"The most challenge I face in our village is lack of clean water for domestic use. This is due to the drought that is here since the beginning of the year."

"I have just started my dream project of dairy farming by acquiring 3 heifers. Dairy farming is a profitable business in our area owing to the presence of a ready market and fair price (KES 40 per liter) for milk. As such, I will use the transfer on completing the project by paying off about KES 30000 that I still owe the person who got me the heifers. Also, I will use some of the money on planting more grasses (for feeds), establishing a parlor, and installing a water system. Indeed, God's timing is the best since GiveDirectly's aid has come when we direly need it."

"Not having a stable source of income is my challenge. With the prolonged drought in our area getting food and water is a problem. I have to buy to cater for my family, this hinders me not to save any amount I get from my charcoal-burning activity."

"Drought has hit my place it's been 2 years since we got rainfall. Trees are wilting we cannot cut them for charcoal. Cows are starving because there is no grass to eat and no water to drink. I had invested in buying 10 cows and am only left with one as of now. This has brought me back to square one without any investment."

"The different is I now have adequate utensils used for cooking and owning a fridge makes me feel like i accomplished what my heart always desires,i now drink cold water considering how Mangochi district is l'm happy i bought something i never thought i could afford."

"This house we are currently living is incomplete, we moved in as it is because the house we were previously living in was too old and it collapsed at a time I had no money at all. I was also facing school fee payment constraints at that time and the only option I had was to take a loan because our housing is so basic just like food. I therefore took a loan of KES. 52,000 for that emergency and though we didn't manage to complete the house at least we put up a structure to accommodate my family. At the moment the walls are not covered well and it gets so cold at night. The floor also is not yet water proofed and during the rainy season ground water gets retained on it thus becoming inhabitable. We also experience chest problems occasionally because of the cold. This hampers our productivity in the farm of which we depend on to pay school fees. The transfers will then help me to pay off the remaining amount for the loan and also help me insulate the walls and the floor of the house."

"I received the cash in the morning hours. I was from fetching water from a faraway place about 70 kilometers away. When I arrived home my husband told me that I had received a message and it was about me receiving money. I was very happy with the news."

"I spent this money on starting a business that would increase our sources of income. I did this by buying a motorcycle on a higher purchase where I paid KES.20000 upfront and pay KES 300 daily for a year. This is helpful in that whatever money we get from the business slowly pays itself back. This was a decision my husband and I came together with. The next thing I did with this money was that I bought more galvanized roofing sheets which I had previously bought with the first transfer but was not enough. I had to buy KES.5000 worth, plus cement .and KES.15000 worth of poles to be used in the construction. The best was used between buying water and food as we are in drought season."

"Upon withdrawing the money, I opted finalize a construction project that I had already started before receiving the 2nd transfer. I also bought 4 cows and 5 goats but unfortunately, one cow and two goats died due to the inadequate of pasture and water in our area. Since we have some water hardships, I bought a cart that aids me in fetching some water as well as hiring it to people who want to fetch water or even some building sand. The cart is a source of income for me."

"Receiving this money means access to education for my children. I have a family of nine children who depend on me to meet their basic needs. Out of the nine, eight are currently in primary school. As we speak, the eldest who is in class eight has been sent home due to school fee arrears. He has been here for ten days now. However, due to lack of enough money, I am not able to raise the balance of 5100 KES. I depend on charcoal burning business that earns me less that 4000KES a month. All the profit I make from this business is solely used for food and water. This has made life more difficult. My joy is to see my children finish the basic education and join college so that they can get jobs. Upon receiving this cash transfers, I will clear the debts in school then buy twenty goats which I will keep and sell when they multiply as an investment for my children's education."