"The biggest difference I've seen since receiving the cash from GiveDirectly is that I am finally able to get myself a big bed—5 by 6 feet—from the small 2½ by 6 bed I had before. I never imagined that I would have such a large, comfortable bed this soon. It's something I had been dreaming about, but I always thought it would take me years to save enough for it. I always felt like I had more pressing needs to take care of, and the thought of affording something as luxurious as a big bed felt impossible. But with this money, I could finally prioritize my comfort, and it feels like such a huge relief to have something I’ve longed for without the worry of scraping together the funds."

"I was attending a burial at Sintaan when suddenly, I noticed people talking excitedly, saying they had received money from GiveDirectly. My phone had been acting up and wasn’t showing Mpesa messages, so I couldn’t check right away. The whole time I was wondering if I, too, had gotten the money. I waited until I got home and grabbed my husband's phone to check. Sure enough, there it was – money from GiveDirectly! I felt such relief and happiness because now, finally, our tomatoes would be taken care of."

"It was exactly 3 p.m. when I was doing my usual house chores and noticed that I had two unread messages on my phone. I felt a bit nervous and decided to check what they were about, as it was unusual to receive messages at that time. After reading them, I realized they were the M-Pesa notifications I had been eagerly waiting for from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy, knowing this would be the beginning of a better life for me. I would finally be able to build a new house, as the current one might collapse at any moment."

"When I received the cash transfer, the first thing I did was buy a metallic bed for $75. My old wooden bed was infested with bedbugs, and it became unbearable to sleep on. Wooden beds are difficult to fumigate and tend to harbor bedbugs, so I knew getting a metallic one would be a better long-term solution for hygiene and comfort. Next, I used $25 to have a tree cut down that was dangerously close to falling on my house. Every time it rained, I feared it might crash through the roof, and the thought of it kept me up at night. With the rainy season approaching, it was a risk I couldn’t afford to ignore. The remaining money helped me with a few essentials. I spent $40 on two chairs, a table, and a metallic box to store my clothes, which helped organize my living space. I also bought household goods for $12. Finally, I used $15 to buy shoes for my grandson and myself. Being able to address these urgent needs has brought me peace of mind, and I’m incredibly grateful for the assistance."

"I am a parent to school-going children who depend on me to ensure their basic needs are met, such as paying fees and providing food. This motivates me to work extra hard. Recently, I achieved my dream of starting a vegetable business, and now I intend to expand into cattle rearing in the coming years. My goal is to secure my family's financial future and avoid desperation when this financial support ends. I believe that investing in goats will provide a safety net for any future financial challenges. However, I faced a setback when a goat I purchased passed away while giving birth, which was very disappointing. Despite this, I am determined to continue and will soon start saving to resume the livestock rearing project. I am grateful for the support I've received and remain committed to restarting this endeavor in the near future."

"I realize that I'll need to find a job in order to raise the funds to start my cyber cafe. Unfortunately, my poultry farming investment took a hit when a disease wiped out all my chickens, leaving me feeling disheartened. I'm currently weighing my options, especially since poultry feed is quite expensive. Despite this setback, I'm determined to save up enough money to fulfill my dream of opening a cyber cafe, a passion I've had since my university days. My friends who used to operate a cyber cafe have encouraged me to pursue this venture, and I believe it has the potential to be a successful and financially rewarding business. I'm committed to saving a portion of my income every month, and a friend has suggested that I could use the $500 from my poultry farming proceeds to start the cyber cafe. This business endeavor will also allow me to provide support for my seven younger siblings, all of whom are currently in school."

"I currently own two goats and my aim is to increase their numbers so that I can eventually sell or exchange them for bulls. These bulls will be essential for helping me cultivate my land and generating income through hiring them out. Besides raising goats, I also sell chickens to support my family. With the income from my work and the monthly transfers I receive from GiveDirectly, I will be able to purchase more goats, which I can later exchange for cows. This is my major goal for the coming year and beyond. Due to limited income, I am unable to buy a cow directly, so I plan to invest in goats for a while and then exchange them for cows. I believe that this investment will lead to a brighter future for my family and we will be able to live a more comfortable life than we do now."

"I lost my chickens due to a disease outbreak in our area. They were free range, which likely contributed to their contracting the disease. To prevent a repeat of this situation, I plan to use my cash transfers to build a better chicken coop where the chickens can stay in one place and minimize their movement. I also want to ensure I have access to the right medicine to minimize losses in case of unavoidable circumstances. Once these transfers multiply, I plan to exchange chickens for goats. Buying goats directly is expensive, so I will start with chickens and then trade them for goats once their numbers increase. Goats multiply quickly, are easy to manage, and are highly marketable, making them a great source of future financial income once the GiveDirectly transfers come to an end."

"In the coming year, I plan to purchase a cow as a long-term investment. I see this as a crucial step towards ensuring a stable source of income and food for my family. To achieve this goal, I have already started saving the recent transfers I've received, and I intend to continue setting aside every transfer that comes my way in the future. Each time I save, I get closer to the day when I can visit a farm and select the cow that will not only provide milk for my family but also become a lasting source of financial growth. My vision is clear, and with discipline and patience, I believe I will soon accomplish this goal."

"I am involved in charcoal production and sales to meet the basic needs of my family. Unfortunately, I recently lost all my chickens to a disease outbreak in my village. Despite this setback, I am determined to continue with my poultry farming. With the house of my dreams now built, I am looking to focus on livestock. My ultimate goal is to purchase a cow, but due to the high cost, I plan to start by investing in poultry rearing. Once I have a good number of poultry, I will sell some to buy goats. After the goats multiply, I will sell them to eventually acquire a cow for land cultivation. I intend to use the cow for plowing my land and my neighbors' land for a fee. The income from this endeavor will help me pay for my children's education."