"My maize on an acre of land was ready for harvest, and honestly, I didn’t know how I was going to get the money for harvesting and transporting it to the collection point for drying, shelling, and quality checks. Fortunately, my first transfer from GiveDirectly came at the right time, and I used $100 from the transfer for this purpose. Additionally, I run a shop, which is my main source of income to support my family of four as a single mom. To boost my business, I decided to add stock worth $60. Previously, there were items I lacked, and it made me feel bad to send customers away, but now I have them in stock, which has indeed contributed to an increase in my daily sales. Furthermore, my daughter in high school had arrears of $160, so I decided to reduce it by $40 from the transfer, and I plan to clear the remaining balance with my maize proceeds. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"With my first transfer, I prioritized buying food for us, as my maize was still unripe and we had to purchase our meals. I bought 45 kg of maize for $30 to sustain us, and I also bought other food items, such as milk and beans, for $50. Additionally, during the floods, water came into our house. We had to run for our lives. When we returned after temporarily relocating, everything was ruined. My children were left without a mattress, a bed, or enough clothes, as theirs were ruined by the floods. It pained me as a mother to see them sleeping on rugs on the floor and wearing almost the same pair of clothes. I couldn’t do anything about it since I had limited income; all I relied on were casual jobs, which earned me $3 a day, and it was not consistent. I purchased a mattress, a bed, and clothes for my children, which cost $40, $30, and $50, respectively with the remaining money. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for the support!"

"Schools were opening, and obviously, my daughter's fees were needed. The thought of not having any money to give her was devastating, and my only option was to sell our goats. Not just one, but about four. Just as I was about to proceed with the selling, I received the best news ever: my first transfer from GiveDirectly. It was indeed the right time; I didn’t continue with my plan to sell the goats but used the transfer instead. If it hadn’t been for GiveDirectly, we would have had to sell our goats, our only investment right now after losing our crops to the floods. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"I was harvesting my maize together with the laborers I had hired to assist me when I heard a message on my phone. I checked and confirmed that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was happy, but I kept it to myself because if I had told the laborers, they might have taken advantage by raising their daily wage. My first thought was to use the money to finalize the maize harvesting process. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"I rely on casual jobs to meet our needs, and our main challenge has always been food, which is a daily necessity, but casual jobs are not consistent. Earlier on the day I received my transfer, I had looked for a casual job and found none. We didn’t have any food in the house, and I was deeply stressed, not knowing that God was already handling my problem. Receiving the transfer brought hope and eased my stress. I immediately addressed our food problem by buying maize, and we didn’t go without food that evening after skipping lunch. We were able to eat something, and for that, I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly."

"I was relaxing at home with my son when I heard a message on my phone. Since I cannot read, I asked him to check for me, as I had nominated him as my helper. He confirmed that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was so happy, and the first thought that came to my mind was to use the money to pay school fees for my two children in high school."

"Before receiving the transfer, my life was very difficult because floods destroyed my two acres of land and my house. I was struggling to make ends meet and had hoped to sell my maize to buy chairs for my home. However, my dreams felt far away as I faced many challenges. After getting the cash from GiveDirectly, everything changed for the better. I was able to buy chairs and curtains, making my house look presentable and comfortable. Now, I feel proud of my home and grateful for the support that has helped me improve my living situation."

"Before receiving the transfer, I lived in a small one-room house that was too cramped for my family. My children were growing up, and we had no privacy as parents. I always dreamed of having a proper house where my children could have their own space. However, I struggled to gather enough materials to make this dream a reality. After receiving support from GiveDirectly, I now have some materials for construction, which gives me hope. I may not have finished the house yet, but I can see a future where my family can live comfortably and happily. Thank you so much Givedirectly for such a great support."

"It was just after lunch, and I heard my phone buzz with a message. At first, I didn’t bother to check it, thinking it was just another one of those usual texts from Safaricom. After about 30 minutes, curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to look at my phone. To my surprise, I saw that I had received $200 from GiveDirectly! I couldn’t believe it, so I rushed over to my neighbor’s house to see if she had received hers too. When she said yes, we both started laughing with joy. Right away, I began thinking of how I could finally furnish my house with a proper cupboard, a comfortable bed, and a good mattress. It felt like a blessing had just arrived."

"Before receiving the transfer, I only had the sheep that were given to me as a wedding gift, and I didn't feel like I truly owned enough livestock of my own. However, after getting the money, I was able to buy more sheep, which made me feel proud because now I have something that I personally invested in. Adding more sheep also means that they will multiply, giving me more animals in the future. This has brought a sense of security and confidence, knowing I can build my own wealth. The difference is now I feel more in control of my livestock, not just relying on gifts. It's a big step forward for me and my family's future."