"The biggest difference since I received cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been in my daughter’s education. For the first time, she was able to start school on time with the other students because her school fees were paid. Ever since I settled her fees, she has been in school consistently, unlike before when she spent many days at home due to a lack of fees. This used to put her at a disadvantage, but now she can focus fully on her studies. Another major change was during my delivery. I was able to go through the process without the stress of worrying about huge hospital bills, which ensured my safety. After I was discharged, I returned home knowing that I had enough food to eat, which was a great relief. These changes have made a big impact on my life and my family’s well-being, and I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for their support."

"My current house is small, cramped, and has leaking issues, which makes it difficult for my family to sleep comfortably. To enhance our living conditions, I intend to set aside a portion of my transfers in our savings group. Once the savings reach maturity in December, I will withdraw them and allocate the funds towards constructing a new two-room house for my family, ensuring that we can rest comfortably and stay warm. Furthermore, I aim to expand my livestock by using the transfers to purchase goats, in addition to the chickens I already own. The chickens are expected to multiply, allowing me to sell them in case of any unforeseen emergencies. The goats will increase in number and value, eventually enabling me to exchange them for cows in the future. These cows will then be utilized for plowing my farm. I am truly appreciative and optimistic about my plans as they hold significant importance for me."

"My main objective for the upcoming year is to ensure that my children receive a good education so that they can become self-sufficient. I personally missed out on the opportunity to go to school due to lack of educational support, and I am determined to provide my children with better opportunities. The financial assistance from GiveDirectly has been tremendously beneficial, as it has been covering the costs of my children's education. In addition to this support, I plan to contribute to their education using the income I earn from casual jobs. I am confident that with the help of this program, my children will be able to achieve their goals. I have one child in secondary school and four in primary school, and I am fully committed to ensuring that each of them receives the education they rightfully deserve."

"My plan after completing high school is to pursue a college education. Unfortunately, my mother can't cover my tuition fees alone, so I'm considering poultry farming as an investment. I started with a few chickens, but there was an outbreak that killed all five of them. Initially, I planned to invest in chickens and then exchange them for goats, but after this setback, I've decided to save part of my earnings and buy goats instead. At first, I chose chickens because of their fast multiplication rate, but now I've changed my mindset. I believe that by raising goats and selling them, I'll be able to fund my college education once I complete my secondary school education. This is my goal for the coming year and beyond."

"In our home, we have never owned any livestock, while almost everyone around us does, which has always made us feel left out. The dream of diversifying our income through livestock seemed impossible due to our financial constraints. However, after receiving GiveDirectly's first transfer, that dream finally became a reality. As we speak, we now have a sheep! I am hopeful that it will multiply, allowing us to sell some in the future and address arising needs like our children's school fees. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for making this change possible in our home."

"For four years, my three children slept on the floor without a bed or a proper mattress, and as a mother, this made me very worried. We live in an area where snakes are common, so I was scared every night for their safety. Then, I received cash from GiveDirectly, which helped me buy them a mattress and a bed. Now, I can relax knowing they are safe and comfortable while they sleep. I feel at peace, and I am very thankful to GiveDirectly."

"When my bed completely broke, I had no choice but to borrow a small one from my mom temporarily, promising to return it once I could buy my own. The bed was small, but we had to squeeze in with my two children just to have some sleep. At that point, comfort did not really matter. When I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I was able to buy a new, big bed and a comfortable mattress. I returned my mom's bed and saved myself the embarrassment of being reminded every day, "When are you buying your own bed?" Now we can sleep in peace, and for that, I thank GiveDirectly."

"I was at a burial ceremony in the nearby village when I heard my phone buzz. I checked and saw that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I quickly told my friend sitting next to me, and he was so happy for me. Even though it was a sad day, that moment brought me joy. When I got home, I shared the good news with my family, and my first thought was to use the money to buy food for them."

"I had left my phone at home and went to look after my goats, not knowing good news was waiting for me. When I returned home that evening, my daughter excitedly told me that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I was so happy, and the first thing that came to my mind was paying my son's school fees at the university. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"When I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly, the first thing I did was offer 10% to my church, giving $20 as a way of thanking God because I believed He used GiveDirectly to bless and uplift us. My daughter had recently joined high school and owed about $126 in fees, so to prevent the debt from growing further, I decided to use $100 of the transfer to reduce it. My family relies on my grocery business, while my husband does crop farming and livestock keeping, but we lost our crops and animals to floods this year. This left us depending solely on the business, which led to a reduction in stock. With the transfer, I spent $50 to restock my business, and now my daily earnings have increased from $7 to $20. I used the remaining $30 to buy food items we were lacking, such as sugar and maize flour."