"We are living in a semi-arid area and this has been the main source of our family problems. The land here is not arable and it is characterized by harsh climatic conditions. This area is therefore not favourable for crop production. Life is difficult since we rely on buying food from the market. Sometimes food is sold at an exorbitant price. We do not have a reliable source of family income and it posts a major challenge to us. We are struggling to put food on the table for my family of four."

"Recently, I received $450 from GiveDirectly, and I had already planned how to use it. I spent $162 on construction materials, such as iron sheets and frames, to improve my house. Previously, I lived in a one-room house, which was not enough for my family of six. Now, I have added an extra room, making it more comfortable for all of us. I also bought a sofa for $50, which has improved the look of my home and provided comfort for my family. We now have a nice place to sit together. To ensure we had enough food, I spent $30 on groceries, and I am grateful that my family now has enough food on the table. Additionally, I spent $200 to buy a cow. I came up with this idea by observing my neighbors who owned cows and saw how they didn't struggle to buy milk. I wanted to enjoy the same benefits. I plan to take care of the cow, benefit from the milk, and when it has calves, I can sell some to cover other household needs and school fees."

"I was at home with my kids when I was scrolling through my phone and saw a message pop up. Upon checking it, I saw that GiveDirectly had sent me $200. I felt grateful and happy for their support. The first thought that came to my mind was to buy construction materials so I could build a new house, as my current one is old and in need of repair."

"When I received $200 from GiveDirectly, I was excited and thankful. It was such timely support because, as a mother with a two-month-old baby, it was hard to manage without food. I spent $70 on food, and now we have enough to eat, and my family no longer skips meals. I also used $30 to buy new clothes for everyone in the family, so we could all celebrate and feel the significance of this support. Additionally, I spent $90 to pay my children's school fees. Before, they were used to coming home in search of school fees, and their studies were interrupted countless times. But now, they are in school, studying without the stress and disruption caused by unpaid fees."

"I was doing my usual casual labor when my friend started celebrating, saying they had received money from GiveDirectly. I had left my phone at home charging, so I couldn't join in without checking my status. Eager and desperate to find out, I rushed home. As soon as I got there, I went straight to my phone and turned it on. Immediately, a message from GiveDirectly popped up, informing me that I had received $180. I was so happy and quickly told my family. The first thought that came to my mind was to buy food, as we had none at home."

"Looking ahead, within one year, I plan to start a business to generate more income. With one of my children finishing Form 4, I don’t want him to stay idle at home while waiting to join college. I hope to involve him in the business so he can gain valuable skills. The thought of achieving this fills me with satisfaction, knowing that I’ll wake up every day with a purpose and something productive to do. I plan to use the income from the business to improve my standard of living and complete building a new home."

"Recently, after receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I was so happy and grateful for their support. I had long dreamed of building a new house for my five children because our old house was too small and couldn’t accommodate us properly. I used $330 to buy construction materials, and now we have a new, spacious house. This has made my dream come true, and my family can now sleep with dignity and enjoy privacy. I also used $80 to buy a smartphone, which has improved my standard of living. I can now connect with the world, stay updated on what’s happening globally, and keep up with how life is becoming more digital, even while living in the village. I am truly thankful to GiveDirectly for helping me achieve more than I ever thought possible."

"Upon receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I had several pressing needs to address. I used $200 to pay school fees for two of my children. It had been difficult to come up with the fees, and this assistance really helped me take care of that. Now, I can focus on other priorities. Another urgent issue was food for my family. I have a large family with nine kids, so I spent $100 on food. Now, we have enough to eat, and it has greatly improved our family life. Everyone is happy and energetic. I also used $100 to buy two goats as a long-term investment. As the goats multiply, they will help us handle emergencies without fear. The remaining amount went towards buying clothes for my kids, and they are happy and grateful."

"First of all, I want to thank GiveDirectly for the incredible work they have done in my community. They are truly dedicated to their mission, carrying out their work with focus and without distractions. Moving forward, I would love to see them expand their programs beyond cash transfers. In addition to the financial support, I believe it would be beneficial for them to also focus on improving essential services like healthcare, roads, and electricity. These areas are crucial for the overall development of our community and would make a lasting impact on our lives."

"The challenge I'm facing currently is the lack of money. This is a big problem for me because I only depend on livestock and charcoal burning as a source of money. Cutting down trees and burning charcoal is a difficult job and sometimes the money from it is not enough to meet our needs. Also, I have few livestock and I have to wait for many months before I sell some. This has made life quite difficult."