"I am currently using a portion of my transfers to help my parents pay for my younger sister's college fees. She is nearing the completion of her course, and I am excited to embark on my own educational journey next year. Next year, I plan to join college and pursue a certificate course in mechanical engineering. To make this dream a reality, I am diligently saving a portion of my transfers. By the time I am ready to enroll, I am confident that I will have accumulated a substantial amount to cover my tuition fees and other expenses. In addition to saving for my education, I am also planning to invest in more goats using another portion of my transfers. By next year, I expect these goats to have increased in value whereby I will sell them to generate additional funds for my college. Joining college has always been my dream, and I am happy to be on the journey of making it a reality. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for providing me with this life-changing opportunity and I am hopeful and confident that all my plans will come to fruition as I look forward to a future filled with success and personal growth."

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, my initial plan was to pay for a piece of land that we had placed a deposit on. However, the landowner insisted on receiving the full payment and not installments . With that option off the table, I decided to invest $150 in buying a dairy cow to add to the one I already owned. I've been spending money on buying milk, and I thought owning another cow would be a wise decision, as it would save me some expenses. Now, with two cows, I won't need to buy milk anymore, which will ease my financial burden in the long run. I also had a small but pressing hospital debt of $5, which I owed because my son had received treatment, and I hadn't been able to pay it off at the time. Being able to fulfill that promise made me feel relieved and at peace, knowing I had honored my word and removed that worry from my mind. With the remaining amount, I bought essential household items like a bag of maize and some sugar. Having them on hand gives me a sense of security, knowing that we have enough food to sustain us for a while."

"Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I took time to carefully plan and prioritize my needs. I allocated $90 to buy food, a timely relief, as the transfer came just after I had been severely affected by the floods. I wasn't alone—almost everyone in the village suffered losses. Personally, my farm and chickens were swept away. When we returned from the camp where we had sought refuge, I found there was no food, no farm to harvest from, and no casual jobs to earn money. We were starving. Thanks to the money from GiveDirectly, I could buy enough food to last my family for two months. Now, we eat three full meals daily, something we couldn’t do before. After securing food, I decided to invest in a sheep, spending $55. I see this as a long-term investment that will multiply over time, ensuring that when my children advance to secondary school, I will have something to rely on for their education. With the remaining money, I bought chairs, as we previously had nothing to sit on, not even for visitors. Now, I live comfortably, full of happiness and gratitude."

"Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I couldn't wait for the morning to go to town and carry out my plans. I had been sleeping on a torn mattress and a bed that had been damaged by floods, and I was eager to change this so I could sleep comfortably and with dignity. I allocated $89 to buy a new bed and mattress, and now, I truly enjoy my sleep. It’s comfortable and relaxing, especially after a long day of casual work. At that time, we had no food at home. We had just returned from the camp where we stayed after being displaced by the floods. With no food to eat and no crops to harvest, I used $55 to buy enough food to address our immediate needs. Now, we enjoy full meals, and I am so thankful to GiveDirectly for their timely support. I used the rest of the money to buy chairs, which we now use to sit on and welcome visitors. This has brought a great sense of comfort and dignity to our home."

"Recently, upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I was overjoyed and grateful to both God and GiveDirectly for this timely support. My family of four children had been facing a severe food crisis since the floods had swept away the farm we relied on. With no casual jobs available, life was very difficult. I spent $50 to buy food for my family, and now we can comfortably have three meals a day, unlike before when we struggled to eat even one meal. Additionally, I had been sleeping on traditional makeshift bedding, which was very uncomfortable given my old age. I used $80 to buy a new bed and mattress, and now I truly enjoy my sleep. I also spent $45 to buy clothes for all four of my children. I wanted them to feel appreciated and look good now that we had the money. The remaining funds were used to buy chairs for our home, providing more comfort and adding assets that we previously lacked."

"The biggest change in my life since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly is in my children's education. My kids are now in school like others, especially my son, who is in Form 4. His education is at a critical stage, and I didn’t want any interruptions, which is why I chose to use the money on school fees to keep him in school. Another significant difference is the availability of food. Before these transfers, I had nothing left on the farm after the floods. But since GiveDirectly stepped in, my family has had enough food, and I am truly grateful for their support."

"Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I was thrilled because I knew this amount would help address my most pressing needs. I allocated $30 to buy enough food to last my family for at least a month. This was crucial since floods had recently swept away my maize farm, making it difficult for us to afford food. Now, we have enough to eat, which has improved our family life significantly. When everyone is well-fed, our home is filled with love and happiness. I used $60 to buy a sheep. I had five sheep before, and the new one gave birth upon arrival, bringing the total to seven. This made me value the support from GiveDirectly even more. After the floods, I wanted to get back on my feet and return to farming, but in a safer location. I spent $45 to buy pipes for irrigation, which I am now using to water my 1.5 acres of land where I have planted maize. I plan to use the produce to address our food needs and sell any surplus to reinvest in farming, making it sustainable. I used the remaining money to buy clothes for my kids so they would have something tangible to remember GiveDirectly for."

"I have seen significant improvements in my life, and I am grateful to GiveDirectly for providing me with unconditional cash. I was able to make my own decisions on how to use the funds, and it truly helped me according to my plans. Nowadays, you will find me either at my farm or at home relaxing. Before, I was never at home because I was always out looking for casual jobs, with no food to bring back. Now, I am happy to have food readily available at home, and my beans are thriving on my farm. The GiveDirectly money has impressed me greatly because my life changed so much immediately after receiving it."

"Being illiterate is challenging, especially when you can't read or write. When the GiveDirectly money arrived early one afternoon, I didn’t even realize it until my children came home from school and excitedly told me, "Mum, the money has come!" I asked them to check the phone, and soon they were running back with shouts of joy—one needed books, and another wanted trousers. My entire compound was filled with laughter and excitement that day. I was so thrilled that I sent the children to the shop to buy milk, making a special treat out of what was usually just vegetables for us."

"Since I’m old and can’t burn charcoal like others here to earn a living, I mainly grow a small amount of kale on my farm to sell and cover my bills. All of my children are married, and my husband passed away a long time ago. I live with my two grandchildren because I can't stay alone, and caring for them is not easy. Sometimes their mother helps with providing food. After receiving the cash, I used $50 to buy enough food to last for 90 days, ensuring I have supplies while I care for the two goats I bought for $115. These goats will not only be a future investment but also a lasting reminder of the help from GiveDirectly, which I truly appreciate. Additionally, I had no chairs and was using a jerrycan to sit, as all my chairs were broken and I couldn't afford new ones with my income from selling kale. I used $15 to buy two plastic chairs. Finally, I spent the remaining $20 on clothes for myself and my grandchildren, as we had no suitable clothing for outings."