"For a long time, I had been staying with my in-laws, which was challenging, but I had no other choice after floods forced me to leave my home. Living with relatives wasn’t ideal, and I felt like I lacked independence, even though they helped me with food when I had none. With my unconditional cash transfer, I saw an opportunity to create my own space, so I used $300 to buy a piece of land where I could finally build a home of my own.I had already started building a house but lacked the funds to complete it. With $150, I bought iron sheets, along with materials for windows and doors to secure the structure. This investment gives me a sense of hope and stability, knowing I can eventually move out and avoid the difficulties of depending on relatives. The idea of having my own place brings me peace, as I no longer have to worry about being displaced by floods or living on someone else’s land. Life has not been easy—I live alone and earn $45 a month from herding cows for my relatives, which barely sustains me. I have never married and have no dependents, so this transfer has truly changed my life. I now have a way to become self-sufficient and no longer have to rely entirely on others. The transfer has been a blessing, allowing me to create a better future and a place to truly call my own."

"Upon receiving $180 from GiveDirectly, I decided to return to my original plan. My goal was to buy a plot of land in a safer area, away from the risk of floods. After searching, however, I realized that I didn’t have enough money to purchase one. Thanks to the flexibility of these unconditional transfers, I decided to focus on farming instead. I used $100 to plant beans on one acre, hoping for a good harvest. A successful crop would not only help me save for a plot in a secure location but also provide food for my family. With the remaining $80, I bought essential household items and stocked up on food. This ensured that, despite the recent floods, my family had enough to eat, allowing me to work on my bean farm with energy and peace of mind."

"When I received $450 from GiveDirectly, I felt incredibly grateful and saw it as a valuable opportunity to improve my life. I live in a mud house, and recent floods damaged it badly, causing it to leak and putting my family at risk as the structure is on the verge of collapsing. I used $300 of the transfer to buy building materials, including iron sheets and building poles, hoping to construct a safer, more stable home. I am eagerly awaiting the third transfer to complete the construction, providing my family with a comfortable and secure place they can truly call home, away from the risk of flooding and the discomfort of a leaking roof. In addition, I used $60 to pay school fees for my child, who is in Form One in secondary school. Paying this fee has helped me feel relieved from the worry and pressure of unpaid fees, allowing my child to continue their education without interruption. The remaining amount went toward buying food, an essential need for my family. Ensuring that we have enough to eat helps us all stay healthy, and being able to meet this basic need with the transfer brought us much-needed peace of mind."

"I am currently in school and have many aspirations, but in the upcoming year and beyond, I want to focus on my studies first so I can complete my secondary education with good grades. The poverty I have experienced motivates me to work harder so that one day I can change the future of my family. I hope to attend university. My immediate aim is to study diligently and achieve high grades that will enable me to get into a good college. I want to look back one day and remember that I succeeded in life because of these opportunities. There were times when I y like giving up due to financial struggles, but I am grateful that Give Directly stepped in to help. I often feel emotional when I reflect on where I started. I believe that with a strong education, I can secure a well-paying job that will better our family’s circumstances, lift us out of poverty, and help us achieve a better quality of life. My mother sells charcoal, and my father is a small-scale farmer, making it challenging to support my education along with my younger siblings. With these transfers, I am confident that I will achieve my dream."

"My primary objective is to make sure my children can pursue their education to higher levels, enabling them to have a brighter future. To reach this goal, I plan to allocate part of my transfers to acquire more goats while using other portions to cover their school fees. I am optimistic that by adding more goats to my resources, they will multiply over time. Eventually, I aim to exchange these goats for cows, which will also appreciate in value. When the opportune moment arises, I will sell the cows and utilize the profits to support my children's education, as they can yield a substantial return. I am very thankful to GiveDirectly for providing me with this chance to enhance my family's assets. This assistance will enable me to establish a sustainable approach to ensure my children can continue their education and achieve a better future."

"Receiving transfers from GiveDirectly has motivated me to pursue the construction of a brick house. I have been setting aside part of these transfers each month through my local savings group. At present, my wife, three children, and I reside in an old two-room mud house. The transfers have enabled me to contribute to our savings and loan group, which has significantly improved our living conditions. Looking ahead to the next year and beyond, my goal is to build a three-room brick house. So far, I have obtained ten iron sheets for the construction and plan to acquire more using my group savings and extra income from my daily endeavors. Constructing my dream house will create a spacious and comfortable environment for my family, including an additional room that can function as a sitting area for hosting visitors. These transfers have been incredibly beneficial for my family, and I remain hopeful about realizing my dream of building our ideal home. Furthermore, I intend to open a small shop to generate additional income that will support my family's needs, including school fees for my children once I complete building my dream house."

"I was diagnosed with asthma about 20 years ago. I have to depend on fishing to make a living, and this livelihood has contributed to my health's deterioration. Standing in the chilly water for hours is not ideal for someone with my health condition. But I have to do it to sustain my needs and those of my 2 grandchildren. If I can't fish, there's no money and no food. So I continue to gamble between my health and sleeping on an empty stomach."

"In the coming year, my goal is to continue with the necessary repairs to my house. I plan to purchase stones and additional cement to reinforce the walls, which have developed cracks. This will ensure my home is safe to live in and durable against future weather conditions. I also aim to keep up with the monthly payments on the solar lighting system to ensure I can continue enjoying the benefits of reliable lighting. By allocating a portion of each transfer toward these goals, I can work steadily toward maintaining a safe and well-lit home. I’m deeply appreciative of the financial assistance, as it’s empowering me to live more independently and with peace of mind."

"I am committed to managing my health condition with care and following my doctor’s instructions to ensure I live a healthy life. To do this, I plan to use a portion of my monthly transfers to buy the medicine I need, making sure I stay on top of my treatment. At the same time, I have always dreamed of owning livestock, so I also intend to use part of my transfers to purchase more goats and ducks. I am hopeful that over time, these animals will multiply and provide me with a reliable source of support, especially when this program eventually comes to an end. I am truly grateful for the assistance I have been receiving,as it is giving me the opportunity to build a better future for myself."

"The biggest differences since receiving cash from GiveDirectly have been in my comfort, independence, and security. Firstly, having a comfortable bed and mattress has made a world of difference. Before, I was sleeping on an uncomfortable makeshift bed, but now I look forward to bedtime each night, knowing I’ll wake up feeling happy and well-rested. This simple change has improved my overall well-being and mood each day. Secondly, having enough food at home has given me a sense of independence. As an elderly person, it’s difficult for me to go out and earn money. Now, I don’t have to rely as heavily on my children for food, which has brought me peace of mind. Lastly, strengthening my fence has enhanced the security of my home and my small poultry. I now feel safer, knowing my chickens are protected and that my home is secure. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I am happier, more self-reliant, and feel safer each day."