"I am grateful for the cash transfers as they have significantly reduced the level of hunger my household faces daily. While there are still days when we have to survive on minimal meals like a cup of porridge or hot water, the frequency of such occurrences has decreased since I started receiving the cash aid. My son, who works as a painter in house construction, sometimes supports me with food, but his earnings are limited. He also has his responsibilities, including caring for his six children, most of whom are in school. I would not want to burden him further, so when I receive the cash transfers, my priority is to buy food for myself. In the recent transfer, I spent $29 on food. Additionally, my grandchildren had outstanding school fees and were sent home, so I used the remaining $5 to clear their balances and ensure they could return to school."

"We live in a very dry environment, and finding food and water is quite tough. I am a metal artist, and my business has been struggling recently. I spent $60 on food since we went for days without eating. I was able to settle my children's school fee arrears with $30, and I'm grateful that I was able to keep them in school. The remainder of the funds were used to cover our day-to-day expenses."

"I am a trained builder,but business has been slow in recent months due to the prolonged drought. We cant operate well in these conditions since there's no water. Because our crops failed the previous planting season, I used $62 of the transfers received to buy food for my family. I am also pleased to report that I was able to send my son to secondary school with the remaining $60."

"Bought two bulls,paid school fees of his children, used some to pay labourers working on his house that had been partially destroyed by oozing water"

"A decent house and farming project top the list of my priorities. Achieving this in my life will mean improved social status and we will be living a satisfactory life with my family. With my current house, I have lost confidence because I always feel shy about welcoming visitors at home. This makes me feel the need to own a better house. I, therefore, plan to spend $500 of my money to construct a 2-roomed iron-roofed house that will spare us from these life worries. On the other hand, I also intend to have a reliable source of income to stop over-dependence on my husband. To ensure this comes to reality, I plan to venture into farming where I can plant vegetables and start supplying to our nearby market. This will provide me with the opportunity to have financial independence. I plan to spend the remaining amount ($600) to install fresh water at home and also to purchase a water tank for storage. This will help me to have the opportunity and courageously start my project. What a change in my life!"

"I am a single mother of one child. I did certificate in early childhood education and I am now working as a teacher at Gloria Academy earning approximately $80 per month. I did not do my certificate examination due to shortage of money . This makes me under paid at the school. I will use $ 500 to but a piece of land at the town center and build a structure to start a day care business. The structure will cost $400 and I intend to make a profit of approximately $120 per month. The center has so many working class people and there is no one day care so the market is good for me. I will also use $200 to install water tap at home for business and for family use. This is also a source of income for me."

"I allocated a portion of the second transfer towards purchasing food, spending $68 to sustain my family of three. This has proven to be crucial, as our farms have been unproductive due to harsh climatic conditions, making it challenging to procure food. Additionally, I invested $30 in purchasing iron sheets to construct a pit latrine, addressing the pressing need for proper sanitation. Previously, we resorted to using bushes for relieving ourselves, which posed health risks, particularly during rainy seasons when our waste would be carried into the rivers we relied on for water. Furthermore, I paid a construction fee of $20, as all the necessary materials were readily available, resulting in improved hygiene conditions. Additionally, I settled a $20 school fee payment for my child, who was previously sent home to collect the tuition fees. After these expenses, I still had $40 remaining, which I continue to utilize for replenishing exhausted household items. I am profoundly grateful to GiveDirectly for their timely financial support, which has significantly improved our living conditions."

"My modest, grass-thatched "Makuti" house is currently in a state of disrepair. The mud walls have absorbed water and are deteriorating, while large openings in the walls allow cold air to enter. Furthermore, the supporting poles have weakened, causing the house to lean to one side. Looking ahead to the end of this year and beyond, my objective is to have my house thoroughly repaired, making it a safe and comfortable place to live once again."

"GiveDirectly has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in their operations, leaving us all deeply content with the outcomes. The provision of free cash transfers granted us the freedom to allocate the funds according to our individual needs and priorities. Many individuals utilized the support to pay school fees and construct new houses, while others wisely invested in acquiring food supplies. The village has experienced a remarkable transformation, for which I extend my heartfelt appreciation to GiveDirectly. Looking ahead, it is our collective hope that community projects requiring collective efforts, such as establishing water points, will be implemented to further benefit the community as a whole. By addressing these communal needs, GiveDirectly can continue to enhance its impact and foster lasting positive change in the lives of many."

"With extensive expertise in farming, my primary objective revolves around investing my monthly transfers into agricultural ventures. In past years, the most significant hurdle I encountered was the scarcity of rainfall and inadequate irrigation resources. Presently, I am in the process of excavating a substantial reservoir to collect and store water during the upcoming rainy season. Looking ahead, my plan is to utilize my two-acre farm to cultivate watermelons, a crop that holds promising prospects for generating substantial income."