"The cash message got me home, and I felt so happy, and the first thought was to buy some food since we had no food at home at that point"

"There's a big difference now, I am stable now without stress, am o"

"Losing my house to the heavy rain left me restless, and I had been relying on my son's place for shelter, which didn't bring much peace of mind. When the second transfer from GiveDirectly came through, I spent $360 on 30 pieces of iron sheets and some building poles, determined to invest in the construction of my own house. The prospect of having a place to call my own filled me with hope and a sense of security. In addition to rebuilding, I allocated $40 for medication after falling ill, and I'm grateful to say that I am now well. Being a widow dependent on my son's earnings as a casual laborer, I used a portion of the money to buy a sack of maize, ensuring we had food at home and allowing him to save some of his hard-earned money. The remaining amount was wisely saved, patiently waiting for my son to accumulate more funds so that we could kick off the construction project and finally have a home of our own."

"I used to sleep on a small traditional bed that was broken on one side, making my nights uncomfortable. Every morning, I would wake up feeling tired. However, when I received the second transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to make a change. I used the money to buy a standard modern bed and a comfortable mattress. Now, I am happy and comfortable as I sleep well, waking up feeling refreshed compared to how I felt before. Not only did I invest in a new bed, but I also decided to use part of the cash to build a small, nice house. My previous dwelling had collapsed due to heavy rains at the end of last year, so having a strong and secure place is a huge relief. With the remaining amount, I made sure to buy enough food, allowing me to focus on farming instead of constantly searching for casual labor just to put food on the table. This support from GiveDirectly has not only improved my living conditions but also allowed me to work towards a more sustainable and fulfilling future."

"In my opinion GD does well by giving cash to us. This gives us an opportunity to spend the money in a way that pleases us. I can now plan ahead. I now have a double house and can have visitors anytime"

"IRON SHEETS BECAUSE I WANT TO GET A BETTER HOUSE BECAUSE I SLEEP BADLY"

"Once I receive my last transfer, I will prioritize fencing of my compound. Lately, I have had a lot of intereference from goats whom we share the same compound and I feel that I should seclude them in their compound. I also look forward to purchasing a water tank and have access to clean drinking water. All these would only be possible where there is money. If I get enough or extra money I will be able to renovate my house by erecting a new roof. The current roof is leaking."

"After receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I allocated $200 to purchase a wire mesh to fence my farm. This decision was motivated by the need for security, aiming to enhance the protection of my land and anticipate increased productivity during harvesting. The secure environment is crucial for ensuring a steady food supply. I plan to redirect proceeds from surplus harvests to cover school fees for my kids. The remaining $250 were utilized to buy two goats. I am genuinely happy and grateful to GiveDirectly for facilitating these improvements in my life."

"I am an ageing person as you can see with no family members close to me that can help me out on most of the things. I also lost some of my children in the recent past that forced me to relocate to the place I am currently living in. I have been staying here for white sometime now but was afraid that I could be sent away anytime soon. I am glad that with the transfer that I received, I was able to buy this piece of land and now await to build a better house than the one I am currently staying in. I already bought pieces of iron sheets worth $150 and the piece of land cost me $100. I then bought a delight solar worth $50 and maize worth $80. I am extremely happy for what GiveDirectly funds have enabled me to do. These are things that I hardly imagined I could do."

"Recently, I received $450 from GiveDirectly. I spent $320 on purchasing a water tank, eliminating the need to travel 7 kilometers for water. This was especially challenging since my grandchildren, who used to help, are now attending school. The joy of being able to harvest rainwater at home is immense. The remaining $80 was used to buy food for my family, ensuring that both I and my grandchildren have enough to eat. I am now content knowing that our basic needs for water and food are met, bringing happiness to our home."