"It was around 7 am. I was from fetching water that I was going to use for cooking breakfast. My sister came and told me that I had received a message on my phone. When I looked into it I confirmed that I had received the money. I shared the good news with everybody who was at home at that time."

"I saw the message that I had received the cash at 9 am in morning on Thursday. I was from fetching water from a nearby water pan. My neighbors told me that they had received their transfers. So when I got home went directly to my phone and confirmed that indeed I had received the cash too. I was very happy."

"It was around 9:30 am when I was in my house sweeping after coming back from fetching water for the household. I was with the daughter at the time when I received the message on my phone. I confirmed that it was the transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt very happy for receiving such a good amount of money which would help me settle fees for my daughter."

"I spent part of my first transfer on paying school fees for my three children who are in primary schools. Previously he used to be sent home more often due to fee arrears which used to stress me a parent. In addition to that, I bought a water tank ( 240 liters) at KES 2500 which will help me in harvesting and storing rainwater since there is a shortage of water in my village. Later on, I managed to also clear my medical bills since I have been sick for a long period. However, I did not have enough funds to and I am glad I go I after getting proper checking, I am now recovering. I spent the remaining amount of money on foodstuff which would last us up to the next season."

"I am five months old in my marriage and settling is not easy. Receiving this money will go a long way in helping me settle. My priority is building a two roomed house with an iron sheet roof. My current house is very tiny and the roof is grass thatched. The roof leaks whenever it rains. I also cannot welcome visitors inside my house because it is very small. My budget for the house is KES 25,000. I will also use the money for daily food and water expenses. The drought we are experiencing in this region has made this commodities very rare. In a day I have to spend KES 150 to buy 60 litres of water."

"Earlier that day I had left home to go fetch water since our village experiences water shortages almost all time, so I left at around four in the morning and by the time I was back it was eight because even getting the water is quite a distance. After settling that is when I saw the message and I was so overjoyed because now I would be less stressed out over the fear that my children could be sent back home anytime."

"Receiving this money means continued education for my children. This I plan to achieve through charcoal vending. I will spend KES 30000 to buy charcoal and hire a structure where I will be selling charcoal. In this business I am assured of getting a profit of KES 2000 per day. I intend to use the proceeds for school fees, uniforms, stationery, etc. I will further spend KES 30000 to buy 10 goats that will act as a long term investment project to my household. The rest of my transfer will cater for other household expenses like food and water."

"Upon receiving the second transfer, I had a lot to do and I am grateful that I finally accomplished them with the help of my supportive spouse whom I was planning with. I started with the construction of a dam currently filled with rainwater and is so useful to my livestock that I am no longer taking them to the river as I used to before. The labor charge I incurred in digging and setting up outlets was KES3000. I also renovated the already constructed house that was already rusting on the roof and had to obtain new iron sheets and paid the labor at a total of KES22000. My house currently looks new on the roof, and even the rainwater that we are collecting is safe for use in the household as they are free of rust. With the plans that we had in place, we also managed to obtain a heifer at KES13000 as we have depended so much on buying milk that was so expensive, injected KES5000 into the small business that my wife started after the first transfer, and used the remaining amount on obtaining household goods."

"After accomplishing a lot with the first transfer and hoping to still see other changes in our household, I am thankful to GiveDirectly for this noble course that has seen not only my household transformed but also other households in my neighborhood. The purchase of a water tank will bring the biggest difference in my life, and even though it is yet to be delivered, I already feel relieved that the hardest task of fetching water from the river is soon coming to a stop."

"Well, there is a big difference in my life in that I am now able to have multiple sources of income. My life was very hard to tell you the truth. I have a farm but as of now there is no rain and nothing is growing on the farm anymore. Finding water is very hectic I have to walk for long hours approximately four hours and above to water sources. Buying water is expensive. With this money, I will be able to save and buy a motorcycle that will help in fetching water and also sell to make a living."