"My husband and I relied solely on charcoal production to sustain our daily lives and to provide for our ten children, four girls, and six boys. This was far from sustainable, as the scarcity of logs meant we could only manage to produce, at most, five bags of charcoal over 2 weeks. We sold these to brokers at a lower rate, sometimes $5 per bag or, at times, as low as $3.5. Our production was limited to using Prosopis trees, further contributing to the log shortage. Using any other type of tree was against the law, posing a great risk of arrest. This situation made it challenging to cover even basic expenses like school fees. Upon receiving my second transfer from GiveDirectly, I allocated $250 to construct a house for my four daughters. Until then, my husband and I shared our living space with them, which was becoming less practical as they grew older. Meanwhile, my six sons resided in a separate house. The new one-roomed house for my daughters, complete with an iron sheet roof and mud walls, was a step towards ensuring privacy for my husband and me. Additionally, I utilized part of the funds to pay school fees for my two boys in secondary school $100 for one and the other $50. In addition, I spent $30 on second-hand clothes for my seven younger children and allocated the remaining $20 toward purchasing a few essential food items. Thank you GiveDirectly for your support."

"I want to continue supporting the education of my two children, one in high school and the other in primary school. At the same time, I aim to build a new house since the current one has a damaged roof that leaks water whenever it rains. Fortunately, we recently harvested crops, easing our food concerns. As this alleviates the food constraints on the funds, I plan to use the cash transfers to address these two priorities of building a house and paying school fees. Additionally, if possible, I hope to start a business before the cash transfers end, one that can continue generating income even after the funds stop in the next couple of years."

"I usually use the cash I receive to pay for my children's school fees, buy clothes for them, and save some for emergencies. Last December, I spent $34 on clothes for all four of my children so they could have outfits for Christmas. This is a tradition I usually want to continue every festive season because it brings them joy. After the holidays, my daughter joined junior high school, so I spent $34 on her school supplies like uniforms, bags, shoes, and books. I am glad that she is now well settled with no risk of missing school. I also saved $30 to buy iron sheets to repair the roof of our house. The current roof leaks whenever it rains because it's corroded over time. The cash transfers have been a lifesaver, especially for keeping my children in school. Since we started receiving the transfers, they haven't missed a day of school due to lack of fees. If it weren't for the cash transfers, my children wouldn't be able to go to school. This is because as a widow, the little money I make from making charcoal, cannot sustain the needs of everyone in the family."

"When I got $450 from GiveDirectly, I was so happy. Before that, I lived in a house with a grass roof that leaked when it rained. So, I decided to use the money wisely. First, I bought building materials to make a proper house. Then, I paid $50 to a handyman to help finish building it. With the remaining $400, I opened a business selling second-hand clothes, known as mutumba. Before this, I didn't have a job, but now, I feel so grateful because I'm employed. It's like a dream come true for me. I'm really happy to have this opportunity to make a better life for myself."

"As the year comes to an end, I have a big dream in my heart. I want to build a nice home for me and my family. It's something I've been thinking about for a long time. Having a good home means everything to us. It's not just about having a roof over our heads; it's about having a safe and comfortable place to live. I've been planning for this, and I've decided to use the third transfer from GiveDirectly to make this dream a reality. The idea of it actually happening fills me with happiness and contentment. Knowing that we'll soon have our own place, a place we can truly call home, brings me so much joy. It will be a place where we can create memories together, where we can feel safe and at peace. Thinking about this future home gives me a sense of satisfaction. It's not just a house; it's a symbol of our hard work and determination. And soon, with the help of GiveDirectly, that dream will become a beautiful reality."

"I have a family of seven members and we all live in a one room house with a grass roof. The house is not spacious enough and it leaks during rain season. My first daughter is grown-up and she seeks shelter from neighbors. My husband and I does casual jobs making little income which caters for food only. Two of my children dropped out of school due to lack of school fees. I will use $700 to build a two room house for the family and equip it with beddings. Currently the family sleeps on the floor using sacks as beddings. I will also use $100 to enroll my children back to school. This will also help me buy uniform for them."

"Receiving this transfer means that my family will have decent housing, food secure and going back to farming as a long term investment. I intend to use $50 to sort out our immediate food insecurity issue, $450 to construct an all sided iron roof structure and the rest to invest in irrigation farming on the already reclaimed land. With cash, I will have all the necessary factors of production without going into debts. The long term effect is for my family to be food secure and at the same time have a reliable source of income."

"This year, my main objective is to renovate my house. The one I currently live in is quite old, with a roof that leaks severely during heavy rains, urgently needing replacement. To achieve this, I plan to utilize my savings along with any additional funds I receive. The prospect of having a better living space brings me immense satisfaction, and I'm truly thankful for this opportunity to improve my home."

"When GiveDirectly enrolled me in their program, it was the first time I had ever owned a phone. However, operating a phone has been challenging for me because I am illiterate. I need assistance from my helper to use it. Despite this, I was determined to know when GiveDirectly would send me the cash they had promised. One day, while I was harvesting maize on my farm, my neighbour asked me whether I had received my money. I couldn't check because I didn't understand how to use the phone. When I got home, I called my son, who checked and confirmed that my first transfer had been sent. I was extremely happy, and I couldn't hold back my emotions. I have been living in a grass-thatched hut for most of my life, which is leaking and in poor condition. With the money I received, my priority was to build a decent iron-roofed house."

"When I received my last transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to focus on building myself a better house. Before, I lived in a small, old mud-walled house. It was so worn that outsiders could see inside, and because of its condition, visitors refused to stay. Additionally, I had to cook outside since the house was too small, except during rain when I had to manage it somehow. I utilized $350 from the transfer and built a new room made of iron sheets for both walls and roofing. Now, I have a much better place to live and have turned the old house into a kitchen. Another big issue was my sleeping arrangements. I used to sleep on old rags, which was very uncomfortable. So, I bought a mattress costing $15 and to ensure I have food, I spent $45. Moreover, I set aside $50 to complete my fencing I had started with my second transfer which I ran out of money before completion. Thank you GiveDirectly for your support."