"The biggest difference since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly is in my mental health. I no longer have the stress of searching for school fees for my kids, and having enough food has significantly reduced the pressure and desperation I felt from doing odd jobs that often paid very little. Now, I can spend more quality time with my family, and our overall well-being has greatly improved. This support has brought peace to my life, allowing me to focus on what truly matters: my family and our happiness."

"GiveDirectly has made a big difference in my life, especially in the areas of education, housing, and income generation. The biggest impact has been on my daughter’s education. Before receiving the transfers, she had an outstanding school fees balance that would have interrupted her studies. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to clear the balance, and since then, she hasn’t missed a day of school. I’m hopeful that she will do well in the upcoming national exams. The second difference is in housing. With the money from GiveDirectly, I have been able to buy construction materials to build a new house. Our current house is small and old, and it puts us at risk, especially during floods. The new house will provide us with more space and safety. The third major difference is in income generation. Before GiveDirectly, I struggled to meet our daily needs, but now I have a steady income from my home garden. I planted kales, which I sell weekly, and this extra income allows me to comfortably meet my household’s daily needs."

"A few months ago, my house collapsed after a very heavy windstorm swept through our village, leaving me and my family homeless. As a temporary solution, I quickly put together a makeshift structure to shelter us from the harsh weather conditions we faced, especially during the night. The collapse of my house was a significant setback, and I knew I had to act fast to rebuild a proper home for my family. Given that my job as a house construction worker does not provide a stable or sufficient income, the financial support I received through the GiveDirectly transfers became crucial in helping me start the process of rebuilding. I used $60 from the transfers to purchase building poles, which were essential for starting the construction of a new house. I recently began building a three-room house, and I have partially constructed the roof. Although I still need to complete a small portion of the roof, I’m pleased that I’ve made substantial progress. For now, my family and I have moved into one of the completed rooms as I work to finish the rest of the house. Additionally, I allocated $42 to pay school fees for my three children. This ensured they could remain in school and continue their education without interruptions, which brings me immense satisfaction and joy. Seeing them attend school every day and focus on their studies motivates me to keep pushing forward despite the challenges. I am incredibly grateful for the financial support, which has been instrumental in helping me rebuild my home and ensure my children's education continues smoothly."

"I was at a burial in a nearby village when I heard a notification sound on my phone. I checked it and felt so happy to see that it was the GiveDirectly transfer! I was really glad and I could not wait to get home to share the news with my wife. I then knew that I could pay off some debts I had and also cover the school fees for my three children. "

"I was at a burial in a nearby village when my phone buzzed with a message notification. At first, I didn't pay it much attention since I was caught up in the event, but a few minutes later, I heard murmurs around me. People were talking excitedly, saying they had received their GiveDirectly transfers. That’s when I quickly checked my phone, and sure enough, there it was—the message from GiveDirectly! I couldn't contain my happiness at that moment. My mind instantly flashed to my children, and I knew I could finally pay their school fees. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders."

"I was in the kitchen, preparing vegetables for dinner when my daughter came home from school, all excited. She told me that some villagers were celebrating because the transfers had arrived. Since I didn't know how to read, I asked her to check my phone for me. When she confirmed that the money from GiveDirectly had indeed come, I felt a rush of joy that I couldn't hold back. I was overjoyed! Not long after, a GiveDirectly staff member arrived in the village to take photos and videos of us celebrating. I was filled with gratitude, knowing that I could now pay for my daughter's school fees and buy food for our home. It felt like a dream coming true."

"I had gone to a church camp in Loboi, and one afternoon, while we were out for evangelism, I heard my phone buzz with a message notification. I didn't check it immediately, but later, when I did, I was overjoyed to see that it was the cash transfer from GiveDirectly. I couldn't believe it! I quickly told my in-law, who was just as excited because he had also received the money. At that moment, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders, knowing that I could finally pay the school fees for my children."

"For a long time, my family and I had been sharing a pit latrine with our neighbors. While this arrangement worked for a while, it eventually caused tension. The neighbors started complaining about the overuse, and we knew we had to make a change. So, when the transfer came in, we set aside $90 to build our pit latrine. This has brought a sense of relief and privacy to our household. Another priority for me was ensuring my son could continue his education without interruptions. He’s in Form 1, and I have been relying on my sister to help cover his school fees. I didn’t want him to be sent home again for unpaid fees, so I took $80 from the transfer to pay for part of his tuition. It felt good to contribute directly to his education this time and ease the burden on my sister. With the remaining funds, I focused on food. I used the rest of the money to buy household food items, ensuring we had enough to keep us food secure for the coming weeks. It gave me peace of mind knowing that my family wouldn’t have to worry about where our next meal would come from, at least for a while."

"I was busy serving customers in the shop where I work when a child handed me her mother's phone to check a message. To my surprise, I saw that she had received cash from GiveDirectly, and just then, I heard a notification on my own phone confirming that I had also received the transfer. I was overjoyed because I had been patiently waiting for this money after being told I qualified. At that moment, school fees for my children were a pressing issue, and I had taken out a loan to pay for my two children's exams the previous term. With this cash, I knew I could pay off the loan and still have enough left to cover their expenses as they headed back to school. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"Before receiving cash from GiveDirectly, my husband and I relied heavily on casual jobs and crop farming to support our family of six, but we faced numerous setbacks that left us struggling. We often lost our crops to drought, and this year, when we finally found land near the river, floods destroyed our maize on an acre of land, making it nearly impossible to raise the school fees for our son in elementary school that we owed. The stress was overwhelming, especially with $20 unpaid fees from the previous term, but when I received the transfer, it was a relief. I cleared my son's arrears and was able to reduce this term's fees from $47 to just $27, easing my worries about him being sent home for unpaid dues. Thank you, GiveDirectly."