"It was around 9am when I was resting from a long distance of fetching some water when I hear a message tone from my phone. Due to how tired I was, I reluctantly took my phone from the table to see what kind of a message it was though I was sure it is just a promotional message from these funny organizations which just send messages to peoples phones. At a glance on the phone screen, I didn’t believe my eyes at first. I composed myself and took a second glance to comprehend the message well thinking that it may have come from the usual conmen who send messages randomly. My heart was filled with joy and gratitude after knowing that it was the first transfer we were told about GiveDirectly. I jumped up and down in joy knowing that things were going to take a new shape."

"My child easily gets sick and my biggest challenge is that the hospital is so far away. I struggle to find transport money to take my child to the hospital most times."

"As usual, I used to leave home very early in the morning to the field to search for charcoals for sale. One of the fine days of October 2021 at around 7.30am when I was on my motorbike taking some sacks of charcoals to my customers, I heard my friends who were alongside me taking some charcoals to their clients too saying the money from GiveDirectly has been sent. Without showing them any sign that I was desperately waiting for the transfer, I slowed down to confirm from my phone too. My heart was filled with joy and happiness after realizing it was true that the transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly has been sent. Happily, I proceeded with my journey to my customers while calculating on how I was going to spend the money."

"After withdrawing the money, I bought 5 goats for KES 20000.00 since my desire was to keep livestock at home. The appropriate one I thought of was a cow but looking at how dry the area is I opted for goats because goats can resist more than cows. I also repaired my motorbike which has been assisting us in fetching some water as well as doing some little light transportation of goods and even people from one destination to another at a fee. The repair cost KES 7000.00. Having settled the two issues which were in my top list, I also bought a bed for KES 6000.00, school uniforms and other clothes for my children which cost KES 5000.00. I also paid KES 1000.00 school fees for my nursery school child. For the remaining amount I took KES 6000.00 and bought some poles and kept the rest for food and other family issues. The poles I bought mark the beginning of how I will use the second transfer because I am planning to construct a house."

"I will be happy to receive this money because it is going to lessen my burdens. I want my kids to sleep on a comfortable place, I will use the money to buy mattress. I will also use the money to buy food and iron sheets to renovate my house."

"The challenges i am currently facing is lack of my money, for the past years i was depending on my husband to look after the family but since he died everything is difficult i couldn't find a fixed source of income instead of some piece of work which i am paid not more than a thousand which is very little to look after the family"

"For a long period, we have lived on a small piece of land, an eighth of an acre. This land was given to me by my parents after I got married in 2019. My goal has been to purchase a bigger piece of land than this to engage in large-scale farming. I plan to use approximately KES 70,000 to add up to my other savings and purchase the land. For the rest of the amount, I will purchase a dairy cow which will be earning me income through the sale of milk."

"Financial constraint is the biggest challenge am currently facing. I own a small quarry where I mine building stones and blocks. Mining these stones is time-consuming and tedious. I lack the necessary materials and tools to break the bigger rocks into smaller pieces. It takes a minimum of one week to fill a trailer of a tractor which earns me KES 2000. This amount is insufficient to cater to my family's needs as well as pay school fees for my two children at pre-primary school."

"My household depends on my husband's income for sustainability yet he is not fully employed. He is a professional animal health practitioner who does freelance work. He has to go out daily to look for clients and per day he gets paid around KES 500. The daily income is insufficient to sustain our needs which include food and education. Four of my children are in school, 2 in secondary while the remaining 2 are in primary. There school fees has given us stressful nights but we hope that we will be able to pay for their fees and provide quality education to them."

"I spent the money I received from GiveDirectly on purchasing Tailoring machine for my spouse. This is a investment since he does this to earn an income to support the family in meeting basic household items. I purchased a dairy cow and a goat. I used to buy milk daily and this was so costly for me because I do not have a continuous source of income. The rest of the money I bought food, shoes and clothes for my children. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard."