"I really want to improve my family's living standards; I really want to start a grocery store. Currently I am at home taking care of my children and my goats. With the savings I have and the monthly transfers I will be able to start my business and sell it at an affordable price to my neighbors. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I am able to dream again."

"When I got my second payment from Give Directly, which turned out to be the final one, I knew I had to strategize carefully to ensure a sustainable source of income for my family. I wanted to make sure we could meet our daily needs without falling into a cycle of debt. With this goal in mind, I invested $490 in a used motorbike to kickstart a transportation business, with my husband overseeing its operations. I also spent the remaining $60 to purchase two young goats, which will allow me to engage in goat farming while staying at home"

"I remember it was about 2 p.m., and I was just taking a break after having lunch, getting ready to head out to harvest my maize. My phone beeped, and I wasn't sure what it meant since I couldn't read the message. I reached out to my helper who usually helps me with these things, and with excitement, he confirmed that the money we were promised had indeed arrived. I couldn't contain my happiness; it felt like a burst of joy inside me. I indulged in happiness, something we do in our community, and I could feel the happiness radiating from me. This was the first time I had ever received such a significant amount of money, and it meant so much to me."

"I was overjoyed when I received the cash transfers from GiveDirectly. It was like a dream come true, a chance to turn my aspirations into reality. First and foremost, I fulfilled my longstanding wish of owning a Bible and a hymn book, which cost me $18. As a person of faith, these books hold immense significance to me. I also dedicated a part of the money, $110, to offerings and tithes, aligning with the teachings close to my heart. Practicality was key, too. With $50, I constructed a granary to safeguard the maize we had harvested. But my dreams didn't stop there. A beacon of hope in my mind was the idea of starting a daycare institution. With $120, I managed to gather all the necessary supplies and even put down a $30 deposit for a suitable facility. To ensure the success of this venture, I invested $100 in securing a freshwater connection which is a vital resource for the project. As the pieces came together, I was left with a sum that I wisely saved, determined to see my vision come to life. With everything falling into place, I'm counting down the days to October 1st, the day when I'll proudly launch my dream project, knowing that GiveDirectly's support was the catalyst for this incredible journey."

"I had been struggling for years to complete the construction of my spacious house, a dream that had been put on hold due to a lack of funds. But when I received the assistance, everything changed. With the money, I was finally able to finish building my dream home, a comfortable and spacious house that I had always envisioned. Now, I can confidently and happily host and spend time with my grandchildren, a luxury I could not afford before when I was confined to a small, inadequate space. The cash transfer not only transformed my living conditions but also brought a sense of fulfillment and happiness to my life, allowing me to create precious memories with my loved ones in a home we can all enjoy."

"Life used to be a constant battle. Every day was a struggle to put food on the table as I relied on the unpredictable income from making and selling charcoal. There were times when my family had to endure hunger for up to two days a week. But everything changed when I became a recipient of GiveDirectly's cash transfer. The impact was profound. The hunger that used to haunt us has now become a thing of the past. I've left behind the exhausting trips to the forest to make charcoal, now able to focus on other opportunities. The support from GiveDirectly has given me a new lease on life, and I'm incredibly thankful for the positive change it's brought to my family and me."

"Receiving the GiveDirectly cash transfer has transformed my life in ways I could only dream of. It's like a miracle that has changed everything. I remember when my children and I used to share a cramped house, with some of us even sleeping in the corridor due to the lack of space. It was unhygienic and offered no privacy, but poverty left us with no other option. However, things have taken a remarkable turn. Thanks to GiveDirectly, we're now able to build a separate house, something I never thought possible. This new home will give my husband and me our own space to sleep, while our daughters will have the current house. This incredible change, made possible by GiveDirectly, means we no longer have to worry about privacy issues. If it weren't for this amazing organization, we'd still be trapped in the same cycle, struggling with our living conditions and longing for a better life."

"One sunny afternoon, as I was assembling my dried maize from the sun, a message pinged on my phone. Curious, I unlocked it and there it was a notification that the first GiveDirectly transfer had arrived. My heart raced as I read the message, and a mix of emotions overflowed within me. It was as if an eruption of happiness had taken over, knowing that the struggles and difficulties I had been facing were finally being met with a solution. At that moment, under the warm sun and surrounded by my harvested maize, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. It wasn't just about the money; it was the realization that someone out there cared enough to help and that this support was a ray of hope for a brighter future."

"Getting that cash transfer from GiveDirectly was like a dream come true for me and my family. With $150, I enrolled my daughter into a tailoring college that she had always dreamt of attending. Seeing her passion for sewing, I decided to invest an additional $200 in buying her a sewing machine. I believe that once she completes her studies, she can start her own tailoring business and create a better future for herself. One thing that had bothered me for a long time was the uncomfortable sleeping situation. Sleeping on torn mats was a daily struggle. Thankfully, with $62, I was able to purchase a comfortable mattress. The feeling of sleeping peacefully at night has brought me so much joy and relief. It's amazing how something as simple as a mattress can make such a big difference in my life. The remaining amount of the cash transfer was used to support our family's basic needs, and I'm grateful that we can now live with a little more security and comfort. Seeing my daughter chase her dreams while also improving our living conditions has filled my heart with immense happiness and gratitude toward GiveDirectly."

"The main differences that were brought by the transfer from my previous way of living are accommodation and access to food. Although I am still living in my small-leaking house, I am optimistic about moving to my house soon because it is almost complete. This will enable me to live happily and content since I will be comfortable even during rainy days. Additionally, we used to struggle to get some food as a family. At some point, we had to go for up to two days a week without meals. As of now, this has become history since the time I received a transfer from GiveDirectly. As a family, we have been getting our meals comfortably unlike before."