"My two sons used to look for a place to sleep in the neighborhood, and they would occasionally fail, forcing them to share a small space that we had been using at home as a store. When I received the second transfer, I purchased construction materials such as 20 iron sheets for $8 each, frames and windows for $15, and labor for $40. I'm glad their house is finished and they are sleeping well in their own room now. I also purchased a heifer calf from a relative who required $60 at the time, which I had to pay with the remaining funds. The remainder was spent on food for my family of ten. I had been relying on subsistence farming and the sale of farm produce to pay my bills, but there is currently a devastating drought that has destroyed most of our crops."

"GiveDirectly's fairness was incredible in that there was no bias during enrollment. Both the wealthy and the poor were given equal opportunities to enroll and were given the same amount of money. We were given the freedom to spend the money however they saw fit after receiving it. Even though we still want more, we also want to see that the same thing is happening in other villages. Growing together across communities is a good feeling because everyone will begin to work to improve their living standards and bring everyone up to the same economic level."

"The cost of purchasing food on a daily basis had been difficult due to scarcity and rising market prices. In the coming year, I hope to expand into farming in addition to my vegetable business, which I hope to restart soon. My son has been supportive throughout the time I have been out of business, and we have been discussing the return to business plan in the last few days. He is willing to give me the necessary start-up capital, and I believe that with it, I will be able to expand the business and make a profit, which will aid in the purchase of farm inputs."

"My husband and I never got the opportunity to go to school. This has exposed us to engage in strenuous activities like charcoal burning since we lack skills for better jobs. Our combined income from the charcoal work is usually $50 per month which does not fully cater to our basic needs in my family of 9. This has directly affected my children's education since a big portion of this money goes to food. In most cases, my children have missed classes due to a lack of school fees, a situation that has affected their performances. This has worried me most because their future life is currently at stake and as a mother, I feel the pain. Hence, financial constraints stand out as the main challenge that I am currently facing."

"Around five o'clock in the evening, I was serving customers at my cybercafé when I noticed a message on my phone. As I had the phone in my hand, I did not take the time to check on it. Upon checking, I noticed a $550 reflection on the phone's display. Given that I could still clearly recall the information I learned from the GiveDirectly employees who visited us, I came to the conclusion that I had received the initial transfer. My heart was overflowing with gratitude and delight at getting such a sizable sum of money."

"Since I had no defined source of income apart from casual labor, I opted to buy a motorbike for business. The motorbike is used for ferrying people and light luggage from one destination to the other. In purchasing the motorbike, I bought it in hire-purchase because the amount could not allow me to buy it in cash. Therefore, I paid a deposit of $120 and I am paying a weekly installment of $24 for one year. I am very happy that I now have an income-generating activity. Despite having riding knowledge, I opted to enroll myself in a driving school so that I could possess the legal documents required for a motorist. I paid $120 in school fees for the driving classes. I also bought a sack of maize for $70 to ensure there is food security at home."

"In the next one year and beyond, I would want to have a better life. I have always been struggling with commuting to my school of study due to the lack of money to cater for my daily transportation cost. I would want to own a motorcycle to ease my transport to and from the school and with the transfers that I have been receiving, I have been saving some portion to help me acquire the motorbike."

"In the next one year and beyond, I would want to have my own livestock. I had started saving little amount on a monthly basis and I want to ensure that I have enough money to buy goats and with time trade them for cows, and during the cultivation period, the cows would be of great help to me as I would no longer struggle to look for money to pay out those cultivating my land."

"I have a big piece of land that I always cultivate but it had been more costly for me since I always hire livestock(cows)from a friend at a higher fee to help me with the land cultivation. But in the next one year, I would want to have my own two cows to help me with the cultivation work and one dairy cow as well believing that the profits I would be getting from selling the milk would be of great help in terms of fending for my family. And to achieve this, I would continue saving part of my monthly transfers to a certain amount that would be enough for the purchase of the livestock"

"I would like to buy a mattress for myself. My current mattress is so old and is totally worn out you can feel the ground. It is so uncomfortable to sleep on this mattress due to this issue. I want to make sure that when I get some money I can buy a new mattress at $36. I also want to add another room to my house. My house is currently one roomed. My wish is when I get money i may buy iron sheets, at least 2 sheets when I can, so I can add that room. I want to buy goats too when things get better. If my husbands gets jobs at a better rate, It will take care of the needs at home and so I can buy goats and chicken."