"I had a lot to do after receiving my first transfer, but I had to prioritize furnishing my house, which had a lot missing inside. To fill the empty spaces in the sitting room, I spent $80 on furniture, purchasing two seats and a table. I am glad the house looks better now, and that more visitors can sit comfortably. I also spent $40 on a mattress that has provided my husband and me with better sleep. We used to sleep on the old mattress, which allowed us to feel the bed frames while lying on it. We are currently sleeping soundly through the night at the moment. In addition, I spent $50 on groceries for my family of five, $95 on new clothes for my daughter, husband, and myself. Everyone is thankful for the help that has completely transformed our wardrobe. I also purchased five chickens with the intention of keeping, breeding, and selling their products and offspring as an additional source of income in the future. I still have money in my savings account that I intend to add to the next transfer and use to purchase a dairy cow."

"My three sons had completed their secondary education but were unable to collect their certificates on time due to financial constraints. I made it a priority to clear their pending $300 after receiving the first transfer, and I am happy to report that they all have their certificates and are ready to begin classes at their respective colleges in May. I also spent $90 on two sacks of dry maize grains, which my family of five is currently eating. Previously, I had to rely on casual labor, which was difficult to find and always paid less for a large workload. I am pleased that I am currently preparing my farm for planting in the hopes of obtaining a better harvest and relieving myself of the tedious casual chores. It has also been difficult to manage my cows' grazing patterns due to a lack of partitions, and escape from the tether would result in crop destruction on nearby farms. To make grazing management easier, I spent $80 on barbed wire and fencing poles to partition the field. I saved the remaining amount and used it to replenish household goods whenever we ran out of anything consumable."

"My children had been coming back and forth from school, hoping to get some money to cover their tuition and give them enough time to study before I received the first transfer. Receiving the first transfer was a huge relief, especially for the two students who attend a day secondary school. The following morning, I made a direct deposit of $100 to the school account to clear the entire term before withdrawing the remaining amount from the nearby shopping center. My reliance on casual labor was no longer paying, and we could sometimes go without a meal until the first transfer arrived. With $40, I was able to purchase enough food for my family of six. Furthermore, with this money, I was able to upgrade my home's lighting system from a single, small, dim light source to a $50 solar panel and a wet battery powering three brighter bulbs in three different rooms: the kitchen, the main house, and the children's room. Every evening, they can now enjoy the well-lit space where they can complete their assignments. I used the remaining money to purchase a heifer, which I expect to calve in the coming months. I had been buying milk from the neighbors and needed a cow that would provide enough milk for my family as well as surplus for sale."

"I'm delighted GiveDirectly guaranteed us cost-free financial transfers and the ability to manage our finances independently once we joined the program. It has long been a dream of mine to own a dairy cow, and I am thrilled that it has now materialized. GiveDirectly is a faultless organization in my opinion, and I hope you will keep doing good things in the villages you have not yet visited."

"Receiving GD transfers has been a game changer with my business. I am an animal trader, I buy goats, chickens, and sometimes cows from the local market and sell them in the market in the city. My business entails buying animals at a lower price and selling them at a profit. I use the profit to buy more animals and resell and get a profit and the cycle goes on and on. Since receiving GD transfers I have been adding to my money and buying goats which I resell and this has greatly increased my income from the business. I feel supported that now my family has access to food without struggle."

"In the upcoming year and beyond, I aspire to acquire a parcel of land to serve as a grazing field for our cows, as the current land we have is limited in size. To achieve this, my husband intends to secure a loan from his employer. Despite this goal, we remain grateful and satisfied with the progress we have accomplished thus far."

"I haven't had a chance to think of a goal for the year. I however know that I want to add to the five chickens I purchased. I have always wanted goats and chicken that are multiplying and I can sell to add more animals maybe a cow. I will spare some money throughout the year if things are not as hard and buy more animals so that I will have a big herd of goats and a large number of chicken at the end of the day."

"After I am done with my house construction. My goal is to start a livestock-rearing project in the next few months. I would want to have goats, chicken and cows so that I become one of the greatest livestock keepers in the area. To achieve this, I would want to ensure that I buy at least one goat per month costing $25 and within a year, I know I would have around 12 goats which I would later sell part of them to buy cattle and chicken."

"I was home when I received the transfer. I had always planned on buying a cow but had no means, therefore I can safely say the first transfer came at the right time. I was very happy when I received the transfer and I was able to buy a cow and some iron sheets for my house whose roof was leaking heavily. I always thank God and pray for GD."

"We earn our bread by working by cultivating a small piece of land that is in our backyard. I was home with my husband when I received when we heard the SMS notification alert. After finding out it was GD's transfer, I was very happy and I got myself ready and rushed to our commercial center. It was an hour long trip but the whole withdrawal process went smoothly and I was able to buy a cow that very same day. I am thankful to every person that ensured I got a grant."