"When I first received the transfer, I used it to purchase a used motorcycle. The motorcycle has been extremely useful to me. Initially, I used to travel a long distance to work, paying $1.5 to get there. This was very expensive, and yet I received very little pay at the end of the month. Buying this motorcycle has helped me cut my traveling costs in half, and at times, I travel for free. This is because I frequently transport passengers who travel the same route. The motorcycle has also allowed me to engage in side hustles when I am not on a committee at work. I have set a new goal of launching a new business. The plan is to purchase goats at a lower cost, fatten them for a period, and then sell them at a higher cost. I already have twelve goats, and my goal is to have 30 goats before I start the business. The demand is already high, and if I start the business today, I would be able to sell at least one goat per day. This business presents no difficulties for me because I have enough land for the goats to graze on. I should complete this by the beginning of next year."

"My family of seven was struggling to find food before I received my transfer. This is due to my inconsistent income. In addition, my husband makes a living by operating motorcycle taxis. However, that sector has been underperforming for the better part of this year. As a result, when I received my recent transfer, I decided to spend $10 on food because we didn't have any at the time. We had skipped lunch the day before. I also spent $10 on paying fees for my four school-age children who were stranded at home due to unpaid fees. Finally, I spent $10 on water, which is in short supply due to the prolonged drought."

"They employed my husband as a motorcycle rider for the longest time and his earnings were as low as $2 daily. As time went on, we realized we could get our motorcycle on hire and purchase and increase his revenues and employ him. When I got enrolled in the support program, at the beginning of the year we took the motorcycle for hire purchase. We pulled all our resources to settle the weekly payment of $24 towards the motorcycle for the next two years. Upon receiving my cash transfer, I paid $10 for the motorcycle payment, saved $10, and instead of using all the remaining cash on food, I used $4 to buy new clothes for my four month baby. I am grateful because the funds have enabled my family to run a motorcycle business."

"I am happy to say that GiveDirectly's transfer changed my life. When I received my recent transfer of $ 30,  I spent $ 25 to pay for my school to help in my studies. I am currently a form 4 student at Mnazimwenga secondary school and I will be doing my final exams in December 2022. Paying my school fees was my number one priority since I am about to sit my exams and I wouldn't wish to miss lessons again. On many occasions, I would be sent home to collect school fees during class hours and I missed a lot. I tried pestering my parents to pay even half of the arrears in vain due to financial constraints. Being the second born in a family of 10, I could feel the pain my parents went through to educate my other 5 siblings and provide food with their daily pay of $ 5. My mother only does small-scale subsistence farming while my father is a motorcycle taxi driver. what they earn from daily hustle ain't enough to support the entire family's basic demands such as food, water, and fees. Furthermore, I spent the remaining $ 5 to buy my personal items such as soaps, shoe polish, and toothpaste&Colgate. This changed my life since my self-esteem improved unlike before when I was unable to polish my shoes nor brush my teeth, we would use traditional toothbrushes (sticks) and salt/charcoal to brush."

"I am a motorcycle taxi, and we live as a family of three members. My wife is jobless and is always at home looking after my daughter. In our area, there is an extreme famine, and the motorcycle business is no longer performing well owing to the rise in fuel costs. From my latest transfer, I spent $10.8 on food. I also bought five chicks for $15. I long to initiate poultry farming, and I am optimistic it will help me take care of my children. The rest I spent on buying some items for my youngest daughter, who is one year and six months old." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)

"I used part of my recent transfer, $12 on paying school fees for my five school-going children. By then they had accumulated arrears of $30. As a result, they have been able to focus on their studies. In addition, I spent $18 on food that lasted my family of nine members for eight days. I opted to go for that because I did not have money. I am a peasant farmer who relies on rainfed agriculture. However, my husband does motorcycle taxis which has also not earned him much. He has a lot of financial burdens because he still services the loan he took to acquire the motorcycle. I am grateful to GiveDirectly."

"I have a spare shop for motorcycles and I added stock of $20. This is my main source of income to support my family in meeting all their basic needs. I am so grateful because I am able to meet all the demands of my clients now. This has enabled me to generate good income which was not the case before. I wish to continue adding more stock and make this business expand. The remaining $10 was spent on purchasing food and other basic items that we were missing at home. I am o happy because GiveDirectly has enabled us to boost our business by getting more stock."

"When I received the transfer, I was relieved because it meant that my plan to buy a motorcycle from a friend who was selling it had been strengthened. We had agreed on a $150 initial deposit and subsequent monthly installments of $50. I needed a motorcycle to help with transportation to and from work, which was prohibitively expensive when I used public transportation. I am glad I have been using the means for the last two months after paying the first deposit, as I have been making the agreed-upon installments. I topped up the entire amount with the $20 I had in my savings with the most recent transfer. I hope to clear the entire amount by the end of December, and I hope to enjoy its services in my daily commuter to the workplace ad back. "

"I am married with one child, and they employed my husband as a motorcycle rider. Daily, my husband makes a minimum of $2, which is not enough for our daily expenditure. After being enrolled in the support program, I joined a savings group, which normally takes $20 of my monthly transfers, leaving me with $10. I was optimistic and instead of using it on food; I bought sardines and started selling them. I intend to take the advantage of the tough economic season when sardines have replaced vegetables in this area."

"I am married with four children. I used to work as a motorcycle rider but after injuring my hand, I cannot work as a rider and also cannot do most of the heavy-duty work with my hands. The biggest challenge is providing for my family in terms of food and paying for my children’s school fees. As soon as I received my cash transfers, I used $20 to buy a goat and distributed evenly the remaining amount toward food and school fees. I was grateful because I wanted my children to have uninterrupted classes."