"Now that we have harvested maize, and I am confident that it will provide enough food for my family in the coming months, my focus has shifted towards investing the cash transfers in livestock, particularly goats. I am grateful to have acquired four goats through previous transfers, although I believe I could have had more if not for financial constraints, such as the need for food. My goal is to accumulate wealth by raising livestock and having the option to sell these animals in times of need to provide for my family. This would include assisting with the tuition fees of my four grandchildren. I am eager to do so to alleviate the burden on my son, who earns income through casual labor at the coffee factory, which is insufficient to cover all his children's basic needs."

"I aspire to expand my tailoring venture into a full-fledged business situated in the trade center. This would require renting a workspace there. Working from home has its challenges, given the various household responsibilities and distractions. These constraints hinder my concentration on growing my tailoring business. I aim to save so that I can acquire materials and additional sewing equipment, thereby taking my business to the next level. I hope the cash transfers will play a crucial role in helping me reach this goal, as I estimate that I will need an initial capital of approximately $200."

"At present, my primary objective is to continue financing the education of my five children, all of whom are currently enrolled in school. I am committed to sharing the financial responsibilities with my husband to ensure our children's needs are met. With his income from his job as a driver and my earnings from making and selling donuts, we have been able to primarily cover our family's food expenses. Paying school fees had been a challenge before the cash aid program began. I am grateful that the cash transfers have enabled me to participate in a local savings club, assisting in covering some of our children's school fees. Additionally, I have been able to secure loans from these clubs to meet the tuition expenses. I am filled with hope and optimism that the cash transfers will continue to bring about positive transformations in my family's life."

"When I first began receiving the cash transfers last year, I took the initiative to construct a separate kitchen area for cooking purposes. This was a significant improvement since I had previously been preparing meals inside my sleeping quarters, leading to the inconvenience of soot from the firewood. Unfortunately, the recent heavy rains took a toll on this kitchen structure, particularly because its walls were constructed from mud. My immediate plan is to repair this section of the kitchen to restore it to a usable state and also to utilize it as a storage area for the maize harvest I recently gathered. Following this, I intend to invest in acquiring a quality wooden bed and a comfortable mattress. The current bed I use is made with sisal ropes, which tend to wear out and loosen over time, resulting in discomfort. Upgrading to a more durable and comfortable bed is essential for my overall well-being and comfort."

"Now that we have started harvesting our maize crop, I believe that the produce will be sufficient to provide food for my family until the end of the year. This opens up the opportunity for me to use the cash transfers for purposes other than food. I plan to invest the money in purchasing and raising livestock, particularly goats. I hope to accumulate enough wealth through these animals to generate funds in the future, which can be used to support my son in financing the education of his five children. This investment in livestock will contribute to our long-term financial security and help secure the future of our family."

"My primary goal is to build a new house. The condition of my current house is deteriorating rapidly, and I fear that it may not withstand adverse weather conditions. As a security guard, the income I earn, along with the cash transfers, provides me with the means to construct a new and safer house. Specifically, I aim to build a two-room house with an iron sheet roof and mud walls. With 18 iron sheets already acquired through previous transfers, I plan to continue accumulating the necessary building materials before hiring someone to construct the house. This new house will provide my family with a secure and comfortable place to live."

"Looking ahead to the coming year and beyond, my primary goal is to complete the construction of the new house. The current state of my house is not suitable for living due to the leaking roof and weakened walls. I have confidence in the cash transfers, and I believe that with the recent maize harvest, I can alleviate the financial constraints on the transfer funds. This will enable me to repay the debt faster and start saving for other necessary building materials such as poles. Once I have gathered all the required resources, I plan to hire someone to construct the house according to my specifications. I envision a two-roomed house with mud walls reinforced by concrete pillars and an iron sheet roof. This new house will provide my family with a safe and comfortable shelter."

"In the next one year and beyond I have plans of fencing my compound and starting up a goat keeping project. This is a more viable project that will surely help us in the days to come and I look forward to achieving it soon enough. Here, we have just had to take one day at a time. The harsh climatic conditions seems not to change anytime and this makes it hard for us to make ends meet."

"Receiving unconditional money from GiveDirectly has truly transformed our lives, and I can't express how happy and thankful I am for the immense support. It is a program that is truly one of a kind and has successfully alleviated the poverty that many in our community were grappling with. What sets it apart is the fairness and equality with which it operates—every person is treated with the same level of respect and support. Even when we sometimes felt that the transfer might be delayed, the fact that we could call and have welcoming agents respond to us was reassuring. Personally, I appreciate everything about the program, and I believe nothing should be changed. Instead, it should be further implemented in other areas so that more people can experience the same life-changing benefits that we have."

"With $213 of my second transfer, I bought essential foodstuffs like dry maize grains, sugar, cooking oil, rice, and milk. These provisions sustain my current family of five and are a great help when my grandchildren come to visit. Additionally, I invested $63 in purchasing two pieces of wire mesh to secure my compound against wild animals and stray livestock from the neighborhood. Allocating $8 to other household consumables like toiletries and utensils ensured our day-to-day comfort in our home. I also spent $86 on acquiring two goats, an investment that I hope to breed and provide us with offspring we can sell to meet various household financial needs. Furthermore, I allocated $41 to purchase farm fertilizer, which significantly boosted the yield of my maize field. The remaining $46 was spent on other basic requirements, which included $16 on new clothes to replace old and tattered ones and $30 set aside to address any unexpected household expenses. This unconditional cash transfer has not only met our immediate needs but also empowered us to plan for a better future."