"After receiving the transfer, I realized that it was the perfect opportunity to buy plastic chairs for my guests, as we previously had none and resorted to using stones as seats. As a farmer, my income is heavily reliant on weather conditions, which can be harsh at times. With six children to provide for, including two still in school, I decided to allocate $14 towards purchasing plastic chairs and an additional $15 for a table. Additionally, I used $100 to pay for my children's school fees, purchase two jerry cans for water storage, and buy some food supplies. I am extremely content and grateful for all that I have been able to achieve with this assistance."

"In the past, my family and I would often move to new places frequently, and we didn't want to invest in any expensive structures as we were unsure of how long we would stay in one place. As a result, we never had basic amenities such as latrines, which led us to relieve ourselves in scattered bushes, posing a health risk and contaminating water during the rainy season. With the knowledge we received from public health officers, we decided to spend $100 from the first transfer on digging a 10-foot pit latrine, which we are yet to construct. I also purchased a chicken coop worth $15 since I already had chicks that shared my kitchen space every evening. This was not comfortable for my children, who sleep on the floor, and the stench from the feces of the chicks was unbearable. Moreover, I needed to improve my living conditions, so I bought curtains worth $10 and a piece of furniture worth $27. I then used the remaining amount to buy foodstuff and transport the construction materials from the nearby shopping center. I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly and look forward to completing the ongoing projects once I receive the second transfer."

"My objective this year is to look for a better way of approaching farming either by changing to another crop that does not need much water intake or keeping doing vegetable farming and relocating to an area I can carry out irrigation. After identifying a better plan, I hope to be able to at least generate a respectable income to cater to our basic necessities,"

"Owing to the droughts and famine in our area, I always prioritize spending my transfers on food and water acquisition so that we can keep a life. With my recent transfer, I spent $15 on food for a family of ten members. It has been a big struggle since we do not have reliable sources of income. My elder brother and I occasionally take primary responsibility for meeting the family's needs. Because we did not have a pit latrine, I opted to build one with part of the transfer. I had begun the project with part of my January transfer. I also spent $19 from the recent transfer to complete the remaining portion of the pit latrine. I feel good since, with the completion of the pit latrine, we enjoy good sanitation."

"I used $80 to buy gathers that I will use to collect rain water in my house. Another $30 was used to meet medical bills for my grandchild who was admitted in hospital at that time. The remaining amount of $90 was used to buy food and other basic household needs and to pay school fees for one of my children. I am a mother of 6 children and I rely almost entirely on goat keeping to make ends meet. My husband supports me with goat keeping and it is a challenge sometimes since we have people who prey on these goats. Sometime last year my goats were stolen and I have other neighbours who have suffered the same fate several times. It is a huge challenge over here yet it is supposed to be the main economic activity that we rely on."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I am now happier than I have ever been. Looking at what I have been able to achieve from the farm that I was able to prepare to the water container that I bought and the school fees that I paid for my children makes me so happy. These are things I would not have done had it not been for GiveDirectly. I can hardly do any odd casual jobs to earn an income and the livestock that I own have all been sold to settle school fees for my children. These transfers came in at a time that I needed them the most. I am most happy knowing that I will be able to achieve much more with the remaining transfers."

"When I received my most recent transfer I used part of it-$50 to buy new clothes for my grandchildren who normally stay with me and help me with house chores and company. I felt that they had a right to feel happy too because of this blessing that we received as a family. I then used another $50 to buy my own clothes. I then used the remaining amount to buy food and other basic household needs that lasted me a couple of days before it got depleted. Getting enough money to buy all these things at a go was just a dream for me for all those days. GiveDirectly brought smiles to my entire family and I cannot thank them enough. I intend to use the second transfer to buy a water tank that will help me have access to clean drinking water and safe me from the danger of drinking dirty water and the shortages that we normally undergo especially during periods like these of long dry spells."

"My next investment in the coming years would be to connect tapped water. Though I have harbored this ambition for a long time, I still believe that God will open a way soon. Above all, the assistance from GiveDirectly has been of tremendous help to us, and I cannot express enough gratitude."

"Prior to receiving the initial cash transfer from GiveDirectly, I depended on selling illicit alcohol to local customers as a source of income. This presented several challenges, and I often faced arrest and hefty fines. However, the cash transfer provided me with relief from the illegal business, and I am now dedicating my efforts towards improving my farming activities, which I anticipate will yield greater rewards. Additionally, I have chickens and a bullock that I expect will grow and be useful in the future. With the second transfer, I spent $280 on purchasing a large water tank, which I am currently setting it up to collect rainwater and store seasonal piped water delivered to my doorstep. I also spent $15 on transportation fees for the tank and $110 on food for my family of five. I am pleased that we still have sufficient food, and I hope to replenish our supplies when we receive the next transfer. I used the remaining funds to pay off a milk debt at a nearby shop, purchase household items, and buy a few clothes for my children. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for their support and look forward to accomplishing more in the future."

"Currently it's dry season, and the rains are not much, we don't have major challenges. But when it starts to rain am worried because water comes from uphill and floods my entire compound . Also the seeds that we can use to plant are now so expensive due to scarcity. We buy a kilogram of beans for sowing at $2 yet initially we used not buy them."