"I was at home, checking on my goats, when my daughter suddenly called out, "Mom, you have received money!" I rushed over to confirm, and when I saw the notification, I confirmed that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly, just as they had promised. Together with my daughter, we were filled with joy. The first thing I did was pray and thank God for this blessing. In that moment, I knew that my plans were finally going to be fulfilled."

"Living in my brother's house for the last three years has not been easy, and the uncertainty of eventually having to leave has always weighed on me. After my marriage broke down, my parents offered me a piece of land to build on, fulfilling my wish of living in my own house. Unfortunately, I didn't have the means to do so until GiveDirectly's support made it possible. I used my first transfer to buy building materials, and with my next transfer, I plan to build a house and fulfill my dream of having my own home, ensuring my children have shelter without having to worry."

"My plan was to sell my goat to cover the cost of leasing land and transplanting my vegetable seedlings. Instead, I received my transfer from GiveDirectly, which not only facilitated these expenses but also allowed me to buy an additional goat. This was truly a blessing. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Before receiving the transfer, life was challenging for me and my family. My husband is a farmer, and I run a small shop at home selling foodstuffs. The floods nearly wiped out my business as many people in the village, including us, had to relocate. The damage was extensive—I lost sugar, maize, 14 chickens, and even their eggs. I had to sell my goats just to restock my shop and replace the utensils and shoes my kids lost. Although food was not too difficult to access due to the shop, the strain was immense, especially with a 2-year-old son to care for.When I received the transfer, I wanted to ensure that I made investments that would support us in the future. I bought three sheep for $150, seeing them as a safety net that I could sell in case of an emergency. I also spent $20 to purchase flasks and jars to add stock to my business, expanding it beyond just selling foodstuffs. Additionally, I used $30 to buy clothes for my family and two plastic chairs to add to the two we already had."

"In my life, I never thought I could rebuild after being affected by the floods, especially when my toilet sank. I kept wondering where I could find the money to repair it, especially since I'm just a charcoal burner. Rearing four kids wasn't easy, and my husband is also just a small-scale farmer. But now, I am very happy and grateful to GiveDirectly for your support. The sanitation at my home is now well taken care of."

"Previously, before I received money from GiveDirectly, I was sick for an entire month without going to the hospital because I couldn't even afford the transport to a government facility. However, as soon as I received the cash, I went to the hospital, and now I am feeling much better. Without GiveDirectly's support, I might not have survived, so I am truly grateful for the help. I am hopeful for even more improvement in my life when I receive the second transfer."

"Raising seven children has been tough for me. Ensuring they have everything they need has been a constant struggle, especially since neither my husband nor I are employed; we are both farmers and charcoal burners. In our area, charcoal is a significant source of income, as one sack sells for $7, and I used to produce four sacks per week. So, when I received the cash, I used $60 to ensure we had enough food at home, which gave me the energy and peace of mind to continue with my farming. Additionally, I spent $50 to purchase a sheep, as I didn’t own any livestock before. I saw this as a good investment since it could become a source of income in the future or be sold in case of emergencies. I also used $40 to send transport money to my four children who were returning home from school. Finally, I spent the remaining $20 on clothes for my husband, who had almost no decent clothing left. His old clothes were so worn out that he couldn’t even go out to socialize with other men due to the shame."

"Before I received the money from GiveDirectly, I was severely affected by floods. The floods destroyed my entire maize farm, which I had been eagerly waiting to harvest, and took away all 14 of my chickens. I felt so embarrassed because I had been relying on that maize to sell and pay for my children's school fees. But I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly because the money I received became a source of hope in my life. My children had accumulated huge arrears at school and had been in and out of school every term. Now, I thank God because they are peacefully studying, and for the younger ones, there is enough food at home when they return from school in the afternoon."

"The biggest difference in my life right now is that I no longer have to go out looking for casual jobs to provide for my family. Before receiving the cash from GiveDirectly, I used to burn charcoal just to make sure my children had something to eat. It was a hard life, always struggling to make ends meet. But now, thanks to GiveDirectly, I have enough to feed my family without having to resort to burning charcoal. I only take on casual labor when the need arises, but it's no longer a daily necessity. This support has truly changed our lives for the better."

"When the floods came, they took everything we had on the farm—our maize and melons were just a week away from harvest, and it all got swept away. I was devastated and knew I had to find a way to make money to sustain my family. Then, GiveDirectly's unconditional cash came, and it changed everything. I was able to replant, and now I have melons that will be ready for harvesting in 20 days. For the first time in a long while, I have something to look forward to. Before, I felt like I had nothing, and the weight of it was almost pulling me into depression. Now, I'm always busy on the farm, and it gives me a sense of purpose that I desperately needed."