"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."

"After losing our crops and livestock to the floods, paying school fees became a major challenge, especially for our daughter, who had just joined high school. Her fees for this term were a huge worry, and I didn’t know where I would even find the money for her arrears from the previous term. Fortunately, GiveDirectly’s support came at the perfect time, and I was able to reduce the arrears from $126 to $26. I also rely on my vegetable business, and the cash helped me restock as it was running low due to overdependence. Now, my business is thriving, with daily earnings increasing from $7 to $20, and I no longer worry about school fees. The knowledge of the next transfer gives me even more hope. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"I was at home, doing laundry, when I suddenly heard my neighbors celebrating loudly. They had just received their transfers from GiveDirectly. Within moments, I heard the familiar notification sound. When I opened the message, there it was—my transfer had come through! I couldn’t believe it. It was such a beautiful and emotional moment for all of us in the community. I had been looking forward to this day, especially since now I could finally pay my children's school fees."

"That day, while I was busy doing my house chores, my daughter came over and asked, "Mum, did you hear a message on your phone?" I told her, "Yes, but I haven’t checked it yet." Curious, I handed her my phone, and she said, "People are saying the money has arrived; let me check for you." When she looked, to my surprise, she smiled and told me, "Yes, you’ve received money from GiveDirectly!" I was overjoyed and immediately thanked God for sending blessings to my home. My first thought was to use the money to pay the school fees for my three children, who had been sent home due to unpaid fees. I had been so stressed, not knowing how to get them back to school, and this felt like a huge relief."

"Farming has always been my lifeline, but this time, I saw an opportunity to take it to the next level. I decided to lease two acres of land for $120, knowing that farming on a larger scale would bring in more income. This extra money will help me tackle the university fees for my two children, which had become a heavy burden. With agriculture being a dependable source of income for us, this expansion offers hope for better financial security, allowing me to support their education without the constant pressure of finding money.In addition to that, I spent $10 on new school uniforms for my two sons. Their old uniforms were worn out, and it was important to me that they felt confident and presentable at school. I also put aside $30 for food, even though I usually farm for it. With all the other financial pressures, I wanted to ensure we had enough to get by comfortably until the next harvest.Finally, I allocated $40 for my children's school fees. Balancing my responsibilities as a farmer, pastor, and mother of six can be overwhelming. Both my husband and I farm, but the added income from this cash transfer has provided much-needed relief. Now, I can focus on my family and my duties without the constant worry of how to meet our daily needs."

"The first thing I did when I received the transfer was place a deposit of $60 on a bed. The old one I had was not only too small but had also been eaten away by termites, and I’d been forced to sleep on my brother’s couch for a while. Getting a new bed was a priority because I longed for a good night’s sleep in my own space. With $30, I bought some clothes. For a long time, I didn’t have anything presentable to wear, and it had been affecting my confidence. It feels good to look in the mirror and not feel ashamed of my appearance. I also used $20 to buy some household items like cups, plates, and a small kitchen stand. These basics may seem small, but they make my home feel more functional and welcoming. The remaining $30 went toward paying my sister’s school fees. She’s in Form 2, and helping my mother with this was important to me. Whatever was left, I spent on household food supplies to ensure we had enough to get by. It wasn’t much, but I feel like I managed to stretch the money to cover all the essentials we needed."

"When I received my recent transfer, I used $49 to purchase iron sheets for our new house. We only had a few pieces left to complete the building process, and I'm relieved that we have finished and are now living in our new home. I also used $49 to pay the school fees for my five children. They all had fee balances, so I divided the amount among them to clear their dues before they were sent home. With the remaining $4, I bought food for my family. I was especially grateful for the support as we didn't have flour to make ugali for the children."

"I have five children who are currently attending school. I used $45 from my recent transfer to settle my children's school fees, ensuring they wouldn't be sent home due to outstanding balances. Before receiving support from GiveDirectly, it was challenging to provide for my five children. I used to juggle casual jobs and small-scale farming, but the income was not enough to meet the needs of my growing family. I am thankful for the financial assistance, as it has alleviated my financial burden. With the remaining $57, I purchased food for family consumption."

"My children's education will always be my top priority, and in the coming years, I am committed to supporting them as it will greatly benefit their future. To achieve this, I plan to continue using a portion of my future transfers from GiveDirectly to pay their school fees and ensure they receive a proper education, just like their peers in the village. Also, given the current drought and hunger we are facing in our region, I also intend to allocate part of these transfers to buy food for my family, preventing us from starving until we receive good rains and can harvest from our farm. Once we have a stable food supply, I will redirect the funds previously used for food toward purchasing more goats. This will add to the goats I already own, which I bought with hopes of them multiplying in number and value. My ultimate goal is that these goats will help me support my children's education and care for my family, especially when this program comes to an end."

"I have dreams of owning a parcel of land and building rental houses that I can rely on in the future when this program comes to an end. To achieve this goal, I have been purchasing goats with a portion of my transfers. Recently, I spent $60 from my transfers to buy another goat. My hope is that these goats will multiply, increasing in number and value. Eventually, I plan to trade them for male cows, which will also grow in value and allow me to sell them to buy a piece of land for myself. In addition to my livestock plans, I spent $30 from the transfers, combined with what my husband contributed, to pay school fees for my seven school-going children so they can continue their studies. I also spent $4 on stationery that my children needed for school as part of their learning supplies. Lastly, I used the remaining $8, along with additional funds from my husband, to buy food for our family to ensure we don’t go hungry. I am truly grateful for the support that GiveDirectly provides us, and I look forward to a brighter future."