"I am grateful GiveDirectly opened my eyes to a better life"

"Life has become so tougher since I separated from my husband 6 months ago. This left me with the burden of taking care of my daughter single-handedly, a responsibility that I was not ready for. What a life! Currently, I am involved in selling donuts within the village, a job that I am supported by my sister-in-law. In a day, I make $1.5 which I spend on food and other necessities. Despite having dress-making skills, I lack the capital to start a reliable business that can be sustainable. Hence, I consider the lack of a reliable source of income as my biggest challenge."

"Housing is the challenge I am currently facing in life. I live in a one room house with grass roof and it leaks during rain season. I cannot even accommodate visitors in my house due to its space."

"Life was incredibly tough when my house collapsed during the heavy rains. It was heartbreaking to see . family struggling, seeking shelter from a neighbor while my husband endured the cold nights. However, after receiving the cash transfer from GiveDirectly, our lives took a turn for the better. Though the new structure may not be exactly as I had hoped, the relief of having a place to call home is immense. Now, even amidst challenges, there's a sense of stability and security that fills our hearts with gratitude."

"I can vividly recall that day's events. I was outside, busy with laundry, when suddenly, my eldest daughter came running out of the house, shouting "GiveDirectly!, GiveDirectly!". Startled, I stopped what I was doing and looked at her. She showed me the MPESA message confirming that the GD transfer had been sent. Upon confirmation, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Tears of joy welled up in my eyes as I thanked God for the provision through GD. We had been struggling to make ends meet, relying on the arduous task of charcoal burning to sustain our livelihood. Some days, we even went hungry if I couldn't find a buyer for a sack of charcoal, priced at a mere $6, which was barely enough to support our family of five. The sight of that money in my MPESA account was a profound relief, as it meant that my worries about providing food for my family had been alleviated. I am immensely grateful to GD for their support."

"I have spent most of my transfer on buying a plot in a safe place."

"What truly impressed me about receiving support from GiveDirectly was the direct and uncomplicated nature of the assistance. The fact that the cash transfers are unconditional and arrived at the perfect time made a significant difference. This timely support enabled children from underprivileged backgrounds to attend school, demonstrating the impact of such aid. I hope GiveDirectly continues with this approach, as it is making a meaningful difference in people's lives."

"I want to construct a house in the land that i just bought"

"I am happy with GD services because their transfers gave me hope to move to a safer place"

"I consider the lack of a reliable source of income as my biggest challenge. This is because, since I separated from my husband almost 10 years ago, I remained with the burden of taking care of my 2 young children. This means I am required to engage in any available job including casual work at the mining sites. All my daily wage which is mostly $8 goes into paying school fees for my children leaving me with nothing to save. At home, my house is very small with no privacy at all. We normally use rugged sacks and clothes as our beddings. What a worrying situation for my family!"