"I spent a bigger portion of my transfer on buying building materials such as iron sheets, building poles and nails to construct a new house. My previous house was in a bad state. It was full of cracks, grass thatched and whenever it rained, I was in trouble. I had to seek shelter from neighbours. I am happy that through this transfer, I have managed to build a new iron roofed house. In addition to this, I also bought a new bed and a mattress. I was sleeping on rags and used mats which was not comfortable at all. Currently I can afford to sleep comfortably on my new beddings. I spent the remaining amount to buy some foodstuffs and other household items."

"I have been struggling to pay school fees for my daughter who is in university. Her final year has seen her go through many challenges due to lack of money. This money has come at the right time when I need to clear her school fees on her final year. Her completing her university studies will be a big relief for me since I believe she will get employed and then come to our assistance financially here at home. I will use 350 USD for her school fees. I will also use 150 USD to buy 5 goats. Goats multiply very fast and are easy to rear. In few years to come,I can raise school fees for my other 2 younger children when I sell the goats."

"I was brought up in a polygamous family where disputes and conflicts were common. As such, I had no peace and could not imagine settling and establishing my family in such environments. So, I was forced to go buy a small piece of land elsewhere, something that isolated me from my lovely mother. However, I had to return to my motherland since she has been having mental problems. I strongly believe that her depressions and stress emanated from the previous family disputes. Precisely, family disputes that we have been facing act as the biggest hardship we have faced."

"I received a notification in my phone early in the morning. When I checked to confirm who the sender was, I could not contain the joy that filled my heart since GiveDirectly had sent the first transfer. I thanked them for their financial support which would uplift my living standard."

"I was preparing breakfast for my school going children. When the message beeped, I checked and it was the transfer. I jumped up and down in jubilation with my children who were there with me. I then stayed for about 3 days before withdrawing the cash since I knew the places we withdraw cash would be crowded."

"I was just fro milking my cow in the morning when I heard my phone beep and on checking it was a MPESA message fro GiveDirectly. I could not believe my eyes and I rushed to tell my husband. He was so excited, we to took breakfast and left immediately to go collect the transfer."

"I was lighting fire in the kitchen to prepare breakfast and I heard a message beep. I stooped what I was doing to go check the message then I heard my sister-in-law shouting with happiness. On checking my message, it was the GiveDirectly transfer and I joined her in celebration before embarking on breakfast preparation."

"My maize business which had flopped has really picked up well. Since most of my village mates received the transfer, they come to buy maize from me, which they now do it in bulk e.g. 3 bags or 2 bags unlike before when it could take about 3 days for 1 bag to sell."

"My son used to sleep at his grandmother's since I could not afford to build him a house. From the transfer, I built him a house and he looks more confident out there right now since according to Kalenjin culture, a young man after initiation is supposed to have his own house and not sleeping with their parents. Our house is looking well furnished since I bought the sofa set and I now have the confidence to welcome visitors to my house."

"It was 6:58am when I was preparing tea in the kitchen when I saw the message from MPESA and on looking at it, it was the transfer from GiveDirectly. I showed my husband who was there with me and he too was happy as I was with the thoughts that my dream of starting a business was going to come true."