"I was at home in the morning, still lying in bed, when I decided to check my phone. As I looked through my messages, I saw one from GiveDirectly, telling me that I had received $200. My heart filled with joy and excitement! I immediately shared the news with my husband, who was also thrilled. The first thought that came to my mind was to use this money wisely and make it last. I thought about what we needed the most, and I quickly decided to buy livestock. This way, we could have something to rely on, especially during hard times, and it would help us provide food and income for the family."

"When I received the cash transfer, the first thing I did was buy a mattress and a bed for $80. The old mattress I had was completely worn out, and the bed frame was broken, making it impossible to get a good night’s sleep. I really needed that upgrade. After that, I bought a plastic table and two chairs for $36. Before, I only had one chair and no table, which made it hard when guests came over. Now, we have a proper place to sit and eat together as a family. With $40, I was able to pay my son’s school fees. He’s in Form Two, and I didn’t want him to miss any classes because of unpaid fees—it’s very important to me that he stays in school. I also set aside another $40 to buy food. This allowed me to stock up on essential items, which gave me peace of mind knowing that we wouldn't struggle to put meals on the table for a while. The rest of the money went toward buying clothes for my children. They had outgrown most of their clothes, and it felt good to finally be able to replace some of their worn-out items. Watching them walk around in new outfits made me feel proud and grateful."

"When GiveDirectly came to our village, everyone was given money without leaving out anyone. This has brought about a lot of cohesion in the village because no one felt left out or less important. It was good to see everyone treated equally, and this has made people more united. Everything was well explained to us, and we understood how the process would work from the start. Everything we needed to know was explained well. To this point, I do not see anything that needs to be changed about the program."

"I woke up at 5 AM to switch on my phone, which I always turn off before going to bed, and the first thing I saw was a message saying I had received money from GiveDirectly! I couldn’t believe it—I was so excited. It was still early, and my children were getting ready for school, so I told them right away, and they were just as happy as I was. I’ve always wanted to own sheep, and the first thing that came to my mind was that now I could finally buy one!"

"In my old age, I am not able to fend for myself and have to rely on other people to provide for me. As a result, I sometimes sleep hungry when I don't find any help. This really makes me sad. I am however grateful because my children provide for me despite the hard economic times they are also facing."

"I work as a mechanic in Mombasa, but my limited earnings make it challenging to support my family. I rely on my GiveDirectly transfers alongside my job income to help cover rent, purchase food, and care for my loved ones. Due to my financial circumstances, I need to explore additional ways to generate income. I've been considering animal husbandry to increase my earnings. At present, I have 5 goats and around 20 chickens, which I can sell for extra cash during financial emergencies. In the upcoming year and beyond, I plan to invest more in goat farming. My goal is to acquire additional animals so they can breed and produce even more. This venture will provide me with financial security for the future, as I can sell the animals if I face any financial challenges to support my family."

"In the coming year, I have some important plans. I want to fence my compound and build a granary for my farm produce. I believe it is good to stay in a secure place, and a fence will help with that. I plan to use the money I get from my teaching job. This money will help me raise enough for the fencing and to construct a store. With the store, I will have a safe place to store my farm inputs. This way, I can keep everything organized and protected. Overall, I hope to create a better and more secure environment for my farm and my family."

"First, I used $200 to pay off my daughter’s school fees for Form 2. Clearing the arrears has brought me so much relief, as I no longer have to worry about her missing classes due to unpaid fees. Next, I used $100 to buy household food items. We were running low on food, and with the schools closing soon, we needed to ensure we had enough supplies to feed everyone. The crops we had planted were destroyed by recent floods, so this money came at the perfect time to help us restock. Having enough food at home means a lot, especially when we can’t rely on our usual harvest. I spent $35 to plough an acre of land, then $20 to prepare ridges to control water flow during irrigation. I also used $44 to pay for labor to help with planting tomatoes. Lastly, I bought tomato seeds, which are now in the soil, hopefully growing into a successful crop. This investment in farming will help us generate income, and I hope that with a good harvest, I can continue to improve our living conditions."

"My primary goal is to attend college and study building and construction. With my parents out of work and relying on peasant farming, I’ve taken it upon myself to work hard in my second-hand clothing business to save for my college fees. I remain optimistic that I can reach this goal with the support from GiveDirectly. Once I've saved enough, I plan to pass my business on to my sister, who has finished high school but hasn’t found a way to enroll in college despite her passing grades. After I complete my course, I intend to help her with her college education."

"My goal is to build my own house within the next year and beyond. I've already purchased iron sheets, building poles, and some essential materials, which is a positive step forward. I just need a few more items to kick off the construction. My plan is to use my transfers to buy all the necessary materials and start the building as soon as possible. Right now, I'm in college pursuing a mechanics course, and I hope to finish in about a year. I also need to acquire some equipment to set up my workshop. Therefore, my plans include completing the construction of my house before using my transfers to invest in these tools. Ultimately, I aim to be employed for a while to save up for my own garage."