"Given the current tough economy, where commodity prices are rising by the day, my income as a motorbike-taxi operator barely secures enough meals for my family. Besides, there are no longer many passengers in my village as people prefer to trek rather than use a motorbike service. This has made me think about raising livestock as an alternative form of investment and source of income. I plan to secure more goats to increase my herd of ten, then later trade some for cattle. " (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"I'm 22 years of age.I live with my parents.The school in my town doesn't have a seniors' high school.I'm attending in fishtown because of the distance,I do come during the weekend.My parents have been my source of motivation since I was a child.Farming has been our source of income.In all the difficulty my parents are facing with sending us through school, I intend to use my transfer to complete my tuition to ease my parents' burdens.I also use part of the money to complete the bike payment I bought with the first and second transfers Givedirectly gave me." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"My family of 7 depends on charcoal burning to earn a living. However, the harsh climatic conditions and prolonged drought have depleted the trees and now we have turned to the bodaboda business that my husband owns as an alternative. Furthermore, charcoal burning is tiresome and risky as well because the government banned it and if found practising, then will be prosecuted. I am glad the transfers made life easy because I have paid school fees with them. In addition, I used $30 to purchase food for the household and the rest of the transfers on house construction. I am excited that my financial burden has been reduced hence I can concentrate on safe income-generating activities." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"We are living as a large family of twelve people. Unfortunately, both my husband nor I do not have a job, and we lack a source of income. We, therefore, resort to burning charcoal, and my husband occasionally uses someone's motorcycle for a taxi. However, he rarely generates good money from the taxi business because of the high fuel cost and narrowed customer base. With the most recent transfer, I spent $15 on school fees for my three school-going children. Courtesy of the GiveDirectly's transfers, they are always in school and have ample time to participate in class work, unlike before when they were often sent home for fee collection. In addition, I spent $19 on food since we had depleted what I had bought the previous day and had no option but to forgo meals the following day."

"I have been using this money to help me build my own house well. I used to work as a motorcycle rider but I had gotten the motorcycle on loan and due to the difficult economic times I was unable to make monthly payments and lost the motorcycle. This meant I could not even focus on building a house which I had need of. Each of my transfers goes into buying building material such as Iron sheets in the past four months. I have been using the transfers to buy 3 roofing sheets per month and now I stand at 12 iron sheets."

"This year my main aim to is to learn how to be a good mechanic so I can open my own workshop. I am hoping to use my GD transfers to pay my rent for the house I took for $20 and the rest of the transfer $14 will go into buying food for me. I was working as a motorcycle driver employed by someone and I would get like $5 per day and I would be required to pay $4 to my employer to ensure that I had the motorcycle still but this wasn't making me a sufficient income. My projection is that with the skills of being a car mechanic and starting my own place, I will be able to make a good income that will be sufficient for me."

"I completed my high school education some years back, but I had never gotten a chance to join college due to the lack of money., therefore my main goal is to see myself back to school in the near future. I had been saving part of my transfers and I would still continue saving so that by the end end of this year, I would have enough money that would help me to pay for my school fees." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"I spent part of my second transfer on purchasing spare parts so that I could repair my motorcycle. I had to prioritize this since this has been the only reliable business that I own to provide for my two family members. I am so grateful that it's now operating, and in a day I can make enough cash to buy food and even save a little for any emergencies. In addition to that, before the coming of GiveDirectly, I had issues with my in-laws, and this was as a result of the remaining part of the dowry. Therefore, after receiving the cash, I had to settle this as well. They had vowed to take their daughter back home if I failed to clear the needed amount. I am now a happy man since I am living peacefully with my wife. Also, I spent the remaining amount of money on buying food for my family and other household needs that needed my attention. My wife and I are now healthier, and we no longer borrow food from neighbors as before, which has also restored our dignity." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"Early in the morning, I sat under a tree, praying to God to grant me a job that would pay well so that I could support my family. My mind was pulled from my introspective thoughts and fantasies by the sound of a motorcycle approaching our home's compound. When a give directly officer came over, he inquired about my transfers. I shook my head in disappointment and acknowledged that I still hadn't gotten my transfers. The officer informed me that indeed $37.40 had been credited to my account after looking through my phone and speaking with my helper several times. I had a broad smile on my face and was extremely joyful. I gave my family members hugs and enthusiastically shook the officers hand. This was undoubtedly one of my happiest days ever."

"I have been a squatter for the past six years, moving as I do casual labor alongside my husband to support my family. I relocated from western Kenya in the hopes of finding work in the large farms nearby, but that did not happen. I am grateful for the warm welcome I received from the residents and have been living on a friend's land, where we built a temporary structure for our family of four. I had been reliant on leaseholds in order to provide food for my children and occasionally surplus for sale. I had already begun paying for a 4-acre plot of land when I received the second transfer. I paid the pending $150, and I am relieved that the planting season has begun. I plan to plant the tomato seedlings I have in my nursery bed on the two acres and use the rest on maize plantations. On a good season, I expect to make at least $1000 from tomato sales, whereas maize usually has a higher profit because we get free seeds from the Kenya Seed Company and a ready market after harvest from the same company, which pays in a lump sum. I also spent $150 on a heifer, which I am hoping will soon relieve us of the need to buy expensive packaged milk from the store. My husband runs a motorcycle taxi, which has been our main source of income. In addition, I set aside the remaining funds to finish the land preparation, which I estimate will cost $200 because plowing and harrowing an acre costs $50." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)