"From the transfers received from GiveDirectly, I firstly purchased a cow ( at $350) so that I will be able to have milk for my kids and manure to enriche plants. Moroever, with the transfer, I was able to buy a land at $500 in order to expand my cultivation and the harvest. I also bought food for my family, clothes and other missing home materials that will be helping in carrying and keeping water during dry season. Before, I used to struggle on getting cash to pay my health insurance, but after getting the transfers, I paid it. Now entire family are secured with health insurance."

"I was still at my farm ploughing cowpeas when I noticed that two new messages were unread. Upon checking who had remembered me at that particular time, I confirmed that it was from GiveDirectly alerting me that I had received my first cash transfers. I was overwhelmed with happiness to learn that I will soon own a spacious house that will accommodate my growing family, which is now comprised of six family members."

"The best investment I can think of making at my age is purchasing some livestock. Since I have spent the majority of my life relying on temporary employment, I am slowly catching up with my years and have no reliable assets. Since it's difficult to find even the occasional construction jobs I used to work, I intend to try my hand at purchasing and raising livestock, such as goats and, if funds allow, cows. I currently have three goats that I got from the transfer. I intend to save up over the coming months and at the very least purchase a goat. Due to the fact that I do not have a reliable source of income, my goal is to establish a herd and be able to meet my financial needs through the livestock."

"I am happy with my chicken, cows, and goats. They sustain us a family, we depend on milk, eggs, or selling them. It's a joy owning them."

"I will cultivate that land and It will help me in development as I will buy livestock like a cow after getting profit from my land and that cow will give me manure."

"I bought four goats for $15 and one dairy cow for $15, knowing that with animal products in my home, I will be covered financially because I will sell one and keep the rest as they multiply. The dairy cow I purchased was still a young one, but in no time it will be mature and will be able to begin producing milk, which will be extremely beneficial in that I will cut on the amount of money spent buying it and also sell the extra to earn some income. I also had to spend $4 on planting 2.5 acres of land where I planted maize, and I am hopeful that I will reap as much as I planted. This time, I purchased plenty of food for $5 in order to save time and money. Food is expensive at our village's small kiosk, so I decided to go to a nearby center and buy it in bulk so that I could spend less money. I was also able to pay school fees and buy a uniform for my child, who had been going to school in home clothes due to my inability to buy the uniform; she is happy since she is no longer the odd one out, and she will no longer be sent home for school expenses. Aside from that, I was able to save $10 from the transfers, which will assist me in managing my daily needs in the house and maybe when an emergency arises."

"I was just relaxing near the watering hole like I always do while looking after some livestock when I got a message confirming that some money had been sent to my account and on further scrutiny realized that it is the amount that Givedirectly had promised to send us. I was so excited and immediately went to a nearby M-pesa agent to have it confirmed. I immediately knew that the plans of buying a dairy cow would finally materialize!"

"Looking ahead, I intend to save a portion of the cash transfers towards purchasing a wooden bed and a comfortable mattress, which will greatly improve my sleeping experience. Once this goal is accomplished, my next objective is to save a total of $160 to acquire a cow. This cow will not only provide us with a sustainable source of milk but will also assist with plowing tasks on my farm when the rainy season arrives."

"Moving forward, my main objective is to build a house for my three children. My primary income source is through casual labor in house construction. However, I face challenges in securing consistent work, often finding jobs for only four days a week. This irregularity poses financial constraints for my family, which has made it challenging for me to construct the house using my earnings. I intend to spend the cash transfers on this goal. Once that is accomplished, my focus will shift toward expanding my herd of five goats. I would have preferred to go for cows instead, but they are relatively expensive. Besides, by leveraging the reproductive capacity of goats, I aim to create a sustainable source of income that will support my family's needs, including education expenses and food."

"My primary goal is to build a house. Four years ago, my previous house collapsed during a strong windstorm, leading me to move into my son's house temporarily. He is currently pursuing his education and only returns home during the holidays, which works for my convenience for now. However, I face challenges when it comes to accommodating visitors or finding a suitable space for them as the house only has one room. Therefore, I want to construct a three-room house that can cater to the needs of my family and provide a comfortable living environment. In addition to the house, I aspire to invest in livestock such as goats and cows. I believe that owning livestock will contribute to the overall financial stability of my household."