"The biggest hardship in my life has been financial stability due to unemployment. One and a half years ago I separated from my wife because I didn't have an income to support the family. If I had a stable source of income then she wouldn't have left me. I wasn't fortunate enough to go past my secondary education because my father did not have money to send all my 5 siblings past that level of education. It meant I had to have something extra whole applying for jobs since most requirements are degree certificates."

"Receiving this money is a blessing because i have never received this amount of money."

"At the moment it's very difficult to take care of my mother the way I have always wanted, so it's difficult to provide food, proper shelter and clothes."

"The biggest hardship i have faced in my life is having enough food"

"I have alot of problems in the house. Firstly my house is not in good shape, I will buy food, and beddings. I did farm last year but I did not harvest enough food to take us the whole year because I did not apply fertiliser, with the money I am planning to buy fertiliser that will enable me to harvest with a surplus that I will be selling the surplus to be buying fertiliser."

"My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I paid all the school fees for my children in various schools. I do construction jobs and the money that I get through this is so small and cannot meet all the household expenditure including paying school fees. My children used to be sent home to collect school fees and this was affecting their performance since lessons were on going. I was so worried about this. When I received the second transfer I found it wise to pay school fees first before other projects. My children studied for that term without being sent home. This led to improving their grades in school. On my side I had peace of mind to do my daily activities without being disturbed. I saved some money in merry go round group that we have started in our village to enable me to pay for the next term school fees. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard."

"I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on school fees for my son who was in form four. I am so happy because my son was able to do his exams without being sent home to collect the school fees. I also bought sofa set seats which I didn't have. My house look so decent now and whenever I have visitors I host them comfortably. I settled the debts that I had borrowed to pay hospital bills. The rest of the money I bought food and clothes for my children."

"My family and I currently live in a 0.5 acre land that is not sufficient for tilling, hence receiving this money will enable me to buy a 2 acre piece of land at $600. I will then use $250 to build a better house since the current one-roomed grass thatched hut we live in with my spouse and 2 children is too tiny and leaks in water during rainy seasons. I also intend to buy one dairy cow for milking, thus the lessening the daily worry of where to get money to buy milk for my family consumption."

"In this village, there has been an increase in lawlessness over the past six months.This is threatening when I consider myself being a woman who is living with small children. Since this house in poor shape,I stand a high chance of the little belongings I have to get stolen. The house also put our lives at risk as it can be easily blown away during heavy rain and strong winds. Hence, my inability to have a good house is my biggest hardship currently."

"My life is different from how it would have been because, I now sleep in a better environment. Before GiveDirectly came into my life, I used to shelter under a small house that was not in good condition and very small. I used to keep most of my properties under a tree because of the unlimited space and this related to the loss of my properties and some being damaged. Currently, I am sheltering in a big house which is spacious enough to accommodate my family and my belonging. Also with the goats that I also purchased have made my life to be much different as well. I can now proudly say I have assets that I can always depend on in case of any financial constraints or emergency. Also once they multiply I can sell some and start other projects ie a hotel or a kiosk."