"My biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life is that I had twins of which my sons' were all well. They grew up very healthy and three years back , one of them developed an epilepsy disease and eventually died. Thus this is my biggest hardship to see my child dying of a disease he never had before ."

"My biggest hardship is that since I was born, I have been relying on charcoal burning business.Its hard and it has ruined my body and I feel I have no strength. I was married and my husband was doing a casual labour in the nearby town but he died 20 years ago and left me with 6 children to feed on and of which I depend on charcoal burning business-- this is the biggest hardship in my life."

"The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is the lack of a reliable source of income to meet my family's needs such as education for my two daughters. The charcoal burning occupation I engage myself in is not well rewarding meaning I am ever in problems year in year out. Inability to meet my family's basic needs really breaks my heart."

"The biggest hardship in my life has been prolonged heart problems. I have been to several hospitals and currently I am under medication hoping that one day I will be out of this problem and lead a happy life just like others."

"Lack of a reliable source of income is my biggest hardship I have faced in life. I am an elderly woman who depends on small substance farming in our village. The produces from my land are not enough for consumption use and selling in order to earn income so that I can meet my family needs such food and school fees."

"My dream is to have a well ventilated kitchen. Even though it's separate from the main house, it's very old with a grass roof. The roof has started falling off and when it rains it pours inside. Since it's small the soot and smoke make it difficult to cook inside, that is why receiving this money will mean a lot to us. We'll be able to build a new kitchen by using KES 25,000 of the transfer, buy a dairy cow worth KES 25,000 and the remaining amount for food and clothes."

"My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have paid school fees for my grandchildren. I have three grandchildren who are in secondary school. Their mother passed on and I was left with the responsibility of taking care of them. I depend on small scale farming. I plant beans and vegetables. I sell this produce at the market and earn an income to pay the school fees. Sometimes I take this produce to school as a form of paying the school fees. My grandchildren sometimes are sent home for school fees. Due to the fact that I did not have ready cash they could stay home for quite some time and this was affecting their performance. This was making me worried. When I received the second transfer I decided to pay school fees for this academic year. They were not sent home this time. They were able to study weell and improve in their performance. I have enough time to save some money for next academic term. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled me to educate my grandchildren and I also have peace of mind to do my daily activities at home."

"In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well."

"My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I was able to pay school fees for my children in various schools. I spent KES 35,000 for my children in secondary school. This gave me peace of mind because I knew my children will not be sent home to collect the school fees. I do my chores peacefully and ensure that I save some money to pay for the next academic term. My children used to be sent home and this was affecting their performance. I depend on small scale farming and I was not in a position to pay school fees on time. My children were so demoralized because they could spent more time at home. I didn't had money to pay immediately whenever they are sent. This was affecting their performance. Currently I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled me to educate my children and ensure that their future bright."

"The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember vividly like yesterday. It was 9am when I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I was in the farm digging. I reluctantly check it out little did I know it was from GiveDirectly. I couldn't believe my eyes when I checked it, it was a message indicating that I have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I have never received such amount of money before in my entire life. I felt so happy, I run back home to inform my family members. They all celebrated with joy. I knew from that point that I I'll be able to buy a dairy cow. I went to Mpesa agent and withdrew all the money. I bought bedding and food for the family that day."