"Receiving this money means food security for my family. I have been struggling to put a meal on my table for long. I engage in subsistence farming but the production is very low because I still use the traditional farming methods using the hoe. This has rendered my family food insecure year in year out. I am planning to use 400 dollars to buy one pair of ox-plough for farming each valued at 200 dollars. This means I will be able to till a larger piece of land which translates to improved food productivity. I will further use 500 dollars to buy two indigenous dairy cows for milk production both for domestic consumption and for sale."

"The biggest hardship in my life is lack of sufficient food for the household. I am a single mother,relying on casual jobs to get what to spend on food. The $300 that I make is not enough because we spend about $200 on foodstuffs alone. If I start a tailoring business, I will be able to get at least $500 to cover both household needs sufficiently and have the remaining amount for my childrens education."

"I spent part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on renovating my house to look better than before. I used to live in a small mud floor house and I was exposed to dust. I used some money to cement the floor. The rest of the money I bought food and clothes for my children. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard."

"In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well."

"The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 11am when I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I was on my farm cultivating. I do not know how to read so I took the phone to my daughter in law to check it for me. She told me it was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and stop what I was doing to celebrate the good news. I knew I would be able to buy a water tank which had been always my wish. I felt so happy and overwhelmed. My daughter in-law went and withdrew it. GiveDirectly has changed my living standard."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought a dairy cow. I used to do casual jobs in the village and sometimes to get this jobs is so hard. The amount of money that I get through this was so small and cannot meet all the basic needs of the family. I was not in a position to buy a dairy cow. I used to wake up very early in the morning to go for casual jobs and back home late at night feeling very tired. When I received the transfer I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to buy a dairy cow. Currently I have enough milk for my family unlike before. I sell the surplus at the market to earn an income to meet other household items. I no longer do casual jobs in the village. I have devoted much of my time on my farm. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have build a better and spacious house for my family. We used to live in a small house which could not host all the family comfortably. I depend on small scale farming and casual jobs in the village. The amount of money that I get through this is so small and cannot meet all the basic needs of the family including paying school fees for my children. I had no other source of income. I had always wished to build another house but I didn't had enough money. Whenever I had many visitors it was so hectic because I have to host them outside. My children could sleep in my neighborhood. This was so risky since they have to walk at night. Currently I have build a better and spacious house. I no longer shy off to welcome visitors to my house. My children can now sleep comfortably without being exposed to cold. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard and given us hope to work hard."

"Being raised by a single parent, school fees and food shortage was the biggest hardship I experienced. This lead me to drop out of school, I am currently struggling with casual jobs to earn a living and feed my family which is not easy for me."

"I have been dreaming of owning dairy cows to help me earn income in the future through the production and sale of milk, therefore I will budget $500 to purchase two cows. Also, I will use $100 to buy goats and use $200 to renovate my house and buy some furniture for my house. I will use the remaining $200 to buy food and clothing for the family."

"When I receive this money I will buy two cows at $300 each and also use $200 to buy goats as it will boost my family income though sale of milk and goats in future. Now that we always experience perennial water shortage in our area, I will then set the remaining $200 to buy a plastic water tank so that I will be harvesting water during the rainy season."