"The only source I was anticipating money was through Givedirectly; the transfer that we had been promised, as I had leased a part of land for cultivation and promised the owner that I would pay him at a specific period. Therefore, when I received a message that afternoon while in the farm where I always am and confirmed that I had received the transfer as promised, I nearly danced and knew right away that I will take care of the lease payment issue. I was jubilant!"

"I was on the verge of losing my joy due to illiteracy. I do not know if I heard the message tone or not. What I do know is that I overheard neighbors jubilantly expressing the receipt of their transfer. I requested one of them, whom I trust, to check for me since I was intrigued because we were both enrolled on the same day. She attested to the fact that I had also gotten my transfer. Having just received a nonrefundable large quantity of money for the first time in my life, I was overjoyed. The bad condition of my domicile was what brought on my bliss. Sincerely, a solution had been found for the problem. To express my thanks, I ululated and danced joyfully."

"Ku ngunga yambere nabashije kugura amabati yo kubaka indi nzu antwara 112,000 Rwf (112$) asigaye ndahaha ibyo kurya ngura n'imyenda. Naho inkunga ya kabiri yanshoboje kwishyura mutuelle ya 15,000 Rwf (15$), nanabashije kugura inyana ya 250,000 Rwf (250$), asigaye ndi kwitegura gusubira ku nzu tubamo."

"Mu nkunga yambere nabashije guhita nishyura umwenda nari mfite wa 100,000 Rwf (100$), nishyura na mutuelle ya 9,000 Rwf (9$) asigaye nyaguramo ibikoresho byo mu rugo bitandukanye. Inkunga ya kabiri aho nyiboneye nayo nahise ntangira kuvugurura inzu yanjye ubu akaba ariyo mirimo mpugiyemo, ubundi akaba ari no kumfasha mubijyanye no guhaha. Ikindi aya kabiri yamfashije ni ukugura amatungo magufi ariyo intama, inkoko n'urukwavu."

"Nifuza ko mu gihe kizaza hari icyo nazaba nariyongereyeho mbikesheje inkunga mwampaye, itungo rizaba ryarorotse meze neza; inzu yari yarananiye izaba yarasubiye kuba nshyashya ikibazo cyayo cyararangiye kuyihangayikira bitakiriho mfite ibindi binshishikaje."

"Aho mboneye inkunga ya mbere nahise nguramo inka ya 250,000 Rwf (250$), nteresha ishyamba bintwara 50,000 Rwf (50$), ayasigaye naguzemo ibyo kurya. Inkunga ya kabiri nayo ije nakomeje kwiteza imbere, ngura umurima wa 400,000 Rwf (400 $), ayasigaye ndateganya gusubirshamo inzu yanjye nkayikorera amasuku.."

"Inkunga yambere ingezeho nahise nguramo ubutaka buriho ishyamba, ubundi ngura amabati nshyirishamo prafond munzu, ngura nitungo rigufi ry'intama, mpaha nibyo kurya. Ayakabiri nayo nyabonye nakomeje kwiteza imbere, ngura sima nsubiramo inzu yanjye nkora n'igikoni neza. Nanaguze ishyiga rya kijyambere n'amasafuriya yaryo, ngura n'igishyushya ibiryo, ngura n'amasahani n'ibikombe. Ubu mfite 200,000 Rfw ntarakoresha nkaba nteganya kugura intama ya kabiri no gukomeza kwiteza imbere."

"Nkuko ndangije kubigaragaza maze gukataza kubera inkunga ya GiveDirectly, mu myaka iri imbere rero ndizera ko nzagera ku iterambere rirambye nkuhaza muri byose ubukene bukaba amateka kuko inkunga ya GiveDirectly ari umusingi ukomeye nzubakiraho amateka meza yo gusezerera ubukene bugasigara ari amateka, rwose ndumva mu myaka iri imbere nzaba ndi umuhinzi w'intangarugero wihaza agasagurira n'isoko."

"Receiving my first transfer from GiveDirectly was a moment that I will never forget. I vividly remember the excitement that filled my heart when I received the Mpesa message that confirmed the receipt. It was a feeling of relief, knowing that I would finally resolve the problem that had been ailing my family for a long time. Previously, my family of three had been living in a grass-thatched hut, and during rainy seasons, it was always a nightmare for us. It was unfortunate that our happiness was short-lived when a neighbor's cattle invaded my compound and destroyed half of the grass-thatched roof, leaving me heartbroken. However, after receiving the transfer, I knew that our days of suffering were over. I made a decision to prioritize the construction of a new house. I spent $150 on construction materials, paid the transport cost, and topped up the remaining amount with my savings to pay the labor charges. In just one day, the cubical iron sheet house was complete, and it was everything I had hoped for. The joy that filled my heart was uncontainable, knowing that I would no longer spend money on frequent repairs on the walls and the roof. Instead, I could now use the money to provide enough food for my family. My elder daughter and her two children also live with us, and her wages from casual labor help in sorting other household bills. I am forever grateful that my family now lives in a comfortable home."

"I was working in my farm that day at around 4:00 pm when I heard my phone ring and upon checking I confirmed that I had indeed received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy that I was finally going to be able to pay school fees for my children who had huge school fees arears. I only informed my mother in law of the same and she realized that she had received hers too. The whole village was in a jubilant mood. I could hear people walking along the road with everyone very busy trying to withdraw the money as soon as they could."