"It was around 3pm when a neighbor asked me if I had received the transfers but unfortunately I had charged my phone in a nearby kiosk. On hearing the news I hurriedly went for my phone and on switching on my phone there was the GD Money which we had eagerly waited for. I was overwhelmed with joy and relayed the good news to my wife who was also very excited."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is buying my own dairy cow.I had desired to buy one for the past seven years but we couldn't afford because we used to rely on my husband who does casual painting. I am grateful because in the next one year my heifer will have grown and given birth hence increased milk and income for my family. I am also happy because through the GD transfers I have managed to built my own modern kitchen which is in it's last stages of construction."

"The transfer from GiveDirectly has helped me in a big way. I want to build a store that I can use in storing feeds for my cows and maize that has been harvested. I have hence bought materials for constructing it, that is, iron sheets, building poles, nails and I have put aside some of the money that I will use in paying for the labor. The transfer also enabled me to buy a few items that were missing in my household, that is a table and some utensils. I was also able to buy some food for my family’s consumption. I have a few cows that I am rearing and sometimes there is a dry season in our area and the cows lack something to eat. I hence wanted a store that I will be able to store some feeds that my cows can consume during the dry season. There was some grass that I had gathered but I lacked a place to store them and hence they got spoiled lying on the ground. The reason why I was not in a position to build a store before is that I did not have money. I have a small business of selling groceries to earn a living and the money that I get from it is only enough for me to use in buying food and other necessities. I have also been having an ailment on my foot since the year 2007 and hence I have been spending a lot of money treating it. I especially used a lot when I did not a national medical insurance card, that is NHIF. I was hence forced to sell some of the properties so as to get money for treatment."

"This transfer from GiveDirectly has been of great help to me. I was able to buy a cow with part of the money. I also bought food that is 3 bags of maize, 2 bags of rice, and a bundle of home baking flour. I was also able to pay school fees for my children and with the rest of the remaining amount, I used it in buying clothes for ourselves and the children. I have always wanted to buy a cow that produces more milk because the ones that we have are indigenous and they usually stop lactating at 5 months after reproduction. We hence usually lack milk for our consumption and we are forced to buy it. The cost of buying milk in our area is too high, we usually buy at 35/= per litre. As much as we have always wanted to buy another cow, we have not been in a position to do so. We depend on farming and the maize and beans that we at times harvest, we usually take it to school as a form of paying school fees for our children. We, therefore, thank GiveDirectly because they have enabled us to achieve what we have always wanted."

"I was still in my bed at around 12 noon when my phone started vibrating. I decided to ask one of my sons to check who it could be. Upon checking, he realized that there was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy and I just wish you could see how I reacted at that particular moment."

"Having have taken my children to school has brought the biggest difference in my daily life. Since I never had the opportunity to go to school, I had always been having the dream of sending my children to school and get a good education. However, before the coming of GiveDirectly my children have been sent home for fees every now and then, and sometimes they could stay even for months at home. This is because of the poverty life that had stricken my household the little I was earning was sometimes not enough for the daily meals. And this was really affecting their academic performance and sometimes they could miss important exams. I am now glad as a parent because they are now studying without any distabunces and I am hopeful that their future will be bright together with their children."

"Having have constructed the house has brought the biggest difference in my daily life. This is because I used to sleep under a temporary small house with a grass thatched roof. Whenever it could rain it was so hectic and those were the worst days of my life. I used to seek shelter from my friends whose houses are very far from the village. Sometimes I used to stay in the house, with the cold nights' rains I was attacked by pneumonia and asthma. However, I still have all the reasons to thank God because I survived. Currently, I am sheltering under a decent house that is iron-roofed and well plastered. I no longer have to worry about the rains and even insecurity."

"I spent part of my first transfer on buying some livestock such as a pair of oxen worthy of KES 34000. This has been my long time dream but because of financial difficulties, i could not afford it. I also clear some fees arrears for my daughters who are in college and secondary and the money came in good time because they were approaching exams. The remaining amount of money, I used in in buying enough foodstuffs for my family and some other household items."

"I was preparing lunch for my children when I heard my phone ringing continuously. I became curious and asked one of my sons to check who it could be. Upon checking he confirmed that it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy becasue I knew my life will change positively."

"It was at 1.38pm when we were taking lunch and my phone beeped on the table and on checking the message, it was the GiveDirectly transfers. That was the end of lunch time for me as I went to collect the transfer immediately. My children were so excited as well."