"My desire has been to build a new house to live with my family. I was living in a grass thatched house for years. It was leaking uncontrollable whenever in rained. I was at times seeking shelter from my neighbours. However, because I lacked the resources to do this, I was forced to live in my grass thatched house. When I received my first transfer, I spent a bigger portion of it on buying building materials which include building poles, nails and iron sheets and paid for the labour cost. My house will now be complete soon and move into it. This is an achievement that I could not accomplish at my own cost had I not received the transfer."

"Having my own piece of land to dwell with my family makes it to be the biggest difference in my life. I was previously living in my parents compound after my husband died. I was not at peace living with my parents having my family and my children are out of age. My desire was to have my own land where my children would be free to build their own houses. GiveDirectly has helped me to achieve this desire after giving me the transfer."

"I heard my phone ringing in the afternoon, a notification of an incoming message. When I checked the contents of the message, I was excited and felt happy since I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I thanked them for coming through to help me."

"I received the transfer notification around midday. When I checked the contents, I realised it was money from GiveDirectly. I felt happy having received a financial help from them."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now living in a new spacious and iron roofed house. I built this house through the first transfer. My previous house had collapsed many years back. I was forced to live in what used to be my kitchen. It was not spacious and also was grass thatched. I am happy that GiveDirectly has helped me with this. I would still be living in my old kitchen had I not received this help."

"I spent a larger portion of my first transfer on constructing a new house. I was previously staying in a grass thatched house. I was planning to upgrade to a better one but since I lacked the financial resources, I was not able to buy the necessary materials. I am happy that GiveDirectly has enabled me to achieve this. I purchased iron sheets and building poles to facilitate this. I also paid the mason for his job. I spent the remaining amount to buy some foodstuffs for my family and bought new school uniforms for my children who were resuming their studies."

"I spent my first transfer on buying a cow at KES 26000 and two goats. I chose to buy these livestock because they will help me to raise fees for my children who are still young. As they reproduce and increase in number, I will be able to sell the offsprings to cater for my financial needs. In addition to this, I also spent KES 20000 to clear the fees for my son who is in the university. They had been out of school for long due to the pandemic. It would have been difficult for me to raise the whole amount had I not received this help. I am happy he is now comfortably in school. I spent the remaining amount to buy some foodstuffs and other basic needs for my family."

"Owning livestock is the biggest difference in my daily life. Its been my desire to own them since they are assets that I can readily sell to meet my financial needs. I managed to buy a bull and a heifer which I am currently keeping in my homestead. I am expecting the heifer to reproduce and increase in number. I will be getting milk for my family's consumption and also sell the surplus. The bull will help me in ploughing my farm on time during the planting season."

"This transfer has brought a big difference in my life and that of my family. I have been having money issues ever since the Coronavirus pandemic hit our country and I had to close down my business. I, therefore, had no idea where I was going to get the money and I had a lot of worries. I especially kept wondering where I was going to get the money to pay for my child’s school fees and buy his school items. I thank GiveDirectly because they came through for me at a difficult time. My child has hence been able to go to school and I no longer have stress because I know he will be able to study well without interference of being sent away due to school fees arrears. Having bought the piece of land that I have always desired, my child and I will from hence be able to live in peace away from any family wrangles."

"The transfer has brought a big difference in our lives. I have been able to buy the cow that I have always desired. The cow is yet to reproduce but it is about to. When it reproduces, I will be able to get milk that my children can consume and I can sell some. The money that I will get from the milk sales, I will use on other important things such as paying for my children’s school fees. I have also been able to pay for my child’s school fees with part of the transfer. My child can now study well without his studies being interfered with when he is sent home due to the failure of paying school fees. My other children are also happy after they got new clothes for themselves. With the two bags of maize that I bought, we will be able to have something to eat for a while, and hence I will not be having worries about what my family is to eat. Having done the above, especially buying a cow and paying for my child’s school fees, I no longer have stress about where I am going to get the money to do so because they were requiring a large sum of money."