"The financial aid I received has made a profound impact on my daily life, allowing me to purchase food and invest in my farming endeavors with ease. This was not feasible before due to financial hardships. I am now filled with optimism that in a few months, I will have a bountiful harvest that will provide ample food for my family. The gift of financial support that has transformed my life will always be remembered with gratitude."

"It was a bright afternoon around 3:00 pm when my phone beeped with a message from Mpesa, confirming the receipt of my first transfer from GiveDirectly. At first, I was skeptical about the sender and didn't believe it was from GiveDirectly until my helper arrived and read the message for me. He was already aware that some people had received their transfers and was equally excited when he read the confirmation message. I was filled with joy on that assurance of the receipt as I thought of all the things I could do with the money, including building a new house. I could not wait to get started, so I instructed my helper to collect the money and purchase construction materials the next day. The excitement and hope for a better life filled my heart, and I felt grateful to GiveDirectly for the timely support."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is the abundance of food and reliable access to clean water. Before receiving the first payment, we used to rely on buying small quantities of food that could barely sustain us for a week, but now we can afford to purchase food in bulk that can last us for a long time. Additionally, since I purchased a plastic container worth $37 to collect rainwater, we no longer have to walk long distances to fetch water, especially during the dry season. Moreover, the gutters that we fixed now channel rainwater from the roof directly into the tank, making it much easier for us to collect and store the water. The peace of mind that comes with not having to worry about food and water every day is indescribable, and I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly."

"I received the first payment from GiveDirectly, which confirmed the receipt of the transfer on March 15th at 3:00 p.m. As I was unable to read the message, I was grateful to be with my children who were able to confirm the receipt and source of the payment. The moment was filled with excitement and joy, and my husband was equally elated by the news. The following day, I collected the payment on my way to purchase food at the nearby shopping center. The experience of receiving the payment was indescribable, as it marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. The payment meant that I could now provide for my family's basic needs and take the first step towards a better future. I couldn't thank GiveDirectly enough for their support in my time of need."

"Since receiving the recent transfer, the biggest difference in my daily life has been the availability of plenty of food in my household. This has had a tremendous impact not only on our physical health but also on our overall wellbeing. In addition, being able to pay all my children's school fees on time for the first time has been a huge relief, and has given us all a sense of accomplishment and pride. With these two things in place, I feel more motivated to work on other activities that will continue to transform our family. I am hopeful that with subsequent transfers, I will be able to ensure the sustainable availability of foodstuffs and make further improvements in our lives."

"My source of income! Currently, I work as a waiter in a small hotel in our nearby town center. This work earns me $1.5 per day, an income that can not fully cater to our household's needs. This has pushed me to mostly depend on my husband who is a casual laborer. His monthly salary is usually $100, an income that goes into supporting our extended family of 10. This burden has made us live a life of misery and I can not afford to have a decent house. In addition, my children are also weak health-wise because we normally forfeit meals or survive on one in a day. Thus, I consider the lack of a stable source of income as my biggest challenge."

"As a widow, life has never been easy for me and my family of 4. I have lived a life full of misery due to life challenges. As a mother and the sole breadwinner, I have experienced tough moments in supporting us with household needs. The greatly disadvantaged ones are the children who suffer the most in school because I can not afford to clear their fees on time. In most cases, they are sent home due to huge fee balances. Imagine sending your son to school with only $5 as a fee! This was the most difficult moment in my life and I always recall that day. I am so optimistic that one day, our life will change for the better. My small business of selling foodstuffs has not thrived well and in a day, I earn $2 as a profit. This goes to food leaving me with nothing to save. Hence, the lack of a stable source of income to support us stands out as the biggest challenge."

"Taking care of my family of 6 poses a big challenge to me. This is because, at the moment, I do not have a job that I can depend on. This means any casual job which comes on my way tends to be my hope. The separation from my husband close to 10 years ago has been the biggest factor in my misfortunes. In addition, my mother at home is also mentally unwell and this has worsened the situation since I do not have another person to support me. The most reliable casual source of livelihood at the moment is charcoal work which is a hand-to-mouth job. In a month I earn utmost $30 which all goes to food and my children's education gets affected most. At home, I have 2 children who dropped out of school in pre-primary classes due to a lack of fees. This pains me most as a mother, as I watch them desperately. Hence, the financial crisis stands out as the biggest challenge in my life."

"The biggest difference in my daily life since receiving the recent transfers is my new venture into farming. Leasing land for farming has been a great opportunity for my family, as it provides a means of generating additional income. Prior to receiving the transfers, farming was unfeasible due to our lack of funds to lease land and manage the farming process effectively. However, with the support of GiveDirectly, we were able to lease land over a specialized period, which has been a great advantage. Farming requires careful management, and we now have the resources to do so, which has greatly reduced our losses. This has been a significant change in our daily lives and we are grateful for the support provided by GiveDirectly."

"I have two daughters making up a family of four. The first daughter Loyce has been sick for four years now. She suffers from epilepsy. This forced her to drop out of school while in class seven. I have taken her to different hospitals but in vain. As family this has really affected us financially and socially ."