"Without GD, I would not have been able to complete my house as at now. I was also able to connect water to our compound with the money we received from GiveDirectly and we are optimistic to have clean drinking water in our compound. GiveDirectly has changed my life significantly in many ways."

"I received this money at around 4:00 am. I awoke my wife and she was so delighted when I shared the news with her. We got down to planning on how best we were going to spend the money and we did not have any disagreements on how best we could utilize our money. The next morning I went to buy building materials as we embarked on building a new iron roofed house. We are looking forward to buying a water tank using the second transfer and bring to an end the endless menace of fetching water from the river which is sometimes unsafe for human consumption."

"The biggest for me I would say is that I have been able to buy the cow which of course will generate milk in plenty in the near future. I also made sure that my grandchild's fee balances weer all cleared so he now has the opportunity to carry on with his studies with minimal interference. Finally, I feel that the financial burden I have been experiencing in the past was significantly reduced because I no longer strain excessively in getting some of the resources such as water supply which has so far proved to be an elusive commodity in this locality."

"After preparing my children for school in the morning, I spend time in my small farm cultivating sweet potatoes. I would come back in the afternoon to prepare them lunch and fetch water for domestic use. My children would give me a hand in some of the household chores while I rest, which makes me happy. "

"My community boasted of bountiful maize harvests when I was growing up until my 50s. About two decades ago this has since changed. We have been reduced to poverty due to diminishing of a commodity that had kept everyone above water. This shortcoming was caused by a soil borne disease that has been adamantly ruining our crops over time leaving us with scanty harvests which cannot sustain unlimited needs. This is the biggest hardship I've faced in my life. "

"The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I come home from the construction sites where I mostly do casual work like ferrying building materials such as water, cement, stones etc. The work is labour intensive and drains a lot of my energy. However, in the afternoon is when I rest and regain my strength."

"I spent my second transfers on buying building materials for plastering my house. I had bought other building materials using the first transfers and I was stuck because I didn't have enough money to buy other materials that were needed. The new site where we were moving to has poor drainage and during rainy season water can sip through the floor of the house. This is why I prioritized plastering the house before doing any development project. I thank Give Directly or saving us from this menace, I don't think I would have done the plastering this soon."

"Receiving this money means I will be able to buy a cow for milk production but mainly for household consumption and if it all goes well, I will add more cows then the balance of the money, I will use it for buying a bicycle which I can easily send any one to fetch for me water for domestic use since water points are far and at my age its difficult to walk for long distances.Also incase I get sick, I can request any of my relatives to carry me on my bicycle to seek for medical treatment I ncase I get sick."

"Currently, my life is currently different from how it was in that I have become independent. My income has increased because I left selling water and started a new business of selling pudding. I have been able to get more income as compared to before hence able to take care of my needs easily. Nowadays I don't take loans from my friends like I used to do."

"Lack of finances is and always has been a headache in our family. After completing my primary education, I could not proceed further with my education and I ended up getting married out of frustration. Luckily, a friend taught me how to sew but I have not been able to practice this skill because I could not afford to buy a sewing machine. Later, another friend trained me to plait hair but I do not earn much from this because I do it from home and only depend on walk ins recommended by neighbors and friends which are very few. My husband's casual work also pays less than two dollars a day which cannot sustain all our needs of food, water and education for my children."