"In the next year, my goal is to venture into maize farming on my 1-acre piece of land. This endeavor is crucial for providing food security for my family of three. I aim to sow maize on this land to ensure that we have enough to feed ourselves throughout the year. To initiate this venture, I estimate that I will need a capital investment of $500. This will cover expenses such as purchasing seeds, fertilizers, and any necessary equipment for farming. My plan to raise this capital involves attending casual jobs. By working additional hours and taking on extra tasks, I believe I can gradually save up enough funds to kickstart the maize farming project. While it may require some effort and dedication, I am confident that, with hard work and perseverance, I will be able to achieve this goal within the next year. The opportunity to provide for my family's food needs through farming is a priority for me, and I am committed to making it a reality."

"In the upcoming year, my primary goal is to ensure that all nine of my children have access to education by completing the payment of their school fees. As someone who faced the challenges of dropping out of school early in my own life, I am deeply committed to providing my children with the opportunity to pursue their education to the fullest. My son, currently in grade 10, requires $320 to complete the academic year. This investment in his education is crucial for his future prospects and opportunities. To achieve this goal, I plan to utilize the profits from our grocery business. By allocating a portion of our business earnings towards education, I am prioritizing the long-term well-being and success of my children. Ensuring that my children receive a quality education is a top priority for me and my family. I firmly believe that education is the key to unlocking their potential and empowering them to achieve their dreams. I am fully committed to supporting my son and all of my children in their educational pursuits, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that they have the resources they need to succeed."

"GiveDirectly's approach of providing unconditional cash transfers has proven to be effective in uplifting the poor. By giving recipients the autonomy to decide how to utilize the funds, they can address their most pressing needs and priorities. For example, families can use the cash to ensure their children's education by paying for school fees or purchasing school supplies. Additionally, they can use the funds to acquire food, improving their nutrition and overall well-being. At the moment, GiveDirectly's approach seems to be working well, as it empowers recipients and allows them to make informed decisions about their own lives. As long as the organization continues to monitor its impact and adapt to the evolving needs of the communities it serves, there may not be a need for significant changes to its approach."

"My wife and I rely on crop farming and livestock keeping as our main source of income. We practice our crop farming on an acre piece of land , focusing mainly on contract farming under the Kenya Seed Company. This company provides certified maize seeds and offers financial support for land preparation as a loan. Planting and crop management is on us. We frequently experience severe droughts, forcing us to rely on crop irrigation. During extreme droughts, the rivers dry up, leading to poor crop. When the harvest fails, the contracting company expects us to pay the loan back within a period of one year. If we fail, they auction our assets, making it difficult to meet our needs including better housing. I used the last $450 transfer to construct a two-room house with an iron sheet roof because my current one-room muddy house was too small, forcing my wife, our four children, and me to share a single room. The limited space meant we had to cook outside, which became particularly challenging during the rainy season. When we had visitors, we were compelled to ask our neighbors for additional space for them to spend the night. Although the new house is nearly complete, I have yet to install the doors and windows, primarily due to financial constraints. The money from the third transfer was insufficient, but I plan to finish the house as soon as I secure the funds. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for their financial support, which has significantly changed our lives."

"Having established a vegetable-selling stand through the cash transfers, my next objective is to open a kiosk shop in the village. Recognizing the market demand for fast-moving goods in this community, I aim to capitalize on this opportunity and create a sustainable livelihood for my family. To kickstart this venture, I estimate that a minimum of $90 will be required. I plan to accumulate the necessary capital through savings from the existing business and the ongoing cash transfers. I am optimistic that by September of this year, I will have gathered enough funds to launch the kiosk shop successfully."

"My ultimate goal is to be able to support the education of my four children and provide daily meals for them. I am glad the cash transfers have played a crucial role in supporting these aspects over the past few years, but I am aware that they will not be here for the long run. To secure a sustainable source of income, I have set a goal for the coming year and beyond—to establish a livelihood through livestock ownership, specifically by rearing chickens and goats. As they multiply, I intend to sell them, creating a continuous source of funds that will enable me to meet the ongoing needs of my children."

"In the coming year, my goal is to construct a five-room rental house on the new plot I've recently acquired. I believe this investment will provide a stable financial security for my family through the rental income it generates. To fund this project, I plan to rely on the savings I've accumulated in my merry-go-round, with the intention of taking a loan and repaying it gradually. However, I acknowledge that realizing this dream might be delayed due to the current income limitations, but I remain determined to see it through."

"Since I received my second transfer from GiveDirectly, my life has changed. I spent all $450 on agriculture to purchase tomato seeds and prepare the farm to plant one hectare of tomatoes. Initially, I planned to buy a cow, but I decided to invest in tomatoes instead. They do well here, and I'm confident I'll make double the profit compared to buying a cow that might die in drought, leaving me with nothing. Life has been tough for me; I'm a single mother and was never married, so raising a family of six hasn't been easy. Before I received the cash for the first time, I depended on my daughter Mercy, who did casual labor on other people's farms so we could have at least one meal a day. She used to earn $3 per day, which wasn't enough for three meals. I appreciate GiveDirectly for their help. With my first transfer, I opened a small kiosk in my village to sell foodstuff. The profit I make from it helps me buy food, relieving Mercy of the burden of providing for us so she can focus on her two children."

"Receiving the first transfer from GiveDirectly was a relief and marked a shift in our household approach. We had numerous plans with my spouse, but our priority was to optimize our farming activities by reducing operational costs and seeking alternative input sources. For years, we relied on bank loans to purchase farm inputs, which incurred considerable interest and deductions from our harvest sales. With no other viable options, we reluctantly complied with the bank's and input provider's terms. Upon receiving the transfer, I spent $100 to lease an acre of land and, subsequently, $55 on land preparation. We currently await free certified seeds from Seed Co, a company that offers a more advantageous purchasing arrangement compared to Kenya Seed. It directly purchases from farms, eliminating transportation costs, and provides post-harvest services like sacks and a thresher, all while offering the same price of $1 per kilogram. This approach ensures higher income potential without bank deductions, unlike our previous loans of $350 per acre. I used the remaining $30 to repair my motorbike, which is a crucial asset for transporting my two children to school and facilitating farm operations. We are hopeful about our farming future and thankful for the life-changing support from GiveDirectly."

"The timing of the transfer was nothing short of a blessing. As my son was about to embark on his secondary education journey in two days, we were facing financial uncertainty. While we had managed to gather $210 through a community fundraiser that I requested in my village, it was barely enough to cover the first term's school fees. Essential items like uniforms and stationery seemed out of reach, especially with our limited income from casual farm work, which is even scarcer during the dry season. The relief I felt upon receiving the transfer was immense. I allocated $100 from the transfer to purchase the school requirements, and I was able to enrol my son comfortably, knowing he had everything he needed for his studies. Another $50 went towards leasing a half-acre of land near the river, where I plan to grow maize for sale to continuously support my child's education. Currently, we are living on a small farm that we borrowed from relatives after being displaced by banditry in 2012, and it's too small for cultivation. I used the remaining amount to purchase food to ensure my young children wouldn't go hungry."