school fees for my children were a pressing issue, and I had taken out a loan to pay for my two children's exams the previous term. With this cash, I knew I could pay off the loan and still have enough left to cover their expenses as they headed back to school. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Before receiving cash from GiveDirectly, my husband and I relied heavily on casual jobs and crop farming to support our family of six, but we faced numerous setbacks that left us struggling. We often lost our crops to drought, and this year, when we finally found land near the river, floods destroyed our maize on an acre of land, making it nearly impossible to raise the school fees for our son in elementary school that we owed. The stress was overwhelming, especially with $20 unpaid fees from the previous term, but when I received the transfer, it was a relief. I cleared my son's arrears and was able to reduce this term's fees from $47 to just $27, easing my worries about him being sent home for unpaid dues. Thank you, GiveDirectly."