"After a long and exhausting day on the farm, I was so tired that I collapsed under my favorite tree to rest. There was no one at home to prepare lunch because my wife had gone to a prayer event for one of our neighbor’s children. Just as I was about to doze off, a message popped up on my phone. At first, I thought it was just a regular M-Pesa alert, but the sender was listed as Xegofia Technology Kenya, not GiveDirectly.Curious and a bit doubtful, I decided to visit a nearby center to check if anyone else had received a similar message. To my surprise, the center was buzzing with excitement. People were shouting and laughing joyfully. I joined the celebration, and we all went to a local hotel for tea.When my wife arrived home in the evening, she asked if I had received any money. I told her yes, and we sat down as a family to discuss our plans. I gave her the opportunity to decide how to use the funds, as I believe women are excellent decision-makers. She suggested that we first purchase a solar panel so our children would have light to do their homework."

"About six years ago, my wife and I separated, and she took our two children with her. Although the children live with her, I am responsible for paying their school fees. I have been struggling to plant Kenyan seeds and use the proceeds to cover their fees and ensure I have food at home. After receiving this cash, I used $60 to pay for school fees since I hadn’t sold anything that term because my farm was swept away by floods. To ensure I have something to invest in and sell in case of an emergency, I decided to use $50 to purchase a goat. When it gives birth, I will use the milk and sell it if needed.Additionally, I had been sleeping on a traditional bed made of sticks. Although I was comfortable with it, I wanted to have something more like what my friends and neighbors have, so I spent $50 on a new bed. With the remaining amount, I bought food to stock up at home, ensuring that while I continue burning charcoal, I have something to eat without having to borrow from shops."

"My husband is a boda boda rider, earning about $3 per day, which we primarily relied on for food. I also work as a charcoal burner to support him if he doesn’t get enough customers. When we received the cash, we decided to invest $100 in purchasing watermelon seeds. We planned to plant them when the water on our land receded. We chose this investment because watermelon yields high income, and the market is readily available. Before receiving this cash, we didn’t have a toilet or bathroom, so I used $80 to buy iron sheets to start constructing one. When I receive the second transfer, I will complete the construction, which will allow us to take showers and use the toilet in privacy, rather than relying on the bushes as we do now.With the remaining $20, I purchased food to stock up at home, which helps us avoid buying small amounts every day."

"Previously, no one could find me at home, and visitors or neighbors would never come to see me because I had nothing, not even food, to offer them. But now, my door is open to everyone. I also have good clothes to wear and change into, all thanks to your unconditional cash. I love you so much because you have changed my life. I appreciate it deeply because even my brother, who is the first judge in the Ilchamus community, has never helped me the way GiveDirectly has."

"Life had never been easy for us. My husband and I are farmers and charcoal burners, struggling to make ends meet through casual jobs, living hand to mouth with nothing left to save or invest. Although we farm, we never harvest enough to sell due to droughts, and during the rainy seasons, our fields are often flooded. To improve our situation, we decided to use $1,400 to purchase two goats. These goats will provide us with milk in the future, ensuring my children have a steady supply and reducing the expense of buying it from the shops.After that, I spent $56 to buy 30 improved chicks, along with their chick mash feeds and medication. This investment will benefit us in the near future; as the chicks multiply, I can sell them, and we'll have eggs to both eat and sell. I have three children, and they all love boiled eggs, so I’m sure by December, the hens will start laying, and my kids will enjoy fresh eggs every day. In my heart, I feel a deep sense of happiness as I care for the chicks and goats at home. I’m truly grateful to GiveDirectly for providing us with this unconditional cash. Thank you for your support."

"It was on the evening of July 14th while I was preparing our evening meal when I suddenly heard my phone beep twice. Curious, I put down what I was doing and went to check it. The first message was from GiveDirectly, confirming that the unconditional cash had been transferred to my account. The second message was from Fuliza, deducting the amount I owed. I stood there, whispered a thank you prayer to God, phone in hand, thinking about how this money would finally allow me to pay my children's school fees, a burden that had been weighing heavily on my mind."

"The biggest difference in my life since I received the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is that I've been able to add two more goats to my flock. I used to have just three, but now with five goats, I can look forward to selling some of them when they grow, which will help me buy inputs for my farm. Another change that has brought me so much joy is that I was finally able to purchase a sofa set. Before, I only had two plastic chairs, and whenever I had visitors, I had to borrow more chairs from my neighbors just to accommodate everyone. Now, I feel more confident and proud to host guests in my home."

"The biggest difference since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly is the ability to have enough food at home. Previously, after the floods, I could barely manage one meal a day. Now, I comfortably enjoy three meals a day, which has greatly improved my health. I feel happy and stress-free because I no longer worry about where my next meal will come from. I don't think there's any institution in the world that can do what GiveDirectly has done for me and my neighbors. I have never received such an amount of money before, nor have I been trusted to plan for myself in this way. God bless GiveDirectly for their support, and I hope we see more of this kind of assistance in the future."

"The biggest difference in my life now is the sense of peace I enjoy. Previously, I was always worried about where to find the next coin for food and other household needs. Now, I have enough food to eat, and I feel confident welcoming and serving visitors when they come. I also have a bed and mattress that I bought with the GiveDirectly money, which has been especially helpful after the floods that swept away our household items, including bedding. I now sleep peacefully and comfortably, thanks to GiveDirectly. I am deeply grateful for the positive impact they have had on my life."

"I was at a prayer day at Emining Boys when I received a confirmation message that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly. I was with other recipients who also got the money, and it felt like even more blessings after the prayers. We all traveled back home to plan, and our journey was filled with joy, especially since most of us had received the money. My first thought was about transforming my house from a traditional manyatta to a modern one. So, my immediate plan was to buy iron sheets to make this home project a reality."