"The biggest difference I've noticed since receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is that I now have a new house with a strong roof. Before, we used to be terrified whenever it rained because our old roof would leak and sometimes even let water in. But now, thanks to GiveDirectly, we no longer have to fear the rains; we finally have a roof over our heads that keeps us safe and dry. Another incredible change is that we now have a bed and mattress. We used to sleep on the floor on a mat, which was uncomfortable and made us feel insecure. Having a proper bed has improved our quality of life, and I couldn't be happier with these improvements. It's amazing what a difference this support has made in our daily lives."

"Later this year, my main goal is to build a new house because I am frustrated with the leaks in my current dwelling during the rainy season. I’m tired of this issue and feel it’s time for a change. I’m confident this plan will succeed since I have started saving from the monthly transfers for this purpose. With my ongoing efforts, I expect to achieve this goal soon. Once completed, the new house will provide me with full privacy and ample space to store my belongings."

"My entire life, I have always wanted to become a livestock farmer, but I did not know where to start because of a lack of funds until GiveDirectly came and started giving me hope. As time goes by, my dream is becoming even more steadfast, and I am determined to pull it through to fruition. I have always believed that livestock farming will provide a reliable source of livelihood for me and my family in the future, and to achieve this dream, my plan is to continue using a portion of the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly to buy more sheep and add on to the five that I already have, which I bought using my previous transfers. I am hopeful that these sheep will multiply and increase in both number and value, allowing me to eventually trade some of them in the future for a female cow, which will further enhance my wealth as it too will breed and multiply in number. I am confident that both the cows and sheep will become valuable assets, acting as a dependable source of income, ao that when this program comes to an end I will have something sustenable to rely on. Additionally, as the female cow breeds, I will also benefit from its milk, which will provide nutritional value for my family and improve our diet. I am very grateful for this opportunity that GiveDirectly has given us, and I am hopeful that my life will change for the better."

"The condition of my house is quite distressing right now; the dusty floor causes mud to spread everywhere when it rains, and I still end up feeling dusty, especially after sweeping. This is increasingly difficult for me to handle. Therefore, my goal for this year is to cement the entire floor. To achieve this, I have joined a Merry Go Round where I will save $10 from the transfers. I plan to start working on this project by the end of this year. Once the renovation is complete, it will significantly improve my living conditions by eliminating dust and other issues."

"It was a typical Monday, and I was busy with my shoe-selling business and hairdressing work. Around 5 PM, I decided to check my phone and saw a message confirming the receipt of the GiveDirectly transfers. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I immediately called my husband, who works in Kilifi. He was thrilled with the news and reminded me to wait for his next off day so that we could both go and buy a dairy cow, just as we had planned."

"When we received the cash transfer, our first thought was to finally buy a dairy cow, something we've always wanted to invest in. We knew of a specific place that sold high-quality dairy cows, but unfortunately, by the time we got there, all the cows had been sold. The seller told us that we could wait until November, so we decided to save $400 from the transfer specifically for this purpose. It was important to us to secure this investment, knowing it would provide a steady source of milk and income in the future. In the meantime, I used $100 of the transfer to buy more inventory for my shoe-selling business. Expanding my inventory was a crucial move to ensure that the money was invested in something sustainable that could provide a reliable income stream. With the remaining amount, I bought essential food items for my household. We have seven children, and ensuring they have enough to eat is always a priority. Overall, the cash transfer has been a blessing, helping us save for a future investment, sustain our business, and take care of immediate family needs."

"In the coming year, my primary goal is to invest in expanding my business. Since I started the business with my monthly transfers from GiveDirectly, I want it to grow and become more successful. Expanding the business will benefit both my family and my neighbors, reducing the need for them to travel long distances for goods that I currently don't offer. I plan to use part of my transfer to support my family, such as paying my children’s school fees, and the rest will be invested in purchasing additional items for my shop. This strategy will help me generate more profits and save for my children’s future education."

"In the future, I have two main goals: starting a goat-rearing venture and expanding my flock. As the goats multiply, I plan to sell some and reinvest the proceeds into new projects. Additionally, I have a piece of land where I intend to build a rental house. I plan to start this project once my son finishes school later this year, as a significant portion of my money is currently going towards his education. I will use the transfers and some savings from other sources to achieve this goal, with the aim of creating a steady income from the rentals that will help support my family more easily."

"The biggest difference I've noticed since receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is that we now have a good pit latrine. This change has been life-changing, especially for my husband, who has partial blindness due to high blood pressure. Before we had the latrine, I had to take him to the bushes whenever he needed to relieve himself, which was not only a challenging task for me but also harmful to the environment. Now, he can manage on his own with dignity, and it's a relief for both of us to have a safer and more sanitary solution."

"I was at home at 3:37 PM after church, preparing a late lunch, when I heard my phone beep with a message. I finished cooking and went to check the message, and to my surprise, it was the notification for the GiveDirectly transfers. I was very excited and immediately rushed to tell my husband. He was equally thrilled when I shared the news. We started discussing how we could use the money to replace the roof of our house, which had been destroyed by the cyclone winds in the coastal area. The relief and joy of knowing we could finally fix our home was indescribable."