"An early morning message alert woke me up, and I wondered who could be messaging me at that hour. Since I couldn’t read the messages myself, I waited for daylight and then asked my daughter to check my phone. She looked and shared the news I had been hoping for—I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly! Hearing this filled me with happiness. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for to make a real change in my life, especially by finally installing a water tap in my compound, something I had yearned for years."

"A notification on my phone woke me up early in the morning. Unable to read it myself, I was fortunate to have my daughter with me, as she often helps me check my messages. When she looked at my inbox, she told me it was an Mpesa notification—I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly! Hearing this news filled me with happiness and brightened my entire day. I immediately felt a wave of hope, knowing this transfer would finally allow me to improve our living conditions and bring lasting change to our lives."

"I used a bigger portion of my transfer, $410, to improve my sitting room, which wasn’t as comfortable as I had hoped. With this, I bought a high-quality, heavy carpet and a new set of sofas, transforming the room entirely. My home currently feels much warmer and more inviting, providing a cozy space for my family to relax and a welcoming area for guests. This transformation has brought me great joy, making our sitting room far cozier and more functional than before. In addition to the sitting room upgrade, I spent $100 on two goats, adding to the single goat I already owned. I’m thrilled to now have three goats, which I am keeping and breeding in hopes of building a larger herd. These goats are assets I can rely on in the future, either for sale or to meet other needs. Lastly, I used the remaining funds to cover my grandson’s school fees, ensuring he can stay in school without any interruptions due to fees. This support has brought stability and comfort to our lives in so many ways."

"The recent transfer allowed me to finally build a new mud house for myself—a spacious three-room dwelling that has greatly eased my struggles with shelter. After my previous home collapsed during last year’s heavy rains and storms, I found myself in urgent need of a new place. Financial constraints had kept me from rebuilding, but thankfully, my son, who is currently in college, offered me his small house to stay in while I worked to save enough money for my own home. This arrangement meant my son had to find somewhere else to stay whenever he returned home. Now that my new house is almost finished, I feel at peace. Soon, he will have a proper place to come back to when he’s on break from school."

"The recent transfer allowed me to finally build a new mud house for myself—a spacious three-room dwelling that has greatly eased my struggles with shelter. After my previous home collapsed during last year’s heavy rains and storms, I found myself in urgent need of a new place. Financial constraints had kept me from rebuilding, but thankfully, my son, who is currently in college, offered me his small house to stay in while I worked to save enough money for my own home. This arrangement meant my son had to find somewhere else to stay whenever he returned home. Now that my new house is almost finished, I feel at peace. Soon, he will have a proper place to come back to when he’s on break from school."

"While in the village, I typically engage in subsistence farming and keeping livestock, which I have always viewed as valuable assets in times of financial need. Currently, I own five goats and plan to use $100 from my recent transfer to purchase more goats to add to my existing herd. By allowing them to grow, I aim to sell them later for some extra income. In addition to this, I'm also looking to renovate my house, which has been in dire need of repairs for several months. The roof has become quite dilapidated, and during the recent storms, the winds blew it away, leaving the entire structure exposed. I had to endure the cold weather and uncomfortable living conditions for some time, as I couldn’t start the renovations right away. I managed to gather what was left from the storm and temporarily patched up the roof using old materials. Though this arrangement didn’t sit well with me, I had no choice because I couldn’t afford new building materials. Receiving this support has been a huge relief, as I can now buy the necessary materials like iron sheets, building poles, timber, and nails for the renovation. I also plan to rebuild the entire structure with stones and cement to make it more durable since it was originally constructed with mud. I’ve set aside the remaining $450 for this project, ensuring that my family and I will have a safe, comfortable place to live."

"While in the village, I typically engage in subsistence farming and keeping livestock, which I have always viewed as valuable assets in times of financial need. Currently, I own five goats and plan to use $100 from my recent transfer to purchase more goats to add to my existing herd. By allowing them to grow, I aim to sell them later for some extra income. In addition to this, I'm also looking to renovate my house, which has been in dire need of repairs for several months. The roof has become quite dilapidated, and during the recent storms, the winds blew it away, leaving the entire structure exposed. I had to endure the cold weather and uncomfortable living conditions for some time, as I couldn’t start the renovations right away. I managed to gather what was left from the storm and temporarily patched up the roof using old materials. Though this arrangement didn’t sit well with me, I had no choice because I couldn’t afford new building materials. Receiving this support has been a huge relief, as I can now buy the necessary materials like iron sheets, building poles, timber, and nails for the renovation. I also plan to rebuild the entire structure with stones and cement to make it more durable since it was originally constructed with mud. I’ve set aside the remaining $450 for this project, ensuring that my family and I will have a safe, comfortable place to live."

"The last time we spoke, I mentioned my plans to buy animals, and I’m pleased to share that I’ve made significant progress toward that goal. I now own 5 goats, 3 sheep, and 15 chickens, which feels like a big step forward. Selling some of the chickens has helped me provide food for my family and support my child's education. I’m motivated to continue expanding by adding more animals with the help of my GiveDirectly transfers, allowing them to keep reproducing and increasing in number. This way, I’ll have a sustainable resource to sell from whenever needed. My long-term vision is to purchase my own piece of land and build a house for myself. Right now, I’m staying with my mother, but I’m diligently saving to turn this dream into reality. I also work in tailoring, though only occasionally, which helps contribute to my overall goals."

"The process was clear from start to finish—everything was well explained, and I didn’t have to pay a single shilling to be part of it. The best part was the freedom we were given to spend the money however we wanted. Whether it was buying food, repairing a roof, or starting a small business, the decision was entirely ours. That flexibility meant we could address our most urgent needs instead of being told what was best for us. Honestly, I don't think anything needs to be changed about the program. The way GiveDirectly treats us—with dignity and trust—has empowered many in my community. I hope they keep things exactly the way they are because it works. People here now believe they have a chance at building something better for themselves, and that’s priceless."

"I used $320 to buy a young heifer, hoping it will soon mature and eventually give birth. Once it calves, I plan to start milking it, which will reduce the burden of buying milk—something I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember. This small investment makes me optimistic about having a steady supply of milk for my family in the near future. With $62, I was able to clear my son’s school fees. He is in Grade 3 at a private school, and I didn’t want him to miss any lessons because of unpaid fees. Ensuring he stays in school is a priority, and this money brought me a sense of relief, knowing his education won’t be disrupted for now. I used the remaining amount to buy food for the house. With a newborn at home, it’s not easy for me to go out and look for work or income, so having enough food is crucial. It allows me to focus on my baby without worrying about where our next meal will come from. Every cent of the transfer has been a lifeline, helping me take small but meaningful steps toward stability."